Research Methods 2

Question 1

Extraneous variables

Answer 1

Any variable other than the IV that may affect the DV

e.g. participants; demand characteristics
investigator effects
individual differences

Question 2

Internal validity

Answer 2

Are we measuring what we think we are?

concurrent
face

Question 3

Concurrent validity

Answer 3

Test the same participants using an existing test at the same time as the new test

If results correlate, new test has good concurrent validity

Question 4

Face validity

Answer 4

Whether a test looks like it is measuring what the researcher intends to measure

Question 5

External validity

Answer 5

Ecological
Population
Temporal

Question 6

Ecological validity

Answer 6

Does it apply in real life

Question 7

Population validity

Answer 7

Can results be generalised to the general population

Question 8

Temporal

Answer 8

Do findings still apply now

Question 9

Mundane realism

Answer 9

How a study mirrors the real world

Research environment is realistic to a degree to which experiences encountered in the research environment would occur in the real world

Question 10

Confounding variables

Answer 10

If researcher fails to identify and control extraneous variables and they DO influence results, then they likely become confounding variables

Question 11

Field experiments

Answer 11

Conducted in a more natural environment
IV manipulated by a researcher

+ High ecological validity
+ Participants won’t use demand characteristics if unaware
- Harder to replicate
- Loss of control of other factors that may affect DV
- Participants unaware so lack right to withdraw and consent

Question 12

Natural experiments

Answer 12

When not possible ethically/practically to deliberately manipulate to the IV; varies naturally
DV tested in a lab

e.g. whether babies adopted before or after 10 months

Question 13

Quasi experiments

Answer 13

IV is naturally occurring e.g. gender
DV measured in a lab
IV not made to vary by anyone

Question 14

Natural and quasi experiments

Answer 14

Not true experiments because IV is not deliberately manipulated; not possible to claim changes in DV caused by IV

+ Allow psychologists to study ‘real’ problems
+ Allow comparisons between different types of people
- Random allocation not possible
- Lacks ecological validity as DV may be an artificial task
- Can’t manipulate IV

Question 15

Independent groups design

Answer 15

Different participants used in each condition
Randomly allocated

+ 1 set of materials needed
+ Can almost always be used
- Individual differences
- More participants needed

Question 16

Repeated measures design

Answer 16

Each participant takes place in each experimental condition so participants act as their own control

+ Reduced impact of individual differences
- Participants may guess the aim of the study so potential demand characteristics

improve: do things in different orders

Question 17

Matched pairs design

Answer 17

Participants matched on basis of variables relevant to the experiment
members of each pair randomly allocated to a condition

+ combines the advantages of independent group design and repeated measures design
- matching pairs is time consuming and difficult

Question 18

Laboratory experiments

Answer 18

In a controlled experiment

+ Replicable if carried out well; see if consistent results
+ High level of control
- loss of validity; likely an artificial situation
- lack ecological validity; difficult to generalise results