Research Methods: Experimental Design

Question 1

What is experimental design?

Answer 1

Experimental design is how participants are organised into groups.

Question 2

What are the three types of experimental design?

Answer 2

Independent group
Repeated groups
Matched pairs

Question 3

What are Independent groups?

Answer 3

Is there are multiple groups, they are made up of different participants

Question 4

What are Repeated Measures?

Answer 4

The same participants take part in all groups/ conditions of the study

Question 5

What are Matched Pairs?

Answer 5

Participants in one group are matched to a similar participant in the other condition, this may be based on age, characteristics, gender, academic ability etc.

Question 6

What are the strengths of using Independent Groups?

Answer 6

Easier to attain a larger sample
Less likely to result in participants being effected by demand characteristics (Hawthorne and Screw You theory)

Question 7

Hat are the weaknesses of using Independent Groups?

Answer 7

Participants variables (individual differences between participants can affect comparison) - confounding variables

Question 8

What are the strengths of using Repeated Measures?

Answer 8

More valid results due to comparisons not influenced by individual differences

Question 9

What are the weaknesses of using Repeated Measures?

Answer 9

Demand characteristics likely means participants can work out the aim
Order effects- participants impacted by boredom, fatigue

Question 10

What are the strengths of using Matched Pairs?

Answer 10

Less likely to result in demand characteristics, order effects
Similarity means data is less likely to be effected by individual differences

Question 11

What are the weaknesses of using Matched Pairs?

Answer 11

Difficult to gain a diverse sample- lack generalisability
Still can be affected by individual differences as they are different people