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Research methods > variables > Flashcards

variables Flashcards

1
Q

What is a variable?

A

The thing which you are investigating that is subject to change

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2
Q

What are the types of variables?

A

Independent, dependent, extraneous, confounding, researcher, participant and situational

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3
Q

What is the definition of an independent variable?

A

The variable which is manipulated or changed

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4
Q

What is the definition of a dependent variable?

A

The variable which is measured

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5
Q

What is the definition of an extraneous variable?

A

Any potential variable which could have a possible change in the DV

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6
Q

What is the definition of a confounding variable?

A

When something other than the IV causes change in the DV

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7
Q

What is the definition of researcher variables?

A

Things about the researcher which could potentially effect the DV

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8
Q

What is the definition of participant variables?

A

Things about the participant which could potentially effect the DV.

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9
Q

What is the definition of situational variables?

A

Things about the environment where the study takes place that could potentially effect the DV.

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10
Q

What do you have to do to all variables?

A

Operationalise

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11
Q

What is the definition of operationalise?

A

To make the variables measurable

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12
Q

Why do we operationalise?

A

To make concepts such as memory more measurable and therefore objective

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13
Q

What is the definition of causality?

A

When the only thing affecting the DV is the IV (no extraneous variables)

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14
Q

What is the definition of experimental control?

A

When a researcher utilises techniques which reduce the effects of extraneous variables?

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15
Q

Why is experimental control important?

A

It establishes causality and ensures the only thing effecting the DV is the IV

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16
Q

What is the definition of representative?

A

When a sample is large and reflects the wider population

17
Q

What is random allocation?

A

Assigning participants to conditions without bias and making the chance of being selected equal (names out of a hat)

18
Q

What are examples of participant variables?

A

Age, mood, gender, memory retention, intelligence, personal beliefs

19
Q

How do you control for participant variables?

A
  • ensuring a large and representative sample
  • random allocation
  • using a repeated measures design
    (- to avoid order effects a matched pairs design)
20
Q

What is the weakness of participant variables?

A

Cannot establish causality until they have been controlled

21
Q

What is researcher bias?

A

When a researcher analyses data and they are effected by their own thoughts, beliefs, and opinions

22
Q

What is researcher effect?

A

Subtle cues or signals from a researcher (sometimes without their knowledge - subconsciously) such as: tone of voice and body language which affects the behaviour of participants

23
Q

What are examples of researcher variables?

A

researcher bias & researcher effect

24
Q

How do you control for researcher variables?

A
  • randomisation
  • training of researcher (so they act the same for every participant)
  • using a transcript with same instructions
25
Q

What is a weakness of researcher variables?

A

That unless researcher acts identically with each participant then there will always be inconsistencies within the results

26
Q

What is standardisation?

A

Keeping everything the same for each participant?

27
Q

What are order effects?

A

Occur when participants complete more than one condition so they either become better due to practise or worse due to boredom and fatigue

28
Q

What is counterbalancing?

A

When half of the participant do condition A then condition B and the other half do condition B then condition A

29
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

When a participant tries to guess the aim of a study and changes their behaviour to either please or displease the researcher

30
Q

What are examples of situational variables?

A

Room temperature, time of day, order effects, and demand characteristics

31
Q

How do you control for situational variables?

A
  • standardisation
  • counterbalancing (controls for order effects)
  • deception & distractions (controls for demand characteristics)
32
Q

What is a weakness of situational variables?

A

If anything about the environment is different for the participants then the DV would be unfairly affected

33
Q

What is the definition of validity?

A

Truth and accuracy

34
Q

What is the definition of reliability?

A

Consistency

Research methods (15 decks)

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