The Experimental Method

Question 1

What is an aim?

Answer 1

general statement that describes the purpose of an investigation

Question 2

what is a hypothesis?

Answer 2

a statement that is made at the start of a study and clearly states the prediction of the relationship between variables.

Question 3

what is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 3

predicts the direction of the effect

Question 4

what is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 4

states that an effect will occur

Question 5

when do scientists usually use a directional hypothesis?

Answer 5

when the findings of precious research suggest a particular outcome

Question 6

what is the difference between the IV and DV?

Answer 6

IV is what is changed or manipulated by the researcher
DV is what is measured by the researcher

Question 7

what are the two conditions in an experiment?

Answer 7

control condition and experimental condition.

Question 8

what does it mean for a hypothesis to be operationalised?

Answer 8

clearly defining variables in terms of how they are measured

Question 9

what are extraneous variables?

Answer 9

Any variable other than the IV that may have an effect on the DV if it is noy controlled. They do not vary systematically with the IV.

Question 10

what are confounding variables?

Answer 10

any variable other than the Iv which may have AFFECTED (past) the Dv so we cannot be sure of the true source of changes to the DV. Confounding variables vary systematically with the IV.

Question 11

what are demand characteristics?

Answer 11

any cue from the researcher that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation- participants may change their behaviour.

Question 12

what are investigator effects?

Answer 12

any effect of the researcher’s behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome (DV)

Question 13

what is randomisation?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

what is standardisation?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

what is experimental design?

Answer 15

refers to the different ways in which the testing of participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions.

Question 16

what is an independent groups design?

Answer 16

participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition

Question 17

what is repeated measures?

Answer 17

all participants take part in all conditions of the experiment

Question 18

what is a matched pairs design?

Answer 18

pairs of participants are first matched on some variables that may affect the DV. Then one member of the pair is assigned to condition A and the other to condition B.

Question 19

what is random allocation?

Answer 19

an attempt to control for participant variables in an independent groups design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other.

Question 20

what is counterbalancing?

Answer 20

an attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design; half the participants experience the conditions in one order and the other half in the opposite order

Question 21

What are participant variables?

Answer 21

any individual differences between the participants that may effect the Dv e.g. age, ability, IQ

Question 22

what are situational variables?

Answer 22

factors of the situation that may affect the DV e.g. noise, time of day

Question 23

what are order effects?

Answer 23

when participants may perform differently the second time they do the task simply because it is the second time they have done it and not due to the IV
e.g. practise, boredom and fatigue

Question 24

what are strengths of a repeated measures design?

Answer 24

1. less participants needed
2. no participant variables

Question 25

what are limitations of a repeated measures design?

Answer 25

1. order effects are a problem
2. demand characteristics more likely

Question 26

what are strengths of an independent groups design?

Answer 26

1. no order effects
2. demand characteristics less likely (because P’s only do 1 condition of the IV)

Question 27

what are limitations of an independent groups design?

Answer 27

1. participant variables
2. more participants needed

Question 28

what are strengths of matched pairs design?

Answer 28

1. no order effects
2. demand characteristics less likely
3. participant variables reduced

Question 29

what are limitations of matched pairs design?

Answer 29

1. need information to match participants on
2. pre-testing might be needed (expensive and time consuming)

Question 30

how do we control for participant variables?

Answer 30

matched pairs
independent groups
random allocation

Question 31

how to we control for investigator effects/ researcher bias?

Answer 31

randomisation and standardisation

Question 32

what is a solution for order effects?

Answer 32

counter balancing