Methods Flashcards
Give 2x weaknesses of lab experiments
P - Low generalisability
E - Samples are often volunteer in which they would all share similar characteristics making them want to sign up
E - And so cannot represent wider population
P - Low ecological
E - Due to the controlled conditions it is artificial and unnatural to the ppts
E - Therefore their behaviour may not reflect true life as may show DCs due to knowing they’re in a study
Give 2x strengths of lab experiments
P - Reliable
E - Often use a standardised procedure in which all ppts receive the exact same conditions
E - Therefore they are easy to replicate to test for consistency
P - High ethics
E - As ppts are in a lab setting they know they’re in a study
E - They will have therefore given informed consent
Give 2x weaknesses of field experiments
P - Low generalisability
E - Often use an opportunity sample of ppts available at the time, however this is bias as those who are in the same place at the same time share similar traits
E - And so cannot represent wider population
P - Low ethics
E - Due to the setting being natural to the ppt they may be unaware they’re in a study
E - Therefore they haven’t given informed consent, are being deceived, with their right to withdraw compromised
Give 2x strengths of field experiments
P - High internal validity
E- Less risk of demand characteristics as ppts aren’t aware that they are being studied
E- Can establish cause and effect
P- High ecological validity
E- conducted in natural everyday environment of ppts
E- Allows for natural behaviour and therefore more valid results
What are the 2 types of extraneous variables?
1) Situational
2) Participant
Define ‘situational variable’
Variables from the environment
Give an example of a situational variable
Weather
Define ‘participant variable’
Variables that create differences in the sample due to ppts individual characteristics
Give an example of a participant variable
Mood
Define ‘demand characteristics’
This is when participants behave unnaturally because they believe they know the purpose of the research they are taking part in
Define ‘experimenter effects’
Cues/signals from an experimenter that can affect the ppts response, e.g. facial expressions
What is a single blind procedure?
When a ppt doesn’t know what group they are in - any bias from knowing something about the study cannot occur
What is a double blind procedure?
Stops experimenter effects as neither the ppt nor experimenter knows which group the ppt is in
Define ‘order effects’
The order of the conditions having an effect on the ppts’ behaviour as a response to it
Define ‘counterbalancing’
Ppts are separated into different conditions and experience them in a different order from other groups
