RM Exam 2 Flashcards
(39 cards)
What is an independent variable?
A stimulus or aspect of the environment that the experimenter directly manipulates to determine it’s influences on behavior. (“Cause” of cause/effect)
What is a dependent variable?
A response or behavior that the experimenter measures. Changes in the DV should be cause by manipulation of the IV. (“Effect” of cause/effect)
What is an extraneous variable?
Undesired variables that may operate to influence the DV and thus invalidate an experiment.
What does it mean for a hypothesis to be in “general implication form?”
It’s when the hypothesis is phrased like an if, then statement.
What is a directional hypothesis?
When there is a prediction of a specific outcome of an experiment.
What is a nondirectional hypothesis?
When a hypothesis does not have a specific prediction
What are the methods we use to “control” for extraneous variables?
Randomization, elimination, constancy, and counterbalancing
What is randomization?
A control technique that ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group in an experiment.
What is elimination?
A control technique in which an extraneous variable is completely removed from an experiment.
What is constancy?
A control technique in which an extraneous variable is reduced to a single value that is experienced by all participants
What is counterbalancing?
A procedure for controlling order effects by presenting different treatment sequences
What is within-subject counterbalancing?
Presentation of different treatment sequences to the same participant
What is within-group counterbalancing?
Presentation of different treatment sequences to different participants
Why does having more participants in a study give more accurate results?
Because it eliminates the possibility of “extreme scorers” influencing the score a bit
How does one reduce experimenter effects on a study?
By standardizing methods, appearance, and attitude of the experimenter. You can also use single/double-blind studies.
What is a single-blind experiment?
An experiment where either the experimenter or participants are unaware of the treatment the participants are receiving.
What is a double-blind experiment?
An experiment where neither the experiment nor the participants know what treatment the participants are getting.
What are demand characteristics?
Features of the experiment that inadvertantly lead participants to respond in a particular manner.
What is the good participant effect?
The tendency of participants to behave as they perceive the experimenter wants them to behave.
What is the rosenthal effect?
When the experimenter’s preconceived idea of appropriate responding influences the treatment of participants and their behavior
What is internal validity?
It’s when you consider whether the IV is the only possible explanation for your DV.
What is history? (The threat to internal validity)
Refers to events that occur between the DV measurements in a repeated-measures design
What is maturation?
Refers to changes in participants that occur over time during an experiment; could include actual physical maturation or tiredness, boredom, hunger, and so on
What is practice effect?
A positive effect that occurs when measuring the DV causes a change in the DV (because of practice)
