Extraneous Variables Flashcards
What are extraneous variables?
Other variables besides the IV which might have an effect on the DV
What happens if extraneous variables are not controlled?
The results will be made inaccurate
What are participant variables?
The differences between the participants eg age, personality and intelligence
What are situational variables?
The setting and circumstances of the research which may affect the participants performance
What are investigator variables?
The personal and social characteristics and behaviour of the researcher
What are participant effects?
The ways in which the participants respond differently by demand characteristics or social desirability bias
What are investigator effects?
The investigator consciously or unconsciously influence the participants behaviour to support the hypothesis
What are confounding variables?
Uncontrolled extraneous variables become confounding variables and can confuse the results by affecting the DV
How do you control for extraneous variables?
Standardisation (keeping variables the same in all conditions), random allocation, counterbalancing (in repeated measures design), single blind design, double blind design
