Research Methods Flashcards
What’s an independent variable
What you change
What’s the dependant variable
What you measure within the experiment
What’s a lab experiment
Happens in a controlled environment, the IV is manipulate but the researcher and the effects on the IV on the DV are measured
What’s a field experiment
This takes place in the real world, IV is manipulated and participants are unaware that they are involved in the experiment.
What is a natural experiment
This is taken place in a natural environment, the IV is naturally occurring
One strength of a lab experiment
High control over extraneous variables as they can be minimised
Cause and effect relationship can be established
Limitation of a lab experiment
Participants know they are being studied therefore a high chance of demand characteristics and their behaviour will change to avoid accurate/natural results
What are the 3 experimental designs
Independent group design
Matched pairs design
Repeated measures design
What’s the independent group design
This is where participants only take part in one condition and they are randomly allocated into the either the control group or experimental group.
What’s the repeated measures design
This is when participants take part in both conditions (experimental and control)
What’s the matched pairs design
This is when participants are “matched” with another participant on key variables relevant to the experiment. Then the pair is then split and randomly allocated either the control group or the experimental group.
Strength for the independent group design
Internal validity increases due to them only participating in the experiment once. For example, they would get any better, expect what’s coming or become bored. This is a strength because there is no order effects.
Limitation for independent group design
Requires more participants compared to the repeated measures design. For example, the researcher will need double the amount of people however end up with the same amount of data. This is a limitation because it can be time consuming getting all the participants.
One strength for the repeated measures design
One strength is that it requires fewer participants. For example, compared to the independent group measure, you’ll only need half the amount of the participants and end with the same amount of data. This is a strength because external validity will be increased.
One limitation for the repeated measures design
One limitation for this design is that there is an increased chance of demand characteristics due to the participants already participating in the experiemnt already. For example, the participants might have figured out the aim of the experiment therefore show the “please you” or “screw you” effect.
