Variables Flashcards
What is the independent variable?
The variable that is manipulated
What is a dependent variable?
The variable that is measured
What is a cause and effect relationship?
The independent variable is the cause of the changes seen in the dependent variable
What is an extraneous variable?
A variable other than the independent that is not controlled for that may affect the results seen in the dependent variable
What is a participant variable?
Something about the individual participant that may affect the results e.g. age, IQ, mental health, personality type
What is a situational variable?
Something about the research situation that may affect the results e.g. noise level, environment
What is a confounding variable?
A variable that is not the IV, that changes consistently with the IV and impacts the DV – e.g. doing a test to see the impact of energy drink on memory, but the energy drink group are 20 years old, and the non energy drink group are 90 – so their age will also impact memory
How can extraneous variables be controlled?
Standardised procedure
Artificial setting