The experimental method Flashcards
research methods
What are the four main types of experimental methods?
Laboratory experiments
Field experiments
Natural experiments
Quasi experiments
What are variables?
Something that varies. There are four types.
What are the four variables?
Independent variables
Dependent variables
Extraneous variables
Confounding variables
What is an independent variable?
The variable that is manipulated
What is a dependent variable?
The variable that changes as a result of the independent variable being manipulated
What is an extraneous variable?
Variables other than the IV that might have an unwanted affect on the DV
Why do extraneous variables need to be controlled?
It can affect the internal validity of a study
What is a confounding variable?
Extraneous variables that cant be controlled so they’ve already had an affect on the DV
What are the advantages of the experimental method as a whole?
Easy to replicate - high level of control - easier to check the reliability
Cause and effect can be inferred
What are the disadvantages of the experimental method as a whole?
Often very artificial - cannot be generalised - low ecological validity - results don’t represent real life behaviour
Demand characteristics - unwanted effect - low validity
