Variables and experimental design

Question 1

what are variables?

Answer 1

the things we measure or manipulate in research

Question 2

what is the DV?

Answer 2

Variable the experimenter measures

Question 3

whats the IV ?

Answer 3

Variable the experimenter manipulates (i.e. changes)

Question 4

whats an extraneous variable?

Answer 4

any variable that may affect the dependent variable other than the iv

Question 5

whats a confounding variable?

Answer 5

one which affects the dependent variable and varies systematically with the IV

Question 6

what happens in an independent group design?

Answer 6

There are different participants in each condition of the IV

Question 7

what are the strengths and weaknesses of independent groups?

Answer 7

-as everyone only takes part in one condition there no chance of learning / improvement between practices
:(-there may be a different in the people taking part which could affect the dv

Question 8

what is repeated measures design?

Answer 8

each participant does both conditons of the IV

Question 9

strengths and weaknesses of repeated measures design?

Answer 9

:)- it controls for differences between people the could effect the Dv and it requires slightly few participants
:(-may be order effects and takes time for each participant to complete it

Question 10

what can be done to stop order effects in repeated measures design?

Answer 10

counterbalancing- the is when half the participants do conditions in one order and the other do it in that order

Question 11

what is matched pairs design?

Answer 11

here each participant does one condition of the iv but they are matched with another person doing the same condition on some important extraneous variable e.g in terms of IQ

Question 12

strengths and weaknesses of matched pairs design?

Answer 12

:)-no problems with order effects

:(-can be impractical to match people at the start of an experiment