More problems with experiments

Question 1

Define demand characteristics.

Answer 1

A cue that makes participants consciously or unconsciously aware of the aims of the study or helps participants work out what the researcher expects to find.

Question 2

What are investigator effects?

Answer 2

Anything that an investigator does that has an effect on the participant’s behaviour/performance (other than what was intended). Can be direct or indirect and may be a confounding or extraneous variable.

Question 3

Name two other common extraneous variables.

Answer 3

Participant variables
Situational variables

Question 4

Name three ways researchers can reduce investigator effects and demand characteristics.

Answer 4

Single blind design
Double blind design
Experimental realism

Question 5

What is the difference between single and double blind?

Answer 5

Single - only the Ps do not know the aims, hypothesis or which level of the IV they are experiencing
Double - both Ps and person conducting experiment do not know