Variables Flashcards
What is a variable?
Something that is changed in some way in an experiment
What is an independent variable?
Something that is changed/manipulated by the experimenter
What is a dependent variable?
Something that is measured by the experimenter. The experimenter measures the effect of the IV and the DV.
What is an extraneous variable?
Variables other than the IV that might effect the DV and thus effect the result. ‘Extra’ variables that need to be controlled.
What is a confounding variable?
Where extraneous variables are important enough to cause a change on the DV, they become confounding variables.
What is a participant variable?
Variables the patient brings with them eg age, IQ, height
What is a situational variable?
Variables connected to the research situation eg noise, weather, temp
What are demand characteristics?
Any cues from the situation that give the participants an idea of what the research is about. Any instance where they second guess what they have to do.
What are investigator effects?
Any effect of the investigators behaviour on the research outcome eg smiling at answers, nodding, etc
What is operationalisation?
Being more specific, you need detail and conduct to repeat an experiment
What is random allocation?
Control for participant variables- in an independent groups design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in in one condition as any other
What is counterbalancing?
Control for order effects- in a repeated measures design half of the participants experience the conditions in one order and the other half in the opposite order
What is randomisation?
Control for bias- the use of chance to decide the order of conditions
What is standardisation?
Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study
