Research Methods Flashcards
What is a lab experiment?
An experiment conducted in a lab setting where the IV is manipulated in controlled settings
What is a field experiment?
An experiment conducted in an everyday setting where the IV is manipulated
What is a quasi experiment?
An experiment that can take place in a lab or everyday setting where the IV is naturally occurring
Give 2 strengths of a lab experiment
Allows for standardisation and controls so it can be kept constant for all participants —> controls
Controls over extraneous variables which makes it easier to establish cause and effect between the IV and the DV
Give 2 weaknesses of a lab experiment
As it is conducted in a lab setting demand characteristics and investigator effects may affect the results
Low in ecological validity as not in an everyday setting and lacks mundane realism
Give 2 advantages of field experiments
Reduced chance of demand characteristics because participants are less likely to know they are being observed and is in everyday setting
Behaviour is taking place in an everyday setting or real environment so more ecologically valid
Give 2 weaknesses of a field experiment
Lacks control and standardisation which means extraneous variables can affect results —> replicability and reliability
May be practically difficult and unethical for researchers to gather data unobtrusively
Give 2 advantages of a quasi experiment
Can be conducted in a field or lab setting
Can point to cause and effect in rare or atypical behaviours that may be difficult to study
Give two weaknesses of a quasi experiment
The IV is naturally occurring which means that participants cannot be randomly allocated to conditions which means participant variables are left uncontrolled and can confound results
May be difficult to find the naturally occurring IV due to its rarity
What is the independent measures design?
Participants take part in one condition of the IV
What is the repeated measures design?
Participants take part in both conditions of the IV
What is counterbalancing?
ABBA —> half participants take part in cond 1 whilst other half in cond 2 and then swap over
What is matched pairs design?
Participants are pre screened on a variable and matched across two conditions with similar results
Give 2 advantages if the matched pair design
Reduces participant variables
No order effects - so higher validity
Give two disadvantages of repeated measures
Increased chance of order effects which confound results and reduce the validity
Demand characteristics - participants may be more likely to guess the aim
Give two advantages of repeated measures design
Same participants in each condition so reduced participant variables —> higher validity
Counterbalancing could be used to control for any order effects
Give two disadvantages if independent measures
Situational variables may effect results across both conditions
Uncontrolled participant variables
Give 2 disadvantages of matched pairs
May be practically difficult to match participants and is time consuming
Requires more participants
Give 2 advantages of independent measures
Quicker to conduct
Participants less likely to guess the aim as they are only taking part in one condition of the IV
What is internal validity
The extent to which factors other than the independent variable affect the measure of the dependent variable
What are participant variables
Any personal characteristics of participants which are likely to influence the DV other than the IV
This can include age, eyesight and gender
What are situational variables?
Any environmental factors other than the IV that can affect a participants performance
This could be lighting, temp, noise or room layout
What are demand characteristics?
When participants are likely to try and find out how the researcher expects them to behave
What is social desirability?
When participants try to make themselves look better to fit in with society
What are order effects?
Participants may perform better the second time around - practise effect
Fatigue effect
What are researcher effects?
Researcher may unconsciously give away the aim of the experiment
