Research Methods

Question 1

Experiments

Answer 1

An investigation that allows researchers to look for a causal relationship; an independent variable is being manipulated and is expected to be responsible for changes in the dependent variable.

Question 2

Independent Variable

Answer 2

The factor under investigation in an experiment that is manipulated to create two or more conditions (levels) and is expected to be responsible for changes in the dependent variable.

Question 3

Dependent Variable

Answer 3

The factor under investigation in an experiment that is measured and is expected to change under the influence of the independent variable.

Question 4

Extraneous/Uncontrolled Variables

Answer 4

Any other variables (besides the IV) that can affect the dependent variable. They can obscure the effects of the IV, making the results difficult to interpret .

Question 5

Experimental Design

Answer 5

The way in which participants are allocated to levels of the IV (experimental condition).

Question 6

Independent Measures Design

Answer 6

An experimental design in which a different group of participants is used for each level of the IV (experimental condition).

Question 7

Control Condition

Answer 7

A level of the IV in an experiment from which the IV itself is absent.

(It is compared to one or more experimental condition)

Question 8

Demand Characteristics

Answer 8

Features of the experimental condition which gives away the aims. They can cause the participants to try to change their behaviour, for example to match their beliefs about what is supposed to happen, which reduces the validity of the study.

Question 9

Repeated Measures Design

Answer 9

An experimental design in which all participants perform in every level of the IV (Experimental Condition).

Question 10

Order Effect

Answer 10

Practice and fatigue effects are the consequences of participating in a study more than once, for example in a repeated measures design.

(They cause changes in performance between conditions that are not due to the IV, so can obscure the effect on the DV)

Question 11

Practice effect

Answer 11

A situation where participants’ performance improves because they experience the experimental task more than once, for example due to familiarity or learning the task.

Question 12

Fatigue Effect

Answer 12

A situation where participants’ performance declines because they experience the experimental task more than once, e.g. due to physical tiredness or boredom with the task.

Question 13

Matched Pairs Design

Answer 13

An experimental design in which participants are arranged into pairs. Each pair is similar in ways that are important to the study and one member of each pair performs in a different level of the IV (experimental condition).

Question 14

Counterbalancing

Answer 14

A way to overcome order effects in a repeated measures design. Each possible order of levels of the IV is performed by a different sub-group of participants.

(This can be described as an ABBA design, as half the participants do condition A then B, and half do B then A)

Question 15

Participant/Subject Variable

Answer 15

Individual differences between participants (such as gender, age, personality and intelligence) that could affect their behaviour in a study and hence become extraneous variables.

Question 16

What are 2 strengths of Independent Measures Design?

Answer 16

1. Different participants are used in each level of the IV so there are no order effects.
2. Participants see only one level of the IV, reducing the effect of demand characteristics.

Question 17

What are the 2 weaknesses of Independent measure design?

Answer 17

1. More participants are needed than in a repeated measures design so the study can be less effective if there is a small sample because participants are hard to find.
2. Participant/Sample variables can distort results if there are important differences between participants in different levels of the IV.

Question 18

What are 2 strengths of repeated measures?

Answer 18

1. Counterbalancing reduces order effects.
2. Participant Variables are unlikely to distort the effect of the IV, as each participant performs in all levels.

Question 19

What are the 2 disadvantages of Repeated Measures Design?

Answer 19

1. Order effects could distort the results.
2. As participants see the experimental task more than once, they have greater exposure to demand characteristics.

Question 20

What are the 2 advantages of matched pairs design?

Answer 20

1. Participants only see one level of the IV, reducing the effect of demand characteristics.
2. Participant Variables are less likely to distort the effect of the IV than in an independent measures design as individual differences are matched.

Question 21

What are the 2 disadvantages of Repeated Measures Design?

Answer 21

1. Availability of matching pairs may be limited, making sample size small.
2. The similarity between pairs is limited by the matching process, so the right matching criteria must be chosen in advance for this to be effective.

Question 22

Laboratory Experiment

Answer 22

A research method where there is an IV, a DV and strict controls. It looks for a causal relationship and is conducted in a setting that is not in the usual environment of the participants.

Question 23

Reliability

Answer 23

The extent to which a research can replicate its results.

Question 24

Validity

Answer 24

The extent to which the instruments and methods that are used in the experiment measure exactly what the researcher wants them to measure.

Or

The extent to which the researcher is testing what they claim to be testing.

Question 25

Pilot Study

Answer 25

A small scale test of the procedure of a study before the main study is conducted. It aims to ensure that the procedure and materials are valid and reliable, so that they can be adapted if not.