Varibles

Question 1

To study anything we …

Answer 1

Look for changes in variables

Question 2

What is an IV?

Answer 2

Independent variable - variable that is manipulated/changed and is assumed to directly affect the DV

Question 3

What is a DV?

Answer 3

Dependent variable - the variable being tested and measured in an experiment (dependent on the IV)

Question 4

Operationalising variables

Answer 4

define and measure a specific variable as it is used in your study.
enables another psychologist to replicate your research - reliability (achieving consistency in the results).

Question 5

A variable is …

Answer 5

A factor of interest to the researcher.
It is required to have a unit of measurement and is usually something that is manipulated (or it naturally changes) or measured.

Question 6

Extraneous variables

Answer 6

are factors that are not the IV but may influence the results (DV).

Question 7

Confounding variable

Answer 7

is a factor that has not been considered and is associated with both IV and DV.

Question 8

Control variable

Answer 8

Contains and unchanged variable

Question 9

Example of control variable

Answer 9

Heat, light, duration

Question 10

Extraneous variable example

Answer 10

Intelligence, gender, age, researcher influence

Question 11

Example of confounding variables

Answer 11

Social desirability,

Question 12

Why do confounding variables matter?

Answer 12

ensure the internal validity

you may find a cause-and-effect relationship that does not actually exist, because the effect you measure is caused by the confounding variable (and not by your independent variable).

Question 13

How to reduced impact of confounding variables

Answer 13

Restriction, matching, stat control, randomisation

Question 14

If left uncontrolled, extraneous variables can ..

Answer 14

can lead to inaccurate conclusions about the relationship between independent and dependent variables.

Question 15

Why do extraneous variables matter?

Answer 15

threaten the internal validity of your study by providing alternative explanations for your results.

Question 16

When you control an extraneous variable, you turn it into a ..

Answer 16

Control variable

Question 17

Demand characteristics (EV example)

Answer 17

cues that encourage participants to conform to researchers’ behavioural expectations.

Question 18

Experimenter effects (EV ex,)

Answer 18

Experimenter effects are unintentional actions by researchers that can influence study outcomes.

Question 19

Avoiding demand characteristics

Answer 19

making it difficult for participants to guess the aim of your study. Ask participants to perform unrelated filler tasks or fill in plausibly relevant surveys to lead them away from the true nature of the study.

Question 20

Avoid experimenter effects

Answer 20

you can implement masking (blinding) to hide the condition assignment from participants and experimenters.
In a double-blind study, researchers won’t be able to bias participants towards acting in expected ways or selectively interpret results to suit their hypotheses.

Question 21

Situational variables (EV)

Answer 21

Situational variables, such as lighting or temperature, can alter participants’ behaviors in study environments. These factors are sources of random error or random variation in your measurements.

Question 22

situational variables

Answer 22

Situational variables, such as lighting or temperature, can alter participants’ behaviors in study environments. These factors are sources of random error or random variation in your measurements.

Question 23

PPn variable (EV)

Answer 23

any characteristic or aspect of a participant’s background that could affect study results, even though it’s not the focus of an experiment.

Participant variables can include sex, gender identity, age, educational attainment, marital status, religious affiliation, etc.

Question 24

Controlling PPN variables (EV)

Answer 24

aim to use random assignment to divide your sample into control and experimental groups. Random assignment makes your groups comparable by evenly distributing participant characteristics between them.