Experimental Designs Flashcards
(9 cards)
What is the repeated measures design?
When each participant is part of the experimental and controlled group on two separate occasions
What are the advantages of the repeated measures design?
> Eliminates all participant related variables compared to matched participants and independent groups design.
> A smaller sample can be used, making it more economical than a matched participants design
> Counterbalancing is used to counteract the order effect: one half are exposed to IV and other half aren’t, then they switch
What are the disadvantages of the repeated measures design?
> Takes a long time
> Order effect (participants perform better due to the effect of practice)
> Participants do worse the second time due to fatigue or boredom
> Not always practical (eye-witness testimonies)
What is the matched participants design?
When a likely confounding variable is identified (age, gender, intelligence, prior experience to the IV), and participants are paired up according to their measurement against this variable, then allocated to opposite groups.
What are the advantages of the matched participants design?
> Can be done all at once, limiting the likelihood of dropouts
What are the disadvantages of the matched participants design?
> Needs a large number of participants to ensure the spread of participant variables matches the population
What is the independent groups design?
When participants are randomly allocated to either the experimental or control group
What are the advantages of the independent groups design?
> More cost and time effective compared to a repeated measures design and a matched participants design
What are the disadvantages of the independent groups design?
> Least effective at controlling participant variables → needs a large number of participants to ensure the spread of participant variables matches the population
