Variables Flashcards
What are variables?
Anything that varies or changes within an investigation
What is the dependent variable?
What is measured. Any effect on the DV should be caused by the change in the IV
What is the independent variable?
What is changed (either naturally or by the researcher). So the effect on the DV can be measured.
Define extraneous variables
Variables other than the IV which could potentially affect the DV if they are not controlled
What are the types of extraneous variables?
- Experimenter Variables = refers to variations in the experimenter, e.g. gender, personality etc.
- Participant Variables = refers to difference in the participants, e.g. IQ, age.
- Situational Variables = refers to the environment of the experiment, e.g. temperature etc.
Define confounding variables
Variables other than the IV which may have affected the DV, so we are unsure what has caused any changes to the DV.
Describe operationalising variables
Clearly defining variables in a measurable, numerical way to make them testable. E.g. number of words recalled correctly rather than “Memory”
What are demand characteristics?
Any cue from the researcher or the situation which may lead to the participant changing their behaviour e.g. guessing the aims leading to the “screw you” or “please you” effect. e.g. wanting to be seen in the best possible light “social desirability bias”
What are investigator effects?
Any effects of the researcher’s behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome (DV) e.g. age, gender, body language, selection of participants etc.
Describe randomisation
Use of chance when designing materials and order of conditions e.g. order of a word list: put all of the words into a hat and then the first 20 words will be in word list A and the rest in B.
Describe standardisation
Using exactly the same procedures, environment, information and instructions for all participants e.g. standardised instructions.
