research methods: research issues

Question 1

What is an extraneous variable?

Answer 1

Any variable, other than the independent variable, that may effect the dependent variable if it is not controlled
- they do not vary systematically with the IV

Question 2

What are extraneous variables described as?

Answer 2

‘nuisance variables’

Question 3

What are examples of extraneous variables?

Answer 3

The age of the participants, the lighting of the lab

Question 4

What are confounding variables?

Answer 4

They do change systematically with the IV. Therefore, we can’t tell whether the change in the DV is due to the IV or the confounding variable

Question 5

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 5

Any cue from the researcher that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation
- this may lead to participants changing their behaviour within the research situation

Question 6

What are investigator effects?

Answer 6

Any effect of the investigator’s behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome

Question 7

What are examples of investigator effects?

Answer 7

The design of the study and interaction with the participants

Question 8

What is randomisation?

Answer 8

The use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions

Question 9

What does randomisation help to reduce?

Answer 9

The effects of confounding/extraneous variables

Question 10

What does standardisation mean?

Answer 10

Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study