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psychology > Research methods - Experiments: Variables and Design > Flashcards

Research methods - Experiments: Variables and Design Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe what experiments are used for and how they work

A

one variable is manipulated by the experimenter and the effect of the change on another variable is measured. If there is a change, there is said to be a cause and effect relationship between the two variables.

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2
Q

what are the three different types of experiments

A

laboratory experiments
field experiments
quasi experiments

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3
Q

what is an aim

A

a general statement of the purpose of the study and highlights what the researcher intends to investigate

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4
Q

define independent variables

A

the variable that the researcher manipulates

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5
Q

define dependent variables

A

the variable that the researcher measures the effect of the IV on

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6
Q

what must both variables be

A

fully operationalised

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7
Q

Why is it important that both variables are fully operationalised

A

Allows for research to be replicated in the future

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8
Q

Operationalise this: performance

A

Score out of 20

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9
Q

Define the extraneous variable

A

When something else has the potential of affecting the dependent variable that is not the independent variable

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10
Q

What are the four types of extraneous variable

A

Participant variables, situation variables , demand characteristics,
Researcher effects

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11
Q

Define participant variables

A

These are the characteristics of an individual which may affect the dependent variable eg age

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12
Q

Define situation variables

A

Features of the environment which may affect the dependent variable eg unexpected background noise

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13
Q

Define demand characteristics

A

If participants work out the aims of the research study, they may begin to behave in a certain way

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14
Q

Define researcher effects

A

The researcher may give away the aims of the research study eg body language

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15
Q

how can it be ensured that these extraneous variables do not affect out independent variable

A

control them - making the variables the same for everyone they affect.
the more extraneous variables we control, the more likely we are to establish cause and effect

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16
Q

what is a confounding variable

A

when researchers are unable to control an extraneous variable, making cause and effect near impossible to achieve

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17
Q

what is a hypothesis

A

a prediction that researcher make about what they think will happen in their study - it is a statement that demonstrates the relationship between the IV and the DV

18
Q

what are the general rules when writing a hypothesis

A

future tense
include both conditions of the IV
include the DV

19
Q

define null hypotheses

A

these predict that no difference will be found in the results between the conditions - the IV will have no effect on the DV

20
Q

define experimental hypotheses

A

these predict that there will be a significant difference in the results between the two conditions

21
Q

what are one-tailed (directional) hypotheses

A

they predict the direction of results e.g participants who drink coke will recall more words than participants who do not drink coke

22
Q

what are two-tailed (non-directional) hypotheses

A

they do not predict the direction of results, but just state that there will be an effect

23
Q

how would you know whether to write a one-tailed or two-tailed hypothesis

A

if previous research has been conducted and it tells us the direction of the results, then we should write a one-tailed hypothesis
if there is not previous research or the results of previous research are inconclusive then we should write a two-tailed hypothesis

24
Q

what are the three experimental designs

A

independent measures
repeated measures
matched pairs

25
Q

why is experimental design important

A

the validity of an experiment is directly affected by how it is constructed

26
Q

describe the independent measures design

A

different ps take part in each condition of the independent variable. the ps remain independent from each other

27
Q

describe the repeated measures design

A

all of the ps take part in both conditions of the independent variable
the ps repeat the experiment whilst taking part in all the conditions

28
Q

describe the matched pairs design

A

each ps is matched with a ‘twin’ who is similar to them, and one ps from each twin pair takes part in each condition
ps are usually matched on characteristics that could affect the outcome of the experiment

29
Q

what are order effects

A

ps responses are affected by the order of conditions they are exposed to

30
Q

what is counterbalancing

A

a technique used to reduce order effects when using aa repeated measures design

31
Q

how does counterbalancing work

A

it varies the order in which ps take part in each condition of the IV
ABBA as half the ps take part in condition A first, then do condition B and the other half do condition B first, then A

32
Q

what are strengths of the independent measures design

A

reduces the possibility of demand characteristics as ps only take part in one condition of the IV so less likely to guess aim
avoids order effects

33
Q

what are weaknesses of the independent measures design

A

participant variables may influence the results of the study as there are different ps with different characteristics in each condition
larger sample of ps required due to them only doing one condition

34
Q

how to deal with weaknesses of independent measures design

A

ps should be randomly allocated to conditions ie put names/numbers into a hat
this means that ps variables should not cluster in one condition

35
Q

what are strengths of the repeated measures design

A

reduces the effect of participant variables as ps take part in both conditions
fewer participants required

36
Q

what are weaknesses of the repeated measures design

A

ps may be able to guess the aim of the experiment and so may display demand characteristics due to taking part in both conditions
order effects may impact outcome of study as ps take part in both conditions, they may become fatigued or bored and perform worse or may perform better due to practice

37
Q

how to deal with weaknesses of the repeated measures design

A

order effects can be reduced with counter-balancing

38
Q

what are strengths of the matched pairs design

A

reduces the effect of ps variables as ps are matched on key characteristics that researchers have identified could have an effect on the results
avoids order effects

39
Q

what are weaknesses of the matched pairs design

A

will be difficult to control all ps variables as you can only match on variables identified as relevant AND there may be characteristics that cannot be matched
time consuming

40
Q

how to deal with weaknesses of the matched pairs design

A

start with a large group of ps to increase the chances of being able to match ps on key variables

psychology (8 decks)

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