More problems with experiments Flashcards
Demand characteristics
A cue which results in the participants becoming aware of the aims of the study or helps participants to work out what the researcher expects to find.
Investigator effect (investigator or experimental bias)
Cues (other than the IV) from an investigator that encourage certain behaviors in the participant, and which might lead to a fulfilment of the investigator’s expectations.
What is a direct effect of an Investigator effect?
A investigator interacting with a participant
What is an indirect effect of an investigator effect?
A consequence of the investigator designing the study
What is the ‘screw you’ effect?
Where a participant deliberately behaves in a way that spoils an experiment
How could demand characteristics effect a study?
They may act as extraneous or confounding variables.
How could Investigator effects effect a study?
Can act as confounding or extraneous variables.
What is the ‘investigator experimental design effect’?
Where the investigator may operationalise the measurement of variables in such a way that the desired result is more likely, or may limit the duration of the study for the same reason.
What is the ‘investigator loose procedure effect’?
The situation where a investigator may not clearly specify the standardised procedures which leaves room for the results to be influenced by the experimenter.
How could you reduce the effect of demand characteristics and investigator effects?
Single blind design
Double blind design
Experimental realism
What is a single blind design?
The participant is not aware of the researchers aims and/or which condition of the experiment they are recieving
How does a single blind design reduce the chances of demand characteristics?
It prevents the participants from seeking cues about the aims of the experiment
What is a double blind design?
Both the participant and the person conducting the experiment is ‘blind’ to the aims and hypotheses.
How does a double blind design reduce the chances of demand characteristics?
The person conducting the investigation is less likely to produce cues about what they expect.
What is experimental realism?
When the researcher makes the task engaging enough that the participant pays attention to the task and not the fact that they are being observed.