Experiments (location, method, design) Flashcards
Location: Laboratory
A location of research where scientific research and measurement can be taken using specialist/large equipment. Conditions and variables are controlled, and procedures are standardised.
Location: Field
A location of research outside of the laboratory, in a natural setting e.g. school, hospital, workplace etc. It has lower levels of control over confounding variables than the laboratory, but can still utilise a standardised procedure.
Location: Online
A location of research where participants are accessed via the internet/social networks/mobile apps etc. Often involves questionnaires but can also be experimental, correlational etc.
Lab experiment
A research method where cause and effect is measured in a controlled/contrived environment, through the control and manipulation of key variables, and where the participants are randomly allocated to experimental/control groups.
Field Experiment
A research method where cause and effect is measured in a natural setting, through the control and manipulation of key variables, and where the participants are randomly allocated to experimental/control groups.
Quasi Experiment
A research method where the experimenter has NOT deliberately manipulated the IV and participants are NOT randomly allocated. Methods within this category include natural experiments and difference studies.
Natural Experiment
A research method where the IV arises naturally, although the DV can still be measured in a laboratory or any other location of the researcher’s choice. This method would be used when it is unethical to directly manipulate the IV.
Independent groups design
An experimental design where participants take part in only one experimental condition.
Repeated Measures design
An experimental design where participants take part in both the control and experimental conditions.
Matched Pairs design
A form of independent groups design where the experimental and control participants are deliberately similar e.g. there is a balance between gender and IQ levels in each group/condition.
Demand characteristics
A type of confounding variable where participants unconsciously work out the aim and act differently
Counterbalancing
A technique used to deal with order effects when using a repeated measures design. With counterbalancing, the participant sample is divided in half, with one half completing the two conditions in one order and the other half completing the conditions in the reverse order.
Randomisation
A way of controlling for the effects of extraneous/confounding variables. Allocating participants to tasks, selecting samples of participants, and so on, should be left to chance as far as possible, to reduce the investigator’s influence on a study.
Researcher bias
Where the researcher either directly or indirectly influences the results of a study, through the process of designing the study or through the way the research is conducted/analysed.
Single blind procedure
A specific research procedure in which the researchers (and those involved in the study) do not tell the participants what condition of the study they are in
