scientific processes Flashcards
What is the definition of an independent variable (IV)?
The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
What is the definition of a dependent variable (DV)?
The dependent variable is the variable that is measured in an experiment, and it is expected to change as a result of the manipulation of the independent variable.
What are extraneous variables?
Extraneous variables are any variables other than the independent variable that may affect the dependent variable, making the results less reliable if not controlled.
What are confounding variables?
Confounding variables are extraneous variables that have an uncontrolled effect on the dependent variable, which can make it difficult to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the IV and DV.
What is the process of operationalisation of variables?
Operationalisation is the process of defining variables in a way that they can be measured or manipulated in an experiment. It ensures clarity and consistency in how variables are used.
What is random allocation?
Random allocation is a technique used in experiments to randomly assign participants to different conditions, which helps eliminate selection bias and ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being placed in any condition.
What is counterbalancing?
Counterbalancing is a technique used to control for order effects in repeated measures designs. It involves varying the order in which participants experience different conditions to balance out any potential bias.
What is randomisation?
Randomisation is the process of randomly assigning participants to conditions or selecting items to be included in a study in order to reduce bias and increase the reliability of the results.
What is standardisation?
Standardisation involves keeping all procedures, instructions, and conditions the same for every participant to ensure consistency and control for extraneous variables.
What are demand characteristics?
Demand characteristics refer to cues in a study that reveal the purpose or expected outcome to participants, which may lead them to behave in a way that aligns with what they believe the researcher expects.
What are investigator effects?
Investigator effects refer to any unintended influence a researcher may have on participants, either through their behavior, body language, or how they interact with participants, which can influence the outcome of the study.
What is the impact of demand characteristics on research?
Demand characteristics can lead participants to alter their behavior in ways that do not reflect their true thoughts or actions, thus reducing the internal validity of the experiment.
What is the impact of investigator effects on research?
Investigator effects can introduce bias into the results if the researcher’s behavior or expectations influence participants’ responses, which can reduce the reliability and validity of the study.
How do you control for demand characteristics in an experiment?
Demand characteristics can be controlled by using techniques such as deception (if ethical), a double-blind design, or ensuring that the participants are unaware of the true aims of the experiment.
How do you control for investigator effects in an experiment?
Investigator effects can be controlled by using standardized procedures, conducting the study in a way that minimizes the researcher’s interaction with participants, and using objective measurements.
