U2: experimental methods and designs Flashcards

1
Q

Define experimental method

A

A research approach that involves manipulating an independent variable (IV) to observe its effect on a dependent variable (DV).

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2
Q

Name the 4 experimental methods

A

Lab
Field
Natural
Quasi

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3
Q

Define lab experiment

A

Conducted in a controlled environment where the researcher manipulates the IV.

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4
Q

Give an example of a lab environment

A

lab, classroom, office

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5
Q

Define field experiment

A

Conducted in a natural setting where the researcher manipulates the IV.

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6
Q

Define natural experiment

A

The IV is naturally occurring, and the researcher does not manipulate it

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7
Q

Give an example of Natural experiment

A

anywhere, where the behaviour is natural to that environment i.e., classroom- students learning information

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8
Q

Define Quasi experiment

A

The IV is a pre-existing characteristic (e.g., age, phobia) that cannot be manipulated

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9
Q

What i meant by ecological validity

A

The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to real-life settings.

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10
Q

Which experimental method has high ecological validity

A

natural

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11
Q

Which experimental method has low ecological validity?

A

Lab

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12
Q

Define demand characteristics

A

When participants change their behavior because they are aware of being studied.

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13
Q

Which experimental method are you more likely to have demand characteristics

A

Lab

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14
Q

Which experimental method are you less likely to have demand characteristics

A

field and natural

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15
Q

What is meant by experimental designs

A

Refers to how participants are allocated to different conditions in an experiment.

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16
Q

What is the difference between experimental method and experimental design

A

Method: Environment
Design: how ppts are allocated

17
Q

Name the experimental designs

A

independent groups
repeated measures

18
Q

What is meant by independent groups design

A

Participants take part in only one condition of the experiment.

19
Q

How do you conduct a independent groups design

A

Recruit participants and split them into equal-sized groups.
Allocate each group to a different condition.

20
Q

What is a strength of independent groups design

A

Avoids order effects like practice or fatigue.

21
Q

What is a weakness of independent groups design

A

Potential participant differences between groups.

22
Q

What is meant by repeated measures?

A

Participants take part in all conditions of the experiment.

23
Q

How do you conduct a repeated measures design

A

Participants complete one condition, then after a sufficient time lapse, complete the other condition.
Tasks should differ but be matched in difficulty.

24
Q

What is a strength of repeated measures?

A

Controls for participant differences.

25
What is a weakness of repeated measures?
May lead to order effects
26
What is meant by order effects
When participants become tired/ bored or get better at the task after doing multiple conditions
27
what two effects are there in order effects
practice effect fatigue effect
28
What is meant by practice effect
Participants improve in the second condition due to familiarity with the task.
29
what is meant by fatigue effect?
Performance worsens in the second condition due to tiredness.
30
What is meant by controls in research?
Strategies used to minimize issues with experimental designs and prevent extraneous variables from becoming confounding variables.
31
By controlling research, how does this improve the study
Increase internal validity.
32
What two ways can we control research?
Random allocation Counterbalancing
33
What is meant by random allocation?
Ensures participants have an equal chance of being in any condition, reducing bias.
34
How would random allocation be used in research?
Write participant names on equal-sized papers, place them in a hat, and randomly assign them to conditions.
35
What is meant by counterbalancing?
Reduces order effects by having half the participants complete conditions in one order and the other half in the reverse order.
36
Does counterbalancing eliminate order effects?
Order effects are distributed rather than eliminated.