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P - Research Methods > Variables > Flashcards

Variables Flashcards

1
Q

what is a co-variables

A

measurements that have been made that are compared to see if they are associated

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2
Q

what are independent variables

A

the variables the researcher manipulates

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3
Q

what are dependent variables

A

the variable the researcher measures the change/difference in

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4
Q

what are extraneous variables

A

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

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5
Q

what are situational varibles

A

a type of extraneous variable, aspects of the environment that might affect the participant’s behaviour

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6
Q

what are participant/person variables

A

a type of extraneous variable, the ways in which each participant varies from the other and how this could affect the results

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7
Q

what are experimenter/investigator effects

A

a type of extraneous variable, the ways in which the experimenter unconsciously conveys to participants how they show behave - called experimenter bias

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8
Q

what are demand characteristics

A

a type of extraneous variable, all the clues in an experiment which convey to the participant the purpose of the research

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9
Q

what are confounding variables

A

a variable that does vary systematically with the independent variable meaning it could cause changes in the dependent variable

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10
Q

four examples of demand characteristics

A
  • 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
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11
Q

what is social desirability bias

A

when a participant changes their behaviour in order to make themselves more favourable

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12
Q

three examples of investigator effects

A
  • 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
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13
Q

what is single blind design

A

a way of dealing with extraneous variables, the participant is not aware of the aims of the research or which condition they are in

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14
Q

what is the effect of single blind design

A

reduces demand characteristics

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15
Q

what is double blind design

A

when the participant and the person conducting the experiment do not know the aim/hypothesis

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16
Q

what is the effect of double blind design

A

reduces demand characteristics and investigator effects

17
Q

what is experimental realism

A

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

18
Q

how to deal with participant variables

A
  • random allocation to conditions
  • using matched pairs design
  • randomisation to assign materials to different levels of IV
19
Q

how to deal with demand characteristics

A
  • use of single and double blind trials
20
Q

how to deal with situational variables

A
  • use of standardisation to ensure each participant has the same experience aside from the variation in IV
21
Q

what are two features of standardised instructions

A
  • 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
22
Q

what are order effects

A

the fact that the order the participants complete the conditions in could affect results

23
Q

what are practise effects

A

a type of order effect where participants can get better in the second condition as they have practised the task

24
Q

what are fatigue effects

A

a type of order effect where participants could get bored in the second condition as they have done the task already

25
Q

how to deal with order effects

A

counterbalancing

26
Q

what is counterbalancing

A

uses the ABBA method where the two groups do the conditions in opposite orders so order effects influence each condition equally

27
Q

what are pilot studies

A

small-scale practise investigations carried out prior to research to indentify potential problems

28
Q

what are confederates

A

aka stooges, when the researcher uses another person to play a role in an experiment

29
Q

what is randomisation

A

the use of chance to reduce bias from investigator effects

30
Q

Arguments for psychology as a science

A
  • hypothesis testing and theory construction
  • objectivity and empirical methods
  • replicability and falsifiability
31
Q

Arguments for psychology as a science

A
  • hypothesis testing and theory construction
  • objectivity and empirical methods
  • replicability and falsifiability

P - Research Methods (10 decks)

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