research issues, controls and pilot studies

Question 1

what are demand characteristics?

Answer 1

interactions between researches and participants the can influence research outcomes

Question 2

what are some examples of demand characteristics?

Answer 2

-participants picking up on cues about the studies aims
-lab settings can feel unnatural, affecting behaviour

Question 3

what may the participants do as a result of demand characteristics?

Answer 3

-try to please the researcher
-act nervously
-behaving based on assumption about the study leads to artifical results

Question 4

how can a researcher control demand characteristics?

Answer 4

by using single-blind procedures where participants don’t now their group or condition

Question 5

what are investigator effects?

Answer 5

when a researcher presence or behaviours biases the research

Question 6

what are examples of investigator effects?

Answer 6

-researches age, gender or ethniticy influences participants reactions
-non verbal cues (e.g tone, body language) or attire affects participants behaviour

Question 7

what is a way to control the investigator effects?

Answer 7

-use double-blind procedures where neither the researcher nor participant know the conditions, this prevents bias in interactions or analysis

Question 8

what is the definition of randomisation?

Answer 8

eliminating bias by ensuring outcomes and participants allocations are unpredictable

Question 9

what are some randomisation methods?

Answer 9

-randomly assign participants to groups using tools like name draws or software
-randomise elements of the procedure such as list order of words or images

Question 10

what is the purpose of randomisation?

Answer 10

avoid unconscious bias in participants assignment or procedural details

Question 11

what is the definition of standardisation?

Answer 11

ensuring all participants experience the experiment identically

Question 12

what are some examples of standardisation?

Answer 12

-same instructions and debrief for all participants
-equal group sizes as much as possible
-same duration for experimental conditions
-identical materials unless required to vary the independent variable

Question 13

what is the benefit of standardisation?

Answer 13

standardisation improves reliability and replicability of the research

Question 14

what is the definition of a pilot study?

Answer 14

small-scale trials run to test parts or all aspects of a research investigation

Question 15

what is an example of a pilot study?

Answer 15

milgram 1963: study on obedience started as a pilot but became a published study due to it significant findings

Question 16

what is the purpose of a pilot study?

Answer 16

a ‘dress rehearsal’ to identify and resolve potential issues before the main study

Question 17

why conduct pilot studies?

Answer 17

-to identify problems: such as flaws in the procedure or ethical issues
-to test reliability and validity: ensure consistency and objectivity

Question 18

what are some benefits of pilot studies?

Answer 18

-problem solving: adjust study design, choose suitable method, use more representative sample if OG group isn’t generalisable
-financial reasons: can help secure funding for main research
-decision-making: determine if study is worth pursuing

Question 19

what happens after a pilot study?

Answer 19

-adjustments: if changes are made, new pilot study will be conducted to test improvements
-final questions: is the study worth time, money and effort to achieve meaningful results?