Ways of minimising extraneous and confounding variables

Question 1

Single blind procedure

Answer 1

when the participants do not know which group (control or experimental) they are in, so it lowers their expectations on how they should perform

Question 2

Double blind procedure

Answer 2

where both the participants and the researcher don’t know which group (control or experimental) the participants are in, in which experimenter and participant variables are trying to be eliminated

Question 3

Placebo

Answer 3

is a fake treatment that are meant to look, feel, smell, taste, the same as the real independent variable within the study, but does not affect the performance of the participant. Placebo’s are used to overcome demand characteristics (control group given placebo)

Question 4

Standardised procefures/instructions

Answer 4

are procedures and instructions that are exactly the same for all participants, predetermined, and neutral in delivery and word choice, so as to avoid demand characteristics
- automation used to present stimuli and measure/record to reduce experimenter effect and demand charachtersitics