Research Methods

Question 1

Repeated measures design

Answer 1

An experimental design in which each participant performs in every level of the IV

Question 2

Participant variables

Answer 2

Individual differences between participants ( such as age, personality and intelligence ) that could affect their behaviour. In a study that would hide or exaggerate differences between levels of the IV

Question 3

Demand characteristics

Answer 3

Features of the experimental situation which give away the aims. They can cause participants to try to change their behaviour, for example to match their beliefs about what is supposed to happen, which reduces the validity of the study.

Question 4

Random allocation

Answer 4

A way to reduce the effect of confounding variables such as individual differences. Participants are put in each of the IV such that each person has an equal chance of being in any condition.

Question 5

Confounding variables

Answer 5

an uncontrolled variable that acts systematically on one level of the IV so could hide or exaggerate differences between levels and therefore ‘confound’ or confuse the results making it difficult to understand the effect of the IV on the DV

Question 6

Reliability

Answer 6

The extent to which a procedure, task or measure is consistent, for example, that it would produce the same results with the same people on each occasion.

Question 7

Validity (bonus specify the types of validity)

Answer 7

The extent to which the researcher is testing what they claim to be testing. ( internal, external and ecological.)

Question 8

Placebo

Answer 8

A pill or procedure given to a patient who believes it to be real treatment which in fact has no active ‘ingredient’, i.e no active drug in the case of a pill or no therapeutic value in the case of an intervention.