Research Methods 3+4: Experimental Design

Question 1

Experimental design refers to…

Answer 1

Different ways in which participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions.

Question 2

3 experimental designs are…

Answer 2

Repeated measures design, Independent groups design, Matched pairs design

Question 3

Independent groups advantage: order effects

Answer 3

Order effects are avoided as participants only take part in one condition. Strength because it increases internal validity.

Question 4

Independent groups advantage: demand characteristics

Answer 4

Less like to be affected by demand characteristic cos they only take part in one condition so are exposed to less cues. Strength cos it increases internal validity.

Question 5

Independent groups advantage: resources

Answer 5

Same resources can be used as there’s a different participant in each condition so all participants are exposed to equal materials. Strength cos it increases internal validity.

Question 6

Independent groups limitation: time consuming

Answer 6

Different participants in each condition means having to find more participants. Limitation cos it’s more time consuming to gather the sample.

Question 7

Independent groups limitation: participant variables

Answer 7

Different participants in each condition so DV may be influenced by participant variables rather than the IV. Limitation cos it reduces internal validity.

Question 8

Repeated measures strengths: participant variables

Answer 8

Same participant does both conditions so there’s no participant variables. Strength cos increases internal validity.

Question 9

Repeated measures strengths: less time consuming

Answer 9

Participant does both conditions so don’t have to find as many participant. Strength cos it saves the researcher time and money.

Question 10

Repeated measures limitation: demand characteristics

Answer 10

Same participant used in both conditions means exposed to more cues so more likely to be affected by demand characteristic. Limitation cos it reduces internal validity.

Question 11

Repeated measures limitations: resources

Answer 11

Participant doing both conditions means resources can’t be reused so participants maybe not exposed to equal materials. Limitation cos it reduces internal validity.

Question 12

Repeated measures limitations: time consuming

Answer 12

Same participant for both conditions means can’t be tested at the same time. Limitation cos it takes more time to carry out the experiment.

Question 13

Repeated measures limitations: order effects

Answer 13

Same participant for both experiment means they may have an improved/reduced performance in the second condition. Limitation cos it decreases internal validity.

Question 14

Matched pairs strengths: participant variables

Answer 14

Participants are matched on important variables so difference in the DV is unlikely to be from participant variables. Strength cos increases internal validity.

Question 15

Matched pairs strengths: order effects

Answer 15

Participants only take part in one experiment so order effects are avoided so performance in one condition won’t improve/decrease. Strength cos increases internal validity.

Question 16

Matched pairs strengths: demand characteristics

Answer 16

Only take part in one condition so exposed to less cues. Strength cos it increases internal validity.

Question 17

Matched pairs strengths: resources

Answer 17

Only take part in one condition so resources can’t be reused and equal for all participants. Strength cos it increases internal validity.

Question 18

Matched pairs limitations: time consuming

Answer 18

Difficult to match pairs cos tests are done to match participants with similar important variables. Limitation cos it’s very time consuming and expensive.

Question 19

Randomisation is…

Answer 19

The use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding on the order of the conditions in an experiment.

Question 20

Counterbalancing is…

Answer 20

An attempt to control for the effects of order effects in a repeated measures design: half of participants experience one conditions first other half experience other condition first.

Question 21

Random allocations is…

Answer 21

An attempt to control for participant variables in an independent groups design ensuring that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other.

Question 22

Standardisation is…

Answer 22

Ways in which procedures/materials within an investigation are kept the same for all participants. All should have the same experience.