Experiments Flashcards
(78 cards)
1
Q
● What is the independent variable (IV)?
A
The variable that changes or is manipulated by the researcher
2
Q
● What is the dependent variable (DV)?
A
The variable that the researcher measures
3
Q
● What does operationalising mean?
A
Being specific and clear when defining variables
4
Q
● Why is operationalising important?
A
It increases replicability/reliability
5
Q
● What does a hypothesis state?
A
A specific, testable statement in which the researcher predicts what will happen between the variables
6
Q
● What is an aim in research?
A
A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate
7
Q
● What is a directional hypothesis also called?
A
One-tailed hypothesis
8
Q
● What is a non-directional hypothesis also called?
A
Two-tailed hypothesis
9
Q
● What does a null hypothesis state?
A
There will be no difference between the conditions
10
Q
● What are extraneous variables?
A
Unwanted extra variables other than the IV
11
Q
● What is a confounding variable?
A
An extraneous variable that is not controlled and affects the DV
12
Q
● What are demand characteristics?
A
Any clues given off within the research that could lead participants to change their natural behaviour
13
Q
● What is randomisation?
A
Aspects of the research are decided by chance, not by the researcher
14
Q
● What is standardisation?
A
Using the same formalised instructions and procedures for all participants
15
Q
● What is an independent groups design?
A
Participants take part in one condition only
16
Q
● What is a repeated measures design?
A
All participants take part in all conditions
17
Q
● What is a matched pairs design?
A
Participants are matched on important characteristics and then placed in different conditions
18
Q
● What is random allocation?
A
Ensures each participant has the same chance of being in any condition
19
Q
● What is counterbalancing?
A
A method to control and reduce order effects
20
Q
● What is a population in research?
A
The group of people who are the focus of the researcher’s interest
21
Q
● What is a sample?
A
A group of people taken from the target population to take part in the research
22
Q
● What is random sampling?
A
Every person in the target population has an equal chance of being selected
23
Q
● What is systematic sampling?
A
A system is applied to select participants, such as every 5th person
24
Q
● What is opportunity sampling?
A
Selecting participants who are available at the time
25
● What is a volunteer sample?
A self-selected method where people volunteer themselves
26
● What is stratified sampling?
The make-up of the sample reflects the proportions of sub-groups in the target population
27
● What is a lab experiment?
An experiment conducted in a highly controlled environment
28
● What is a field experiment?
An experiment that takes place in a natural environment for participants
29
● What is a natural experiment?
An experiment where the researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV
30
● What is a quasi experiment?
An experiment with an IV based on an existing individual difference between people
31
● What is the main advantage of lab experiments?
High level of control over extraneous variables
32
● What is a main limitation of lab experiments?
Lacks ecological validity
33
● What is a strength of field experiments?
High ecological validity
34
● What is a limitation of field experiments?
Low reliability
35
● What is a strength of natural experiments?
Provides opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken
36
● What is a limitation of natural experiments?
Naturally occurring event may only happen very rarely
37
● What is a strength of quasi experiments?
Can be conducted in a natural or controlled environment
38
● What is a limitation of quasi experiments?
Sample bias as the sample being studied may have unique characteristics
39
● What is order effects?
When participants take part in more than one experimental condition and their performance changes
40
● What is the purpose of a control group?
To assess that the IV has affected the DV
41
● What is test re-test?
A way to assess reliability by giving the same test twice and correlating the results
42
▲ Which design would best avoid order effects?
Independent groups design
43
▲ In a scenario where you want to measure the effect of music on running, which variable is the IV?
Listening to music
44
▲ If participants are split and matched on IQ, what design is being used?
Matched pairs design
45
▲ A teacher wants to study mood on a Monday morning. What sampling method is used if she asks the first 30 students who walk past?
Opportunity sampling
46
▲ In a memory study using the same group in all conditions, which design is this?
Repeated measures design
47
▲ How could a researcher control for demand characteristics in an experiment?
Get another researcher who does not know the aims to carry out the experiment
48
▲ Why might a field experiment be low in reliability?
It is difficult to repeat with exactly the same conditions
49
▲ How can randomisation be achieved when allocating participants?
Using a computer to randomly generate names for each group
50
▲ If you want to ensure the sample reflects the population's gender ratio, what sampling method should be used?
Stratified sampling
51
▲ If a researcher flips a coin to decide the order of conditions, what control is this?
Randomisation
52
▲ What is a possible ethical issue in field experiments?
Lack of informed consent
53
▲ Why might an opportunity sample be unrepresentative?
Participants are present in the same place at the same time, possibly with similar characteristics
54
▲ Which sampling technique is quickest to carry out?
Opportunity or volunteer sampling
55
▲ If participants are aware of being observed, which type of observation is this?
Overt observation
56
▲ In a scenario where only volunteers respond to an advert, what sampling method is this?
Volunteer sampling
57
▲ If only certain types of personalities respond to a call for research, what is this a limitation of?
Volunteer sample
58
▲ What type of validity is concerned with whether findings can be generalised to other time periods?
Temporal validity
59
▲ If you want to check if an experiment can be replicated with consistent results, what are you assessing?
Reliability
60
▲ What could reduce the internal validity of a study involving a visible experimenter?
Demand characteristics
61
✪ Why might lab experiments be high in reliability but low in ecological validity? Use explicit wording from the text.
Lab experiments are high in reliability as the experiment can be easily repeated in the same conditions to check for consistent results, but lack ecological validity as they are carried out in an artificial environment, making it difficult to generalise findings beyond the setting of the study, lowering external validity.
62
✪ Explain, using exact booklet phrasing, why field experiments could create ethical issues.
Field experiments could create an ethical issue of lack of informed consent as people may not be aware they are being studied, so wouldn't have given their consent. If they become aware they may become upset and wish to withdraw their data from the research.
63
✪ Critically evaluate the use of opportunity sampling in terms of representativeness, quoting the text.
May not be representative of the target population, those picked by an opportunity sample are present in the same place at the same time, doing similar things, therefore they may have similar personalities, making it difficult to generalise findings to the wider population.
64
✪ Using the booklet wording, discuss why volunteer samples may be biased.
The sample may be biased/not representative as only a certain type of personality (extrovert/curious/more likely to please the researcher) will volunteer, therefore difficult to generalise to the target population.
65
✪ According to the text, what is a limitation of natural experiments regarding repeatability?
Naturally occurring event may only happen very rarely which limits opportunities for research, this means it is unlikely that the research can be repeated to check for consistent results so lacks reliability.
66
✪ How does sample bias limit the external validity of quasi experiments? Use the explicit wording.
Sample bias as the sample being studied may have unique characteristics, which may mean that it is difficult to generalise to the target population, decreasing the external validity of the study.
67
✪ What is the disadvantage of matched pairs design regarding individual differences?
Individual differences cannot be fully eliminated. Psychologists match participants on variables important for the research but are not able to match participants on all variables. Therefore this could question the validity of the matched-pairs design.
68
✪ Explain, why counterbalancing is used in repeated measures design.
Counterbalancing is used to control and reduce order effects. Order effects are balanced/distributed across both conditions.
69
✪ Explain a limitation of systematic sampling in terms of generalisability.
The sample may not be representative as not everyone has an equal chance of being picked therefore it is difficult to generalise to the target population.
70
✪ Discuss the limitation of random sampling regarding time.
Very time consuming because it takes time and can be difficult collecting all the names of participants to take part in the study and it is not guaranteed participants would want to take part in the research.
71
✪ Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of stratified sampling.
Most representative sample as it accurately reflects the make-up of the target population in the correct proportions meaning findings can be generalised to the target population. However, very time consuming because it takes time working out the proportions of participants needed and it is not guaranteed participants would consent to take part.
72
✪ Explain how controls help to increase internal validity.
Controls help to increase internal validity by reducing extraneous variables.
73
✪ Why must variables be operationalised?
If variables are vague (not operationalised) then it would not be possible to repeat the research to check for consistent results. Operationalising increases replicability/reliability.
74
✪ Critically evaluate the main disadvantage of using independent groups design.
Individual differences may affect the DV as there are separate groups of participants in each condition e.g. some participants could have a better memory which wouldn't be suitable in a memory study, lowering the internal validity.
75
✪ What are the strengths and limitations of random allocation as a control?
Random allocation ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other, therefore it is unlikely that all participants in one condition will share a characteristic to help them perform better at the DV. However, it does not guarantee perfectly equal groups in all cases.
76
✪ Explain the main disadvantage of opportunity sampling.
May not be representative of the target population, those picked by an opportunity sample are present in the same place at the same time, doing similar things, therefore they may have similar personalities, making it difficult to generalise findings to the wider population.
77
✪ Explain the limitation of using volunteer samples for generalisability.
The sample maybe bias/not representative as only a certain type of personality will volunteer, therefore difficult to generalise to the target population.
78
✪ Explain why a natural experiment has low control over extraneous variables.
Low control over extraneous variables as natural experiments usually take place in a natural environment. Therefore it is difficult to establish cause and effect between the IV and the DV lowering the internal validity of the study.
