Research Methods : Controlling Variables Flashcards
What are variables
Any ‘thing ‘ that can vary or change within an investigation. Variables are used in experiments to see if changes in one ‘thing’ results in changes of an another
What is an independent variable
The variable that is manipulated/changed by the researcher so that they can measure the effect on the dependant variable
What is the dependant variable?
The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any effect on this variable should be caused by the independent variable
In order to test the effect of the IV what does the researcher need to do?
They need different conditions so they can make a comparison between the participants and their performance
What is the control condition ?
The condition in an experiment that provides a baseline measure of behaviour without the manipulation of the IV. This compared to other conditions
What is the experimental condition ?
The condition in an experiment that involves the manipulation of the independent variable. Results from this condition are compared to the results of the control condition
Examples of control conditions compared to experimental conditions
No energy drink - energy drink
Lesson with no spaced repetition - lessons with spaced repetition
Reading a story to 5 people - reading a story to 100 people
Operationalisation
Clearly defining variables to ensure that they are made measurable
Example of variables being operationalised
Time - using seconds
Happiness - survey , how many smiles in the room
Intelligence - how well they do in a test
What are extraneous variables?
Any variables other than the independent variable that may have an effect on the dependent variable if not controlled
Do extraneous variables vary systematically with the independent variable ?
No they don’t as their effect is random
What are confounding variables ?
Any extraneous variables that vary systematically with the independent variable so that we cant be sure of the true source of change to the dependent variable `
What are examples of a confounding variables ?
Personality , mood
What is the affect of a confounding variable
Ends up being the second unintended IV
What are demand characteristics?
Any cue from researcher from the researcher or the researcher situation that reveals to participants the purpose of the investigation this can lead to participants changing their behaviour
What is the please u effect ?
When participants act in a way that they think is expected of them by the researcher so they over perform to please the experimenter
The screw u effect
Effect is when participants act in the opposite to the way that they think the researcher expects and deliberately underperform to sabotage the results of a study
What are investigator effects?
An investigator effect is any influence of the investigators behaviour (conscious or unconscious) due to them knowing the aim of the research affecting the dependent variable . This may include everything from design of the study to the selection and interaction with partcipants
Example of investigator effects ?
Age Gender Accent Manner Smiling Choosing particular participants Asking reading questions
What is randomisation ?
This involves the use of chance to control the effects of investigator bias when designing materials and deciding the order of conditions for the experiment
If a memory experiment involves participants recalling words from a list. What should happen in regard of randomisation ?
The order of the list should be randomly generated so the position of each word is not decided by the experimenter
How can random allocation occur?
Picking names out of a hat
What is counterbalancing ?
An attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design. Half of the participants experience the conditions in one order (a then b) and the other half in the opposite order
What is standardisation ?
Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study
What should standardisation entail ?
The same environment , information, and experience
What is a blind procedure ?
When participants do not know which condition , they are taking part within an experiment
Why are single blind procedures used?
Reduce demand characteristics and the effect they can off an experiment
What are double blind procedures ?
When neither the participants nor the participants nor the investigator know which condition the participants are taking part in within an experiment
Why are double blind procedures used ?
To try and reduce demand characteristics and they effect that they have on an experiment. They also reduce investigator effects
