Variables - Research Methods

Question 1

What are ‘factors that can vary or change within a study’ called?

Answer 1

Variables

Question 2

Define operationalised.

Answer 2

Turning abstract concepts into measurable observations.

Question 3

What is the Dependent Variable?

Answer 3

The variable that is measured in an experiment.

Question 4

What is the variable that is changed in an experiment called?

Answer 4

Independent Variable

Question 5

What are ‘factors that are not the independent variable, but might affect the results of the study if they are not controlled’ called?

Answer 5

Extraneous Variables

Question 6

What are extraneous variables?

Answer 6

factors that are not the independent variable, but might affect the results of the study if they are not controlled

Question 7

What are Control Variables?

Answer 7

Factors that are kept the same in an experiment

Question 8

What are; making sure that all participants are given exactly the same instructions and do the tasks in exactly the same way examples of?

Answer 8

Standardisation

Question 9

Give an example of standardisation:

Answer 9

making sure that all participants are given exactly the same instructions and do the tasks in exactly the same way

Question 10

when is standardisation useful?

Answer 10

to help control researcher bias

Question 11

What is Randomisation?

Answer 11

Randomly assigning participants to different conditions. This means that the condition that the participant takes part in is determined by chance.

Question 12

when is randomisation useful?

Answer 12

to help control researcher bias and participant variables

Question 13

What is it called when researchers don’t tell participants the aim of the study or which condition they are in?

Answer 13

single-blind design

Question 14

when is single-blind design useful?

Answer 14

controlling extraneous variables such as demand characteristics

Question 15

What is Double-blind Design?

Answer 15

Not telling participants the aim of the study or which condition they are in and hiring someone to run the experiment for them. They do not tell this person the aim of the study or which condition each participant is in.

Question 16

when is a Double-blind Design useful?

Answer 16

controlling extraneous variables such as demand characteristics and researcher bias

Question 17

How is counterbalancing done?

Answer 17

The participants are randomly divided into 2 groups. The first group would then do condition 1 first followed by condition 2. The second group would do condition 2 first followed by condition 1.

Question 18

when is counterbalancing useful?

Answer 18

to control any order effects

Question 19

What is a type of situational variable that occurs when participants have to repeat a test?

Answer 19

Order Effect

Question 20

What is Demand Characteristics?

Answer 20

A type of situational variable where participants guess, or are told, the aims of the study and so behave differently.

Question 21

what are participant variables?

Answer 21

a type of extraneous variable where it is characteristics of individual participants that might influence the results of the study.

Question 22

give an example of a participant variable

Answer 22

age, IQ, mood, personality, ability, upbringing

Question 23

What are Situational Variables?

Answer 23

A type of extraneous variable where the characteristics of the environment might influence the results of the study.

Question 24

give an example of a situational variable

Answer 24

noise, temperature, light

Question 25

What is is Researcher bias/ investigator effects?

Answer 25

a type of extraneous variable where the person doing the research might influence the results of the study because they know the aim and want to try to fulfil it called

Question 26

What are Confounding Variables? And why are they called that?

Answer 26

When participant/situational variables definitely affect the results they are then called confounding variables. This is because they have confounded (damaged) the results.