Research methods Flashcards
What is meant by the term independent variable?
.Independent variable is a variable that the researcher manipulates or changes to see the effect on the dependent variable
What is meant by the term Dependent variable?
.Dependent variable is the variable that the researcher is measuring.
State two types of hypotheses.
.Alternative
.Null
What is an alternative hypothesis?
.Alternative Hypothesis is that there will be a difference between two conditions.
What is a null hypothesis?
There will not be a difference between the two conditions.
Define extraneous variable .
A variable other than the independent variable that affects the dependent variable.
Give 5 examples of extraneous variables.
.Personality (introvert or extrovert)
.IQ levels
.Task difficulty
.Demand characteristics (change in behaviour)
.Order effects
What are the types of experiments?
Laboratory experiment
Field experiment
Natural experiment
Define a laboratory experiment. (AO1)
.It’s an experiment that is conducted or made in a lab which is a highly controlled environment, where the researcher changes the Independent variable and measures the effect of the dependent variable.
Give 2 strengths of a laboratory experiment.
.There is high control over extraneous variables because it is carried out in a highly controlled environment, increasing the validity of the study
There is high reliability because it is easy to repeat the study in the same conditions to see if the researcher achieves consistent results.
Give 2 weaknesses of a Laboratory experiment.
.There is low ecological validity because it is carried out in an artificial environment which makes it difficult to generalise the results.
.It is prone to demand characteristics because it is easier for the participant to pick on clues from the experiment and change their natural behaviour, decreasing the validity of the study
