Research Issues

Question 1

What are extraenuous variables?

Answer 1

• Any variable other than the independant variable that may affect the dependant variable

Question 2

What are confounding variables?

Answer 2

• Any influence effecting the relationship between the IV & DV leading to an inappropriate conclusion of cause.
• Often end up with a second unintended variable (i.e ppts being excited getting in the way of a calm study)

Question 3

What are demand characterisitcs?

Answer 3

• In research situation ppts will try & work out whats going on.
• Certain clues may help them interpret whats going on
• These clues are the demand characterisitcs
• Ppts may also look for clues to tell them how they should behave in an experimental situation
  They may act in a way that they think is expected & over perform to please experimenter (this is the please U effect)

Question 4

What is the investigator effect?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What is randomisation?

Answer 5

• The use of chance methods to reduce the researchers unconscious biases when designing an investigation

Question 7

What is standardisation?

Answer 7

• Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all ppts in a research study