Experimental Designs

• What are the characteristics of repeated measures design?


  • Same participants are used in each condition.
  • Strengths:
  • Controls participant variables.
  • Requires fewer participants.
  • Limitations:
  • Risk of order effects.
  • Risk of demand characteristics.
• What are the characteristics of independent groups/measures design?


  • Two different groups with different people in each condition.
  • Strengths:
  • No order effects or demand characteristics.
  • Can be used for natural or quasi-experiments.
  • Limitations:
  • Individual differences could affect results.
  • Requires more participants.
• What are the characteristics of matched pairs design?

  • Pairing people on a trait and then putting one in each condition.
  • Strengths:
  • No order effects or demand characteristics.
  • Limitations:
  • Time-consuming and expensive.
  • Cannot exclude all variables.