variables Flashcards
What is a variable?
The thing which you are investigating that is subject to change
What are the types of variables?
Independent, dependent, extraneous, confounding, researcher, participant and situational
What is the definition of an independent variable?
The variable which is manipulated or changed
What is the definition of a dependent variable?
The variable which is measured
What is the definition of an extraneous variable?
Any potential variable which could have a possible change in the DV
What is the definition of a confounding variable?
When something other than the IV causes change in the DV
What is the definition of researcher variables?
Things about the researcher which could potentially effect the DV
What is the definition of participant variables?
Things about the participant which could potentially effect the DV.
What is the definition of situational variables?
Things about the environment where the study takes place that could potentially effect the DV.
What do you have to do to all variables?
Operationalise
What is the definition of operationalise?
To make the variables measurable
Why do we operationalise?
To make concepts such as memory more measurable and therefore objective
What is the definition of causality?
When the only thing affecting the DV is the IV (no extraneous variables)
What is the definition of experimental control?
When a researcher utilises techniques which reduce the effects of extraneous variables?
Why is experimental control important?
It establishes causality and ensures the only thing effecting the DV is the IV
What is the definition of representative?
When a sample is large and reflects the wider population
What is random allocation?
Assigning participants to conditions without bias and making the chance of being selected equal (names out of a hat)
What are examples of participant variables?
Age, mood, gender, memory retention, intelligence, personal beliefs
How do you control for participant variables?
- ensuring a large and representative sample
- random allocation
- using a repeated measures design
(- to avoid order effects a matched pairs design)
What is the weakness of participant variables?
Cannot establish causality until they have been controlled
What is researcher bias?
When a researcher analyses data and they are effected by their own thoughts, beliefs, and opinions
What is researcher effect?
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
What are examples of researcher variables?
researcher bias & researcher effect
How do you control for researcher variables?
- randomisation
- training of researcher (so they act the same for every participant)
- using a transcript with same instructions
What is a weakness of researcher variables?
That unless researcher acts identically with each participant then there will always be inconsistencies within the results
What is standardisation?
Keeping everything the same for each participant?
What are order effects?
Occur when participants complete more than one condition so they either become better due to practise or worse due to boredom and fatigue
What is counterbalancing?
When half of the participant do condition A then condition B and the other half do condition B then condition A
What are demand characteristics?
When a participant tries to guess the aim of a study and changes their behaviour to either please or displease the researcher
What are examples of situational variables?
Room temperature, time of day, order effects, and demand characteristics
How do you control for situational variables?
- standardisation
- counterbalancing (controls for order effects)
- deception & distractions (controls for demand characteristics)
What is a weakness of situational variables?
If anything about the environment is different for the participants then the DV would be unfairly affected
What is the definition of validity?
Truth and accuracy
What is the definition of reliability?
Consistency
