Research methods - Chapter 7 Flashcards
List 6 factors of a ‘Laboratory experiment’
Determinist.
Highly controlled environment.
Doesn’t necessarily have to be in a lab, just has to be highly controlled.
Researcher manipulates the Iv
Researcher records the effect of the Iv on the Dv
Direct link between Iv and Dv
Laboratory experiment
Iv : Dv - Tick/ cross?
Iv - Tick
Dv - Tick
List 4 factors of a ‘Quasi experiment’
Almost an experiment but not quite.
The Iv is based on existing differences between people.
No one manipulates the Iv, it just exists.
We only control the Dv.
Quasi experiment
Iv : Dv - Tick/ cross?
Iv - Cross
Dv - Tick
List 3 factors of a ‘Natural experiment’
The researcher takes advantage of a pre-existing independent variable.
The Iv is not brought about by the researcher, it would have happened even if the researcher was not there.
Highly ecologically valid.
Natural experiment’
Iv : Dv - Tick/ cross?
Iv - Cross
Dv - Cross
List 3 factors of a ‘Field experiment’
Takes part in a natural, more everyday setting.
Researcher manipulates the Iv.
Researcher records the effect of the Iv on the Dv.
Field experiment
Iv : Dv - Tick/ cross?
Iv - Tick
Dv - Cross
what does it mean if an experiment is reliable?
its repeatable
what does it mean if an experiment is valid?
its results/findings are accurate
what do we mean by the type of experiment?
its setting
what do we mean by the design of the experiment?
the procedure used
what are the 3 experimental designs?
independent groups
repeated measures
matched pairs
what happens when an experimental design is ‘independent groups’
participants are randomly allocated to one of two or more groups
each participant therefore does one level of the IV and the performance (the DV) is compared across the two or more groups
what happens when an experimental design is ‘repeated measures’
each participant takes part part in every condition of the experiment i.e they do all levels of the IV their performance (the DV) on both tests is compared
what happens when an experimental design is ‘matched pairs’
pairs of participants are matched on key, relevant variables for the study, i.e IQ or age
one member of the pair is placed in one group and the other in the second group
performance (the DV) is compared across both groups
define experimental group
the group that receives the experimental treatment, the IV
define control group
the group that receives no treatment, they are the baseline
list some of the types of extraneous/confounding variables?
investigator effects indirect investigator effects demand characteristics social desirability bias participant variables situational variables hawthorne effect
define indirect investigator effects.
a cue that makes participants unconsciously aware of the aims of the study, or helps participants to work out what the researcher expects to find
define social desirability bias.
distortions in the way people answer questions; they tend to answer questions in such a way that presents themselves in a better light
define demand characteristics
the tendency for participants to alter their behaviour merely as a result of knowing they are being observed.
define hawthorne effect.
any cues (other than the IV) from the investigator that encourages certain behaviours in a participant, and might lead to a fulfilment of the investigators expectations. these can occur as a consequence of the investigator interacting with the participant (direct effects)
define situational variables.
the features of the research situation that may influence participants’ behaviour and so act as extraneous or confounding variables.
one example of this is order effects. Improved performance on a second task compared to a first may be due to practise rather than IV.
define participant variables
any characteristic of individual participants that act as an extraneous variable when an independent groups design (where different participants are in each group) is used. These may include age, intelligence, motivation, gender etc, but they must be relevant to the task in study.
define investigator effects.
there are a couple of examples of this type of variable. One is the ‘investigator experimental design effect’. the investigator may operationalise the measurement of variables in such a way that the desired result is more likely, or may limit the duration of the study for the same reason. Another is the ‘investigator loose procedure effect. this is where an investigator may not clearly specify the standardised instructions and/or procedures which leaves room for the results to be influenced by the experimenter.
