Controlling Variables

Question 1

What is the relationship between control and realism in experiments

Answer 1

-Lab experiments have high control but low realism
-Field experiments have low control but high realism

Question 2

What is meant by cyclical process

Answer 2

When we see the finding in the lab experiment and then test them in the real world . This is so we can establish casuality

Question 3

What type of validity does mundane realism threaten

Answer 3

Its a potential threat to external validity

Question 4

What are uncontrolled variables

Answer 4

Variables that cant be controlled like the weather. They will become confounding variables

Question 5

What are confounding variables

Answer 5

This refers to extraneous variables that were not controlled by the researcher

Question 6

What is a situational confounding variable

Answer 6

It doesn’t affect the results

Question 7

What is a participant confounding variable

Answer 7

A factor other than one being studied that is associated with the DV and with the IV

Question 8

What are extraneous variables

Answer 8

Variables other than the independent variable that could affect the participants performance in a study

Question 9

What are investigator effects

Answer 9

When a researcher (consciously or unconsciously) acts in a way to support their prediction. This can be a particular problem when observing events that can be interpreted in more than one way

Question 10

Examples of indirect effects

Answer 10

The investigator might operationalise the measurement of the variables in such a way that the desired result is more likely

Question 11

What is loose procedure effect

Answer 11

Where the investigator may not clearly state the standardised instructions properly which leaves room for the results to be influenced by the experimenter

Question 12

Examples of direct effects

Answer 12

The effect of exposure on the absent of the mediator

Question 13

What is random allocation

Answer 13

This is extremely important process of research. Each participant is given the same opportunity to be assigned to any given group so individual differences aren’t counted for and are far less likely to affect the results

Question 14

What EV does random allocation help control

Answer 14

Prevents research bias

Question 15

What is standardised procedure

Answer 15

There is normally an attempt at a standardised procedure. This allows for replication to determine the reliability of the results

Question 16

What EV does standardised procedure help to control

Answer 16

Carrying out the study wrong

Question 17

What is randomisation

Answer 17

Presenting any stimuli in an experiment in a random manner to avoid having an effect on the DV. It reduces the change of having practice effects becoming confounding variables

Question 18

What EV does randomisation help to control

Answer 18

Researcher bias

Question 19

What is a single blind test

Answer 19

Where participants don’t know which condition of the study they are in but the investigator does . The participant wouldn’t know if they were given the real drug or placebo

Question 20

What EV does a single blind test help to control

Answer 20

Reduce risk of errors

Question 21

What is a double blind test

Answer 21

When the participants and investigator don’t know which condition the participants in placebo or real drug

Question 22

Which EV does a double blind test help to control

Answer 22

Reduce risk of error