Research Methods - general & diff. types of experiments Flashcards
what is an aim
a general statement, what a psychologist intends to investigate
what is a hypothesis
a testable statement that makes a prediction - states what will happen in an experiment
what is the IV
independent variable - what changes
what is the DV
dependent variable - what is measured
what is an experimental hypothesis (h1)
a hypothesis that tells that there will be a difference in the variables
what is a null hypothesis (h0)
a hypothesis that tells that there will be no difference between the variables
what is a directional hypothesis
a hypothesis that specifically states the direction of the results
what is a non-directional hypothesis
a hypothesis in which the direction of the results is not predicted
what are the main features of experiments & what are their names
- all study cause & effect (causation)
- all have an IV & DV & makes an attempt to control extraneous variables
- LABORATORY
- FIELD
- NATURAL
- QUASI
what are the features of a laboratory experiment
- 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
what are the strengths of a laboratory experiment
high control of extraneous variables
what are the limitations of a laboratory experiment
low in mundane realism & artificial
what are the features of a field experiment
- 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
what are the strengths of a field experiment
- high in mundane realism (more naturalistic behaviour)
what are the limitations of a field experiment
- ethical issues (participants unaware & difficult to debrief them)
what are the features of natural experiments
- 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
what are the strengths of a natural experiment
- high in mundane realism
- not artificial
what are the limitations of a natural experiment
- characteristics cant be generalised to other cultures/circumstances
- no control over the environment
what are the features of a quasi experiment
- the IV is naturally occurring and already exists e.g., gender
what are the strengths of a quasi experiment
- most of the time its conducted in a lab (high control of extraneous variables)
- allows researchers to compare different types of people easier
what are the limitations of a quasi experiment
- biased (participants cant be randomly allocated to research conditions
- methological issues
