Research Methods Lesson 1 - Experimental Methods

Question 1

What is the independent variable?

Answer 1

The variable that researcher manipulates in order to determine its effect on the dependent variable

Question 2

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 2

The variable that is being measured

Question 3

What is the extraneous variable?

Answer 3

Variables (other than the IV) that COULD affect the DV

Question 4

What is the confounding variable?

Answer 4

Variables (other than the IV) that HAVE affected the DV

Question 5

What is operationalisation?

Answer 5

Defining a a variable in such a way as to make them measurable

Question 6

What is a laboratory Experiment?

Answer 6

• an experiment that is carried out in a controlled environment, allowing the researcher to exert a high level of control over the IV and eliminate any EV
• participants are randomly allocated to a condition

Question 7

Advantages of laboratory experiments

Answer 7

1. The high level of control possible in a laboratory experiment means that it is easy to control for any EV and prevent them from becoming CV
2. Cause and effect can be established between the IV and DV because the researcher can manipulate the IV
3. A well-controlled laboratory experiment can be easily replicated by other researchers to see if similar results can be obtained
   If the findings are similar to the original study then the results are reliable

Question 8

Disadvantages of laboratory experiments

Answer 8

1. The strong chance if demand characteristics with laboratory experiment, this is a type of EV where participants guess what the experiment is about so they alter their behaviour
2. The experiment lacks mundane (the extent to which an experiment reflects real life) because of the high control over the IV and EV. This means the study lacks ecological validity

Question 9

What is ecological validity?

Answer 9

The ability to generalise the findings of research to the real world

Question 10

What is field experiment?

Answer 10

Field experiments are carried out in the real world

The IV is manipulated by the researcher to see the effect on the DV

Question 11

Advantages of field experiments

Answer 11

1. There is more mundane realism and ecological validity than in a laboratory experiment
2. Cause and effect can be established because the researcher can manipulate the IV
3. There is less chance of demand characteristics because in a field experiment the participants might not even be aware that they are taking part in research

Question 12

Disadvantages of field experiments

Answer 12

1. There is much less control over the EV so the effect on the DV may not be caused by the IV but by these EV. This means the research is not valid (it is nit measuring what it intends to measure)
2. There is less control over the snap,e
3. Field experiments may be far more difficult to replicate

Question 13

What is a natural experiment?

Answer 13

Where the researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV to see its effect on the DV

Question 14

Advantages of natural experiments

Answer 14

1. High level of mundane realism and ecological validity

2. Very useful when it is impossible or unethical to manipulate the IV/sample in a laboratory of field experiment

Question 15

Disadvantages of natural experiment

Answer 15

1. Less control over EV
2. Difficult to replicate
3. Far more difficult to determine cause and effect

Question 16

What is a quasi experiment?

Answer 16

An experiment that contains a naturally occurring IV
This IV is a difference that is naturally occurring and already exists (e.g. gender or age)
The researcher examines the effect of this variable on the DV