Research Methods : Experimental Design

Question 1

Experimental designs

Answer 1

The way participants are allocated to groups for an investigation

Question 2

Independent design

Answer 2

Each participant takes part in one condition/ group. Participants are selected then randomly divided into two (minimises EV)

Question 3

Independent design advantages

Answer 3

• order effects reduced as participants only take part in one condition
• demons characteristics reduced as participants only take part in one condition (less likely to guess the aim of the study)

Question 4

Independent design disadvantages

Answer 4

• there are participant EVs between groups, lowering the internal validity of the study
• less economical as twice as many participants are needed

Question 5

How are participants randomly allocated?

Answer 5

Name out of a hat, random number generator, etc

Question 6

Repeated measures design

Answer 6

Each participant takes part in both conditions. They are selected for both groups

Question 7

Repeated measures design advantages

Answer 7

• participants EVs are more controlled for (never fully eliminated)
• less participants needed as they appear in both conditions

Question 8

Repeated measures design disadvantages

Answer 8

• participants will have practice with test 2nd time around so will be better (practiced effects) , or will be toured 2nd time around (fatigue effects) - order effects
• participants might have worked out what is being tested during the 1st test and may alter their results to be what the investigators want or what they don’t want - demand characteristics

Question 9

Matched pair design

Answer 9

Each participant takes part in one condition, but the participants are matched based on variables considered relevant (age, sex, IQ, etc)

Question 10

Matched pair design advantages

Answer 10

• participants only take part in a single condition, so order effects and demand characteristics are less of a problem
• participants EVs are reduced (not eliminated)

Question 11

Matched pair design disadvantages

Answer 11

• participants cannot be truly matched (everyone is different)
• time consuming and expensive (less economical)

Question 12

Counterbalancing

Answer 12

ABBA
One group carries out the tests in order A, B while the other doesn’t B, A (reduced order effects but never fully eliminated)

Question 13

Practice effects

Answer 13

Improvement in performance that occurs when individuals d a test/ activity repeatedly (increased familiarity and skill development)

Question 14

Fatigue effects

Answer 14

The decline in performance/ cognitive function caused by prolonged mental/ physical extortion, leading to reduced accuracy and efficiency