Variables Flashcards
what is a co-variables
measurements that have been made that are compared to see if they are associated
what are independent variables
the variables the researcher manipulates
what are dependent variables
the variable the researcher measures the change/difference in
what are extraneous variables
a variable that does not vary systematically with the independent variables but may have an effect on the dependent variable making it difficult to establish a cause and effect relationship
what are situational varibles
a type of extraneous variable, aspects of the environment that might affect the participant’s behaviour
what are participant/person variables
a type of extraneous variable, the ways in which each participant varies from the other and how this could affect the results
what are experimenter/investigator effects
a type of extraneous variable, the ways in which the experimenter unconsciously conveys to participants how they show behave - called experimenter bias
what are demand characteristics
a type of extraneous variable, all the clues in an experiment which convey to the participant the purpose of the research
what are confounding variables
a variable that does vary systematically with the independent variable meaning it could cause changes in the dependent variable
four examples of demand characteristics
- guessing the purpose of the experiment and trying to provide the ‘correct’ results
- guessing the purpose of the experiment and trying to provide the ‘wrong’ results
- acting unnaturally out of nervousness/fear
- acting unnaturally due to social desirability bias
what is social desirability bias
when a participant changes their behaviour in order to make themselves more favourable
three examples of investigator effects
- physical characteristics such as age or gender
- personal characteristics like tone or accent
- investigators being unconsciously biased in their interpretation of data to find what they expect
what is single blind design
a way of dealing with extraneous variables, the participant is not aware of the aims of the research or which condition they are in
what is the effect of single blind design
reduces demand characteristics
what is double blind design
when the participant and the person conducting the experiment do not know the aim/hypothesis
what is the effect of double blind design
reduces demand characteristics and investigator effects
what is experimental realism
a way of dealing with extraneous variables, if the researcher makes the tasks sufficiently engaging the participant pays attention to the task and not the fact they are being observed, reducing demand characteristics
how to deal with participant variables
- random allocation to conditions
- using matched pairs design
- randomisation to assign materials to different levels of IV
how to deal with demand characteristics
- use of single and double blind trials
how to deal with situational variables
- use of standardisation to ensure each participant has the same experience aside from the variation in IV
what are two features of standardised instructions
- must be written so they can be read out as they are (verbatim format)
- must include a check at the end so participants understand what they have to do
what are order effects
the fact that the order the participants complete the conditions in could affect results
what are practise effects
a type of order effect where participants can get better in the second condition as they have practised the task
what are fatigue effects
a type of order effect where participants could get bored in the second condition as they have done the task already
how to deal with order effects
counterbalancing
what is counterbalancing
uses the ABBA method where the two groups do the conditions in opposite orders so order effects influence each condition equally
what are pilot studies
small-scale practise investigations carried out prior to research to indentify potential problems
what are confederates
aka stooges, when the researcher uses another person to play a role in an experiment
what is randomisation
the use of chance to reduce bias from investigator effects
Arguments for psychology as a science
- hypothesis testing and theory construction
- objectivity and empirical methods
- replicability and falsifiability
Arguments for psychology as a science
- hypothesis testing and theory construction
- objectivity and empirical methods
- replicability and falsifiability
