Psychology - Research methods - Experimental Methods

Question 1

Independent variable

Answer 1

Variable that the researcher manipulates in order to determine its effect on the dependent variable.

Question 2

Experimental conditions

Answer 2

The division of the independent variables into levels

Question 3

Control condition

Answer 3

A standard which other experimental conditions can be compared against. (may be where IV is not manipulated)

Question 4

Dependent Variable

Answer 4

The variable that is being measured

Question 5

Extraneous Variable

Answer 5

Any variables other than the IV that may affect the DV

Question 6

Confounding Variables

Answer 6

Variables other than IV that have affected the DV

Question 7

Operationalisation

Answer 7

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured

Question 8

Laboratory Experiments

Answer 8

Experiments conducted in a lab, a highly controlled environment

Question 9

Advantages of lab experiments

Answer 9

• High level of control over IV, easy to control extraneous variables
• Researcher can manipulate the IV and establish cause and effect relationship between IV and DV
• Easily repeated to test reliablility

Question 10

Disadvantages of lab experiments

Answer 10

• Demand characteristics and social desirability bias
• High level of control means a lack of mundane reality

Question 11

Reliability through replication

Answer 11

Making sure you get similar results in replications of the experiment. Should get a correlation co-efficient of +0.8

Question 12

Demand characteristics

Answer 12

Where the participants of a study figure out the aim and change their behaviour to fit what they think the researcher wants, affecting validity.

Question 13

Mundane realism

Answer 13

A measure of external validity or extent to which experimental findings can be generalised to the real world

Question 14

Ecological validity

Answer 14

Assesses the validity of a study’s findings based on the environment or setting the study took place. The realism to which the set up of a study matches the real context.

Question 15

Social desirability bias

Answer 15

Changing behaviour in a study to appear more likeable in the perception of wider society, affecting validity.

Question 16

Field experiments

Answer 16

Experiments conducted in the real world or natural settings rather than in the laboratory

Question 17

What happens to the IV and DV in a field experiment?

Answer 17

The IV is still manipulated or controlled by researcher to see the effect on the dependent variable

Question 18

Advantages of field experiments

Answer 18

• More mundane realism and ecological validity than lab
• Researcher can manipulate the IV, cause and effect relationship identified
• Less chance of demand characteristics

Question 19

Disadvantages of field experiments

Answer 19

• Less control external variables so less valid
• Less control over sample so less representative
• Difficult to replicate of unreliable

Question 20

Natural experiment

Answer 20

The researchers take advantage of a naturally occurring independent variable to see its effect on the dependent variables

Question 21

What happens to the IV and DV in a natural experiment?

Answer 21

Measures variables that aren’t manipulated by experimenter and independent variable is naturally occurring

Question 22

How are conditions “controlled” in a natural experiment?

Answer 22

Experimenter is finding participants who already meet the conditions of the experiment

Question 23

Natural experiment advantages

Answer 23

• High level of mundane realism and ecological validity - Useful in situations where it is impossible or unethical to manipulate the independent variable

Question 24

Natural experiment disadvantages

Answer 24

• Low control over extraneous variables
• Difficult to replicate
• Hard to determine cause and effect

Question 25

Quasi experiments

Answer 25

Naturally occurring independent variable and examines its effect in a lab

Question 26

Quasi experiments advantages

Answer 26

• High level of control
• Replication is likely

Question 27

Quasi experiments disadvantages

Answer 27

• Lack of ecological validity - Demands characteristics

Question 28

What are the four types of experimental methods?

Answer 28

Independent measures, repeated measure, matched pairs and quasi-experimental designs

Question 29

What are the types of experiments?

Answer 29

Laboratory, Field, Natural, Quasi