RM - Variables and Hypothesis

Question 1

What is an independent variable?

Answer 1

The variable the experimenter manipulates / changes

Question 2

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 2

The variable that is measured

Question 3

What is an extraneous variable?

Answer 3

A variable that is not the IV but may affect the results of the study

Question 4

What is a situational variable? (external)

Answer 4

Aspects of the environment that might affect the ppts behaviour e.g noice, temperature

Question 5

What is a participant variable? (external)

Answer 5

The ways in which each participant varies from the other and how this could affect the results e.g intelligence

Question 6

What is investigator effects (external)

Answer 6

The researcher unconsciously conveys to ppts how they should behave

Question 7

What are demand characteristics? (external)

Answer 7

Changing your behaviour to help/harm the results of an experiment

Question 8

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 8

If EV’s are not controlled they become confounding because they go on to create the same results as the IV but can no longer conclude a causal relationship

Question 9

What are the two ways to control extraneous variables?

Answer 9

Randomisation - Way to control ppt variable, left to chance
Standardisation - Way to control situational variables. All elements of procedure are identical

Question 10

What is a directional and non directional hypothesis?

Answer 10

Directional - indicates a direction in the prediction
Non directional - does not indicate a direction in the prediction