research issues

Question 1

extraneous variable

Answer 1

any variable other than the independent variable that may effect the dependent variable if not controlled

Question 2

when should extraneous variables be identified

Answer 2

at the beginning of the study to minimise their influence

Question 3

what is described as ‘nuisance variable’

Answer 3

extraneous variables that are easy to control that do not vary systematically with the IV. for example lighting in the lab

Question 4

what is a confounding variable

Answer 4

an extraneous variable that varies systematically with the IV

Question 5

why do confounding variables make it hard to tell if change in DV is due to IV or confounding variable

Answer 5

varies systematically with IV so could explain changes to DV

Question 6

demand characteristics

Answer 6

any cue from the researcher or research situation that may be interpreted by participants changing their behaviour within the research situation

Question 7

why is person reactivity (demand characteristics) an extraneous variable

Answer 7

participants are not passive during the study and try to make sense of the situation causing participant reactivity to be an extraneous variable

Question 8

why do people perform demand characteristics

Answer 8

they may act in the way they think is expected and over perform to please experimenter (please-you effect) or deliberately under perform to sabotage the experimenter (screw-you effect)

Question 9

investigator effects

Answer 9

any effect of the investigators behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome (DV)

Question 10

what did coolican point out

Answer 10

investigator effects include expectancy effects which can include cues, actions, materials,instructions such as leading questions

Question 11

randomisation definition

Answer 11

the use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding order of experimental conditions

Question 12

why is randomisation used

Answer 12

to minimise the effect of extraneous/confounding variables on the outcome

Question 13

how is randomisation used when there are multiple conditions

Answer 13

in an experiement where multiple conditions are used the order of these conditions should be randomly determined

Question 14

standardisation definition

Answer 14

using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study

Question 15

what should be the same to make the procedure standardised

Answer 15

environment, information, experience. this means giving out standarised instructions