Experimental design Flashcards

1
Q

The scientific method

A

is a systematic approach for planning, conducting and reporting research which involves collecting empirical evidence

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2
Q

Empirical evidence

A

data collected directly from observation or experiment

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3
Q

Experiment

A

a controlled research study testing the effect of changing one variable on another. An example of quantitative research that generates numerical data

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4
Q

Types of experiments

A

True experiment
Field experiment
Quasi experiment
Natural experiment

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5
Q

True experiment

A

when the IV is manipulated and DV is measured under controlled conditions. Participants are randomly allocated to conditions

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6
Q

Field experiment

A

an experiment done in a natural setting. There is less control over variables

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7
Q

quasi experiment

A

no IV is manipulated and participants cannot be randomly allocated to conditions. Instead their traits allocate them to groups e.g. age, gender

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8
Q

Natural experiment

A

an experiment that is a result of a naturally occurring event e.g. changes in behavior after a change in law or changes in behavior after the introduction of television to isolated communities

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9
Q

Extraneous variables

A

variables other than the independent variable that have the potential to cause unwanted effects on the dependent variable

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10
Q

confounding variable

A

variables other than the IV that directly and systematically had an effect on the DV (often related to the design of the experiment)

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11
Q

Experimental designs

A

Repeated measures
matched pair
Independent measures

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12
Q

repeated measures

A
  • Each participant completes both conditions (the control and experimental)

Participant differences are eliminated (e.g. the same IQ etc.

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13
Q

Matched pair

A
  • Participants with similar qualities that may effect the study are matched up together, you then randomly split them into the two groups so that both groups have similar characteristics
    E.g. if you are looking at music’s effect on school grades you might match people with similar historic academic performances and similar subjects
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14
Q

Independent measures

A
  • Participants are randomly (have an equal chance of being assigned to wither group) allocated to the control and groups
    • Participants complete only one of the conditions
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15
Q

What are the ethical considerations

A
  1. deception
  2. protection from undue stress or harm
  3. debriefing
  4. informed consent
  5. anonymity
  6. right to withdrawl
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16
Q

ethical consideration

what is deception

A
  • Knowing things about the experiment may change how people perform in the study
    • You can use deception if its justified, it doesn’t cause harm or distress and the participant is debriefed after the experiment so that they understand what actually happened and the true purpose of the study
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17
Q

ethical consideration

protection from undue stress or harm

A
  • Throughout the experiment participants are protected form all forms of physical and mental harm
    • There are no negative consequences suffered from the study
    • Care must be taken with vulnerable groups
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18
Q

ethical considerations

debriefing

A
  • Participants are made aware of the true nature/aim of the study once it has concluded
    • If deception was used you must tell them how they were deceived and the reasons why
    • Researchers must allow participants to ask for a copy of the study including procedures, results and conclusion
    • Should refer participants to relevant healthcare professionals if they are experiencing issues post the experiment
19
Q

ethical consideration

informed consent

A
  • Participation is voluntary and fully informed
    • They must agree in writing to;
      The nature and purpose of the research
      Method (what they must do)
      Withdrawal and confidentiality wrights
      Any risks/inconveniences/discomforts they may encounter
    • Legal guardians must provide consent for child participants or people that cannot provide consent
    • No psychologically or physically vulnerable individuals should be allowed to participate
20
Q

ethical consideration

anonymity

A
  • Participants are not identified or identifiable without their consent
    • Researchers must explain to participants prior to the study that the details of their involvement in a study cannot be revealed or connect to them personally
    • Confidentiality is also pert of this, means that data and results are stored and disposed of in an appropriate way
21
Q

ethical consideration

right to withdraw

A
  • The participant can leave at any time
    • They do not have to provide a reason to withdraw
    • The must be no negative consequences around their choice to withdraw
      They also have the right to remove their results form the study at any time
22
Q

Extraneous variable

A

any variable other than the IV the could cause change in the dependent variable, and effect the results in an unwanted way. You cannot always control them.

23
Q

Confounding variable

A

a type of extraneous variable that has not been controlled and HAS HAD an unwanted effect on the dependent variable

24
Q

type of confounding/extraneous variable

participant variables

A

differing individual background, characteristics and abilities that may impact their responses in an experiment
E.g. age, IQ, mood, education

25
Q

order effects

A

when performance as measured by the DV are influenced by the specific order that participants complete both conditions

26
Q

type of order effect

practice effects

A

They have more experience from repeating the task and do better, or they may get fatigued

27
Q

type of order effect

carry over effects

A
  • The influences that a particular task has on performance in the task that follows
    E.g. drink driving tests not having dropped in blood alcohol before doing the ‘not drunk’ test
28
Q

demand characteristics

A

participant’s interpretation of the aim or purpose of an experiment causes them to make changes in their behavior (consciously or unconsciously) to fit their interpretation

29
Q

experimenter effects

A

the researcher’s expectations, actions or biases influence the participant’s behavior in the experiment
Two types
1. Experimenter expectancy - they provide clues or hints towards the responses participants should make in the experiment
2. Experimenter bias - unintentional biases in the collection or treatment of data

30
Q

non-stadardised instructions and procedures

A

the research procedures (including instructions) are not uniform, or the same for all participants

31
Q

placebo effects

A

a change in behavior or response of participants due to their expectations and beliefs that they are receiving some treatment

32
Q

types of sampling

random

A
  • Every member of the population of research interest has an equal chance of being a part of the sample
33
Q

types of sampling

stratified

A
  • members of the population are divided into their sub-groups based on the characteristics they share
    The participants are randomly selected from each sub group in the same proportion that exists in the population
34
Q

types of sampling

convenience

A
  • Obtain a sample of participants that are readily available without worrying about making the sample representative of the population
    • Based on accessibility
35
Q

types of sampling

vollunteer

A
  • People recruiting themselves to participate
    Often done through an advertisement in a newspaper
36
Q

types of sampling

snowball

A
  • Used in qualitative research
    • Find a good participant, ask them to recruit others
    • Used when the group is hard to access or might not respond to an advert or have a very specific characteristic
37
Q

internal reliability

A

how consistently a method measures within itself

38
Q

external reliability

A

how consistently a method measures over time when repeated

39
Q

construct validity

A
  • Can the test/method be used to support the underlying theory, to what extent do the operationalization reflect the construct?
    Linking back to the theory
40
Q

internal validity

A

How accurate is the methodology and procedures? Is the study actually testing the hypothesis? Is there a cause and effect relationship between variables? Is the sample a true representation of the population?

41
Q

external validity

A
  • Do the findings apply to other people, settings, situation and time periods?
42
Q

ecological validity

A

Does the environment in which the study was carried out affect the results, making it less representative of behavior in uncontrolled environments?

43
Q

population validity

A

Is the sample somehow biased? If so, how might this effect the results of the study