Research Methods - general & diff. types of experiments

Question 1

what is an aim

Answer 1

a general statement, what a psychologist intends to investigate

Question 2

what is a hypothesis

Answer 2

a testable statement that makes a prediction - states what will happen in an experiment

Question 3

what is the IV

Answer 3

independent variable - what changes

Question 4

what is the DV

Answer 4

dependent variable - what is measured

Question 5

what is an experimental hypothesis (h1)

Answer 5

a hypothesis that tells that there will be a difference in the variables

Question 6

what is a null hypothesis (h0)

Answer 6

a hypothesis that tells that there will be no difference between the variables

Question 7

what is a directional hypothesis

Answer 7

a hypothesis that specifically states the direction of the results

Question 8

what is a non-directional hypothesis

Answer 8

a hypothesis in which the direction of the results is not predicted

Question 9

what are the main features of experiments & what are their names

Answer 9

• all study cause & effect (causation)
• all have an IV & DV & makes an attempt to control extraneous variables
• LABORATORY
• FIELD
• NATURAL
• QUASI

Question 10

what are the features of a laboratory experiment

Answer 10

• takes place most commonly in a lab
• variables carefully controlled - minimise effect on extraneous variables
• conducted under specified conditions & special environment
• participants aware they are taking part (may not be aware of aim)
• contrived (made up/fake)
• low in mundane realism (not like everyday life)
• IV & DV manipulated

Question 11

what are the strengths of a laboratory experiment

Answer 11

high control of extraneous variables

Question 12

what are the limitations of a laboratory experiment

Answer 12

low in mundane realism & artificial

Question 13

what are the features of a field experiment

Answer 13

• usually conducted anywhere outside a lab (carried out in more natural conditions)
• IV manipulated to measure effect on DV
• participants not often aware - observe more natural behaviour
• high in mundane realism
• less control of extraneous variables

Question 14

what are the strengths of a field experiment

Answer 14

• high in mundane realism (more naturalistic behaviour)

Question 15

what are the limitations of a field experiment

Answer 15

• ethical issues (participants unaware & difficult to debrief them)

Question 16

what are the features of natural experiments

Answer 16

• natural environment
  -IV not manipulated instead examines the effect of existing IV on the DV (IV naturally occurring)
• behaviour compared before and after
• participants not randomly allocated to conditions - bias

Question 17

what are the strengths of a natural experiment

Answer 17

• high in mundane realism
• not artificial

Question 18

what are the limitations of a natural experiment

Answer 18

• characteristics cant be generalised to other cultures/circumstances
• no control over the environment

Question 19

what are the features of a quasi experiment

Answer 19

• the IV is naturally occurring and already exists e.g., gender

Question 20

what are the strengths of a quasi experiment

Answer 20

• most of the time its conducted in a lab (high control of extraneous variables)
• allows researchers to compare different types of people easier

Question 21

what are the limitations of a quasi experiment

Answer 21

• biased (participants cant be randomly allocated to research conditions
• methological issues