Experiment and design

Question 1

IV is what

Answer 1

the variable that the researchers choose to manipulate

Question 2

The conditions of the IV usually form which two groups

Answer 2

experimental condition and the control condition

Question 3

DV is what

Answer 3

variable that researchers choose to measure

Question 4

Lab experiment feature

Answer 4

artificial environment
controls

Question 5

Field experiment feature

Answer 5

participant’s own natural environment
some controls

Question 6

situational variables

Answer 6

variables from the setting that might affect the DV

Question 7

Natural experiment feature (2)

Answer 7

• naturally occurring IV
• take place in a real-life situation

Question 8

Strength of lab experiment (3)

Answer 8

• high standardisation meaning can replicate to test for reliability
• high control
• IV directly affecting DV- cause and effect

Question 9

Weaknesses of lab experiment (3)

Answer 9

• artificial setting, lacks EV
• lack mundane realism
• increased demand characteristics

Question 10

Strengths of a field experiment (3)

Answer 10

• take place in realistic environment so increased EV
• limited demand characteristics
• natural behaviour

Question 11

Weaknesses of a field experiment (3)

Answer 11

• situational can’t be controlled
• might break ecological validity
• ethical issues

Question 12

Strengths of natural experiment(2)

Answer 12

• high in EV
• Behaviour will be natural so it will be a valid representation of each person’s behavioural response

Question 13

Weaknesses of natural experiment (2)

Answer 13

• don’t know for sure if the IV has caused an effect on the DV
• difficult to replicate due to reduced standardised procedures

Question 14

Examples of lab experiment

Answer 14

Yamamoto et al. investigated the helping behaviour in chimps in controlled lab conditions using three IV conditions

Question 15

Example of field experiment

Answer 15

Piliavin et al. was a field. There were IVs, DVs and many controls. Conducted in a New York Subway where the natural behaviour can be observed.

Question 16

Example of natural environment

Answer 16

Study by Baron-Cohen et al. is an example of a natural experiment because participants could not be randomly allocated to either autistic or non-autistic. Eyes test was same for all four groups

Question 17

Valid, lab experiment?

2

Answer 17

High internal validity because of controls set in place allowing the researcher to be sure that changes in the IV are causing changes in the DV

Low external validity as it may be difficult to apply findings to real life situation

Question 18

Valid, field

2

Answer 18

Low internal validity as researchers can control some variables but not all

High internal validity as the setting is not artificial

Question 19

Valid, natural

2

Answer 19

low internal validity as there is no control over extraneous variables

high external validity as it takes place in ppt’s natural environment

Question 20

Reliable, lab?

Answer 20

High reliability due to many controls and standardised procedures allowing for replication to test for reliability

Question 21

Reliable, field

Answer 21

medium levels of reliability as some elements of the study are standardised. However, full replication may be difficult

Question 22

Reliable, natural

Answer 22

Low as there are hardly any levels of control over extraneous variables

Question 23

Ethics, lab? (3)

Answer 23

• informed consent is easy to acquire
• deception can be dealt with if there is a full debrief
• participants know they can withdraw at any point

Question 24

Ethics, field (3)

Answer 24

• informed consent is not always possible to gain
• participants don’t know they’re in a study so they can’t be debriefed
• if ppts don’t know they’re in a study, they can’t withdraw

Question 25

Ethics, natural (3)

Answer 25

- informed consent can be difficult to gain for some studies - participants don't know they're in a study so they can't be debriefed - if ppts don't know they're in a study, they can't withdraw

Question 26

Experimental design

Answer 26

Participants are allocated to conditions of the IV

Question 27

Repeated measures design

Answer 27

Where each participant takes part in all conditions of the IV

Question 28

Example of repeated measures design

Answer 28

In the study by Canli et al. all ten ppts saw all 96 pics, which was essential for each ppt to give consistent intensity ratings to each pic. This could not have been achieved with any other design

Question 29

Strengths of repeated measures design (2)

Answer 29

- control of ppt variables - only have ppts are needed

Question 30

Weaknesses of repeated measures design (3)

Answer 30

- order effects and demand - in some instances is impossible e.g. cannot be both left-handed and right-handed - not necessary to duplicate apparatus

Question 31

Independant measures design

Answer 31

Each ppt is in just one condition of the IV

Question 32

Example of independant measures design

Answer 32

- Andrade et al, independant measures design. Ppts were randomly allocated to either doodle or not doodle. This was important because a ppt could not be in both conditions

Question 33

Strengths of independant measures (2)

Answer 33

- no order effects - reduced demand characteristics

Question 34

Weaknesses of independant measure (2)

Answer 34

- participant variables - need more participants

Question 35

How to eliminate participant variables

Answer 35

Random allocation

Question 36

Matched pairs design

Answer 36

Match any particular aspect of two or more groups of participants

Question 37

What is the aim of the matched pairs design

Answer 37

Control participant variables

Question 38

Example of matched pairs design

Answer 38

Baron- Cohen et al matched the IQ of ppts in group 4 and group 1.

Question 39

Strengths of matched pairs design (2)

Answer 39

- No ppt variables - No order effects

Question 40

Weaknesses of matched pairs design (2)

Answer 40

- can't be sure if all relevant variables have been matched - time consuming and difficult to match participants

Question 41

Single blind technique

Answer 41

Ppt is unaware of the behaviour that is expected of them

Question 42

Demand characterisitcs

Answer 42

ppts responds to the experiment in a certain way in order to please the experimenter

Question 43

Experimenter bias

Answer 43

experimenter who wants to achieve a particular outcome gives different 'signals' to participants

Question 44

Double blind technique

Answer 44

Ppt and experimenter are unaware of the aims of the study