Research Methods Flashcards
What is a Laboratory Experiment?
An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment, the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the effect on the DV -
Extraneous Variables are highly controlled
What is a Field Experiment?
An experiment that takes place in a natural setting, the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the effect on the DV
What is a Natural Experiment?
An experiment where the IV is not manipulated and the DV is measured and judged as the effect of an IV
What is a Quasi-Experiment?
The IV has not been determined by anyone and the variables simply exist already, e.g age or gender - this is not an experiment
What is an Independent Variable?
A variable that is manipulated or changed to measure the effect on the Dependent Variable
What is a Dependent Variable?
The variable that is measured in response to a change made towards the Independent Variable
What is a Controlled Variable?
A variable that is held constant throughout an experiment, so that it does not affect the results, if the DV is effected - researchers can ensure that the change were caused by the IV and not any EV’s
What is an Extraneous Variable?
Any unwanted variable that may have an effect on the IV or DV, for example sound, temperature, academic background, etc
What are the four types of Extraneous Variables?
-Participant Variables
-Situational Variables
-Demand Characteristics
-Experimenter Effects
What are Participant Variables?
Related to the participants characteristics, which may impact how they respond, for example mood, intelligence, disabilities, etc
What is an hypothesis?
A testable statement which predicts how one variable (factor) will influence another.
What is a directional/ one tailed hypothesis?
The direction of the results is predicted.
What is a non-directional / two tailed hypothesis?
A change or difference is predicted but a direction is not specified.
What is a null hypothesis?
A null hypothesis states that there will be no difference or any difference in the DV between the levels of the IV is so small that there is a high probability that it has arisen by chance.
What is confounding variables?
These are variables other than the IV which may have affected the DV so we are not sure of the true cause of the changes in the DV.
What is standardisation?
All participants should experience exactly the same in terms of information and procedure we can therefore control certain aspects to ensure they all have the same experience.
What is independent groups?
Each participant only takes part in one condition / group in the experiment then you are usually compared to the other groups.
What is repeated measures?
The same (each) participants take part in both/all conditions of the experiment, you can do this by getting all participants to complete conditions 1 first and then condition 2 or you can do this by counterbalancing.
What is matched pairs?
Participants are matched/paired on a variable/variables related to the experiment and are placed in separate groups
What are strengths of independent groups?
- Less economical than repeated measures as each participant contributes a single result only
- Order effects are not a problem
- Demand characteristics
What are weaknesses of independent groups?
- The participants who occupy the two groups are not the same
- Therefore, if a researcher finds the mean different between the groups in the DV, this may be more due to individual differences.