Research Methods 1 &2 Flashcards
Experimental method
Involves the manipulation of an independent variable to measure the effect on the dependent variable
Can be Laboratory, field, natural or quasi
Aim
A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate
Purpose of the study
Hypothesis
Clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated
Directional Hypothesis
States of the direction of the difference or relationship
Non-directional Hypothesis
Does not state the direction of the difference or relationship
Variables
Any thing that can vary or change within an investigation
Variables are generally used in experiments to determine if changes in one thing results in changes in another
Independent variable
aspect of experiment that is manipulated by the resercher
or changes naturally
Dependent variable
The variable that is measured by the researcher
Operationalisation
clearly defining variable in terms of how that can be measured
Extraneous Variable
Any variable (other than IV) that may affect the dependent variable if it isn’t controlled
Nuisances
Confounding variables
A kind of EV that varies systematically with the IV
Can’t tell if change in DV is to do with IV or confounding variable
Demand characteristics
Any cue from researcher or situation that may be interpreted by ppts as revealing the purpose of the investigation
This may lead to the participants changing their behaviour
Investigator effects
Any effect of the investigators’s behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on research outcome
eg. design of the study, interaction with ppts
Randomisation
Use of chance in order to control the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of conditions
Standardisation
Using exactly the same formalised procedures ad instructions for all participants
Experiment design - Independent groups
Participants allocated to different groups, each group is an experimental condition
Group 1 does condition A
Group 2 does condition B
Evaluate Independent groups design
People in the groups are different so participant variables may have an effect on DV
Random allocation can help with this
More expensive as you have pay 2 groups of people
Order effects are not a problem
Ppts unlikely to guess aim
Experiment design - Repeated Measures
All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment
Group 1 does condition A and B
Evaluation of Repeated Measures
Order tasks might be significant
Order effects may arise as ppts may get bored or tired
= deteriation in performance or practice = confounding variable
Ppts might work out the aim
Ppt variables controlled
Fewer ppts needed = cheaper
Experimental design - Matched Pairs
Pairs of ppts matched on some variables that affect DV
One of the pair does condition A the other does condition B
Evaluation of Matched Pairs
Ppts only take part in one condition so order effects and demand characteristics are less of a problem
Reduced participant variables but still an issue
Time consuming and expensive
Random Allocation
Attempt to control for participant variables in independent groups design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in any condition
Counterbalancing
An attempt to control for the order effects in repeated measure design
Half the ppts experience the conditions in one order and the rest experience it in the other order
Lab experiments
Strengths and Weaknesses
Experiment that takes place in a controlled environment within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records effect
Strengths- high control over EV, high internal validity, replication easy so findings are valid
Weaknesses- lack generalisability, not realistic, low external validity, demand characteristics are likely, low mundane realism