Variables Flashcards
What is the independent variable?
The variable that the experimenter changes or manipulates to see the effect that it will have on the dependent variable.
What is the dependent variable?
This is the variable that the experimenter measures and which is directly affected by changes to the independent variable.
What is it important for the variables to be?
Operationalised.
What does operationalised variables mean?
They are defined in a way that makes it easy to measure them.
What are extraneous variables?
Any variables causing changes in the DV.
What are the three main areas of extraneous variables?
Participant variables, situational variables and experimenter variables.
What are participant variables?
Age, gender, intelligence etc…
What are situational variables?
The experimental setting and surrounding environment e.g. the noise or temperature.
What are the experimenter variables?
Any chance in appearance, personality or conduct of the experimenter.
