RM- Experiments

Question 1

Independent variable

Answer 1

What the researcher changes in an experiment

Question 2

Dependent variable

Answer 2

What is being measured in the experiment

Question 3

Control variable

Answer 3

What is kept the same during every measure in the experiment

Question 4

Demand characteristics

Answer 4

When participants try to guess the aim of the study, leading to a change in their behaviour

Question 5

Investigator effects

Answer 5

Any impact of the researchers behaviour on the results of the study (eg. Participant selection and experimental design)

Question 6

Extraneous variables

Answer 6

Any variable other than the IV that affects the DV
Can be participant or situational

Question 7

Confounding variables

Answer 7

Affects the two variables, making it seem like they have a cause and effect relationship

Question 8

Participant variables

Answer 8

Individual differences between participants

Question 9

Situational variables

Answer 9

Features of the environment that affect the DV

Question 10

Random allocation

Answer 10

Each participant has an equal chance of being in each condition

Question 11

Standardisation

Answer 11

Procedures and instructions are the same for all participants

Question 12

Randomisation

Answer 12

The order of conditions and designs are decided by chance methods

Question 13

Experimental designs

Answer 13

Independent groups
Repeated measures
Matched pairs

Question 14

Repeated measures

Answer 14

All participants take part in all measures of the IV

Question 15

Independent groups

Answer 15

Ps split into groups and each group does one measure of the IV

Question 16

Matched pairs

Answer 16

Ps are paired using a variable relative to the experiment (eg. Age) and each do a different measure of the Iv. Their results are compared to each others

Question 17

Evaluation of repeated pleasures

Answer 17

✅Controls individual differences
✅Needs fewer participants
❌Order effects
❌Demand characteristics

Question 18

Evaluation of independent groups

Answer 18

✅No order effects
✅Less demand characteristics
❌Confounding and participant variables
❌Needs more participants

Question 19

Evaluation of matched pairs

Answer 19

✅Controls participant variables
✅No order effects
❌Need more participants
❌Doesn’t account for other individual differences

Question 20

Counter balancing

Answer 20

Addresses order effects
Some participants do condition A then B, others do B then A
This stops practice effects from influencing the results

Question 21

Types of experiment

Answer 21

Laboratory
Field
Natural
Quasi

Question 22

Lab experiment

Answer 22

In a highly controlled environment
IV is manipulated

Question 23

Evaluation of lab experiment

Answer 23

✅High replicability
✅Limits extraneous variables
❌Low generalisability
❌Demand characteristics

Question 24

Field experiment

Answer 24

In participants natural environment
IV is manipulated

Question 25

Evaluation of field experiment

Answer 25

✅Limits demand characteristics ❌Harder to control ❌Ethical issues of consent

Question 26

Natural experiment

Answer 26

Can occur in any setting IV is not manipulated

Question 27

Evaluation of natural experiment

Answer 27

✅High external validity ✅No harm caused if traumatic events are naturally occurring ❌Low reliability/standardisation ❌Participants cannot be allocated conditions - may be biased

Question 28

Quasi experiment

Answer 28

Can occur in any setting IV is naturally occurring like age or eye colour

Question 29

Evaluation of quasi experiment

Answer 29

✅High ecological validity ✅Tests things which can’t be manipulated ❌Ps can’t be allocated conditions so may be biases ❌Can’t establish cause and effect

Question 30

Pilot studies

Answer 30

A small scale version of an experiment Tests for changes needed before the real study

Question 31

Single blind procedure

Answer 31

Participant not told the true aims of the study to avoid demand characteristics (investigator effects may still exist)

Question 32

Double blind procedure

Answer 32

Both researcher and participant not told true aims of the study to avoid demand characteristics and investigator effects

Question 33

Control groups

Answer 33

Group that the participant group is compared to (eg. If testing drugs, they are given a placebo)

Question 34

Definition of reliability

Answer 34

How consistent the findings from a study or measurement are

Question 35

Ways to test reliability

Answer 35

Test retest reliability Inter rater/observer reliability

Question 36

Test retest reliability

Answer 36

The consistency of results of a test which is done on multiple occasions with the same participants

Question 37

Inter rater/observer reliability

Answer 37

The consistency between two or more observers in the categorisation of behaviour

Question 38

Ways to improve reliability

Answer 38

Give training to researchers/observers Ensure clear criteria in an observation Standardisation of procedure

Question 39

Definition of validity

Answer 39

The extent to which the results of a test are true or accurate

Question 40

Ecological validity

Answer 40

The extent to which findings can be applied from one setting to another (does it reflect real life?)

Question 41

Temporal validity

Answer 41

The extent to which a study’s findings can be applied from one time period to another

Question 42

Population validity

Answer 42

The extent to which findings of a study can be generalised to the target population (how well the sample reflects the target population.)

Question 43

Internal validity

Answer 43

How well the test measures what it aimed to

Question 44

External validity

Answer 44

How well the results can be applied to real life beyond the study

Question 45

Target population

Answer 45

A group of people who the researcher wants to study

Question 46

Sampling frame

Answer 46

A list of people in the target population who the sample will be picked from

Question 47

Sample

Answer 47

The participants who take part in the research

Question 48

4 sampling methods

Answer 48

Random Opportunity Stratified Systematic Volunteer

Question 49

Random sampling

Answer 49

Each participant has an equal chance of being chosen

Question 50

Evaluation of random sampling

Answer 50

✅ Avoids researcher bias ❌ Could be randomly biased ❌Participants could refuse to take part

Question 51

Opportunity sampling

Answer 51

Choosing people who are readily available at the time of the study

Question 52

Evaluation of opportunity sampling

Answer 52

✅Convenient ❌Possible researcher bias ❌Unrepresentative as the same people may be at the same place at a specific time

Question 53

Volunteer/ self selected sampling

Answer 53

Study is advertised and participants sign up to do it

Question 54

Evaluation of volunteer sampling

Answer 54

✅Convenient ✅Participants want to take part ❌May be unrepresentative (volunteer bias-attracting a certain profile of people)

Question 55

Systematic sampling

Answer 55

Using the ordered sampling frame, pick every nth person to take part

Question 56

Evaluation of systematic sampling

Answer 56

✅Diverse sample ✅No researcher bias ❌Requires sampling frame (effort) ❌Participants could refuse to take part

Question 57

Stratified sampling

Answer 57

Subgroups identified in the target population. The proportion of subgroups in the population is matched in the sample

Question 58

Evaluation of stratified sampling

Answer 58

✅Representative ✅Avoids researcher bias ❌Categories need to be defined ❌Requires sampling frame ❌Participants may refuse to take part

Question 59

Definition of hypothesis

Answer 59

A precise and testable statement which stated the prediction of the variables being tested’s relationship

Question 60

Directional hypothesis

Answer 60

States the exact relationship the variables will have Also ‘one tailed’ hypothesis

Question 61

Non directional hypothesis

Answer 61

Only states whether the variables will have a relationship, not what it will be Also ‘two tailed’ hypothesis

Question 62

Null hypothesis

Answer 62

States that the variables will be unrelated

Question 63

Operationalisation

Answer 63

Definitions of the variables to enable behaviour to be measured objectively (eg. Measuring happiness from smiles)