Research Issues

Question 1

Extraneous Variable (EV)

Answer 1

Any other variable that might potentially interfere with the IV that should be controlled or removed

• make it harder to detect a result but don’t systematically change the IV

Question 2

Confounding Variable (CV)

Answer 2

A kind of EV but does systematically with the IV

=> Therefore we can’t tell if any change to the DV is due to the IV or the confounding variable

Question 3

Demand Characteristics

Answer 3

Any cue from the researcher or the research situation that the pps interpret as revealing the investigation’s purpose

=> May lead to a pp changing behaviour in a research situation

Question 4

Investigator effects

Answer 4

Any effect of the investigator’s behaviour on the research outcome (the DV)

=> Includes things from the study’s design, selection or interaction w/ pps during research

Question 5

Randomisation

Answer 5

The use of chance methods to control bias effect when designing materials + deciding the order of experimental conditions

Question 6

Standardisation

Answer 6

Using the same formalised procedures + instructions for all pps in the research study

=> Includes standardised instructions that are read to each pp