Research methods (experimental)

Question 1

What are the 3 types of experiment methods?

Answer 1

-lab
-field
-natural

Question 2

Features of a lab experiment.

Answer 2

• Artificial setting
• Control over extraneous variables so we can see if IV causes DV
• Looks for a difference between 2 conditions

Question 3

Features of a field experiment.

Answer 3

• Real life setting but researcher still manipulated the IV to see effect on DV
• Looks for difference between 2 conditions

Question 4

Features of a natural experiment.

Answer 4

• A study that examines a naturally occurring variable in a real-life situation.

Question 5

Advantages of a lab experiment.

Answer 5

• High internal validity
• Easy to replicate

Question 6

Disadvantages of a lab experiment.

Answer 6

• Low ecological validity
• demand characteristics

Question 7

Advantages of a field experiment.

Answer 7

• High ecological validity
• Less demand characteristics

Question 8

Disadvantages of a natural experiment.

Answer 8

• Low internal validity
• Cannot replicate

Question 8

Advantages of a natural experiment.

Answer 8

• High ecological validity
• No demand characteristics

Question 9

Disadvantages of a field experiment.

Answer 9

• Low internal validity
• Hard to replicate

Question 10

What is independent variable?

Answer 10

The IV is the variable that we are investigating and we change between conditions

Question 11

What is dependent variable?

Answer 11

The DV is the variable that we are measuring and remains the same in both conditions

Question 12

What is a one-tailed hypothesis?

Answer 12

This is directional as it states exactly which way the results will go

Question 13

What is a two-tailed hypothesis?

Answer 13

This is non-directional as it states there will be a difference between the conditions, but does not state how

Question 14

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 14

No difference it states there will be no significant difference between the conditions

Question 15

What is the target population?

Answer 15

The group of people you wish to study

Question 16

What is a sample?

Answer 16

A small amount of people taken from the target population

Question 17

What does it mean if the sample is ‘representative’?

Answer 17

The sample shares the same characteristics as the target population

Question 18

What does it mean if you can ‘generalise’ the findings?

Answer 18

Apply the result of your study to the target population

Question 19

Name the four sampling methods

Answer 19

• Random sampling
• Opportunity sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Volunteer sampling

Question 20

What is random sampling?

Answer 20

Every member of the target population has an equal chance of selection (e.g picking names out of hat)

Question 21

What is opportunity sampling?

Answer 21

Picking the first available people who fit the target population

Question 22

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 22

Picking people in proportion to the target population, for example, if it is 60% girls and 40% boys, the sample of 100 should contain 60 girls and 40 boys

Question 23

What is volunteer sampling?

Answer 23

A technique that asks for participants by placing an advert for volunteers

Question 24

What is meant by the term participant differences?

Answer 24

Individual differences between the participants in a study, which may confound (effect) the result

Question 25

What is meant by the term order effects?

Answer 25

Where participants get better or worse in the second condition due to practice/tiredness

Question 26

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 26

Where participants try to guess the aim of the study and change their behaviour in the study

Question 27

What is cause and effect?

Answer 27

One or more things that happen as a result of something else

Question 28

What is participant variable?

Answer 28

Extraneous variables linked to the participants themselves

Question 29

What are situation variables?

Answer 29

Extraneous variables linked to the environment