Control in Research

• What is the primary goal of controlling extraneous variables in research?

  To prevent them from becoming confounding variables
• What are situational variables?

  Variables connected with the research situation, such as temperature and lighting
• What are participant variables?

  Variables connected to the individual participants
• What is standardisation in research?

  • Keeping all situational variables the same
  • Enables replication of research
  • Involves standardised instructions, time, and questions
• Why is random allocation important in research?

  It reduces participant variables by minimizing individual differences
• How can random allocation be implemented in a study?

  By using a computer name generator to assign participants to groups
• What are demand characteristics in research?

  When participants alter their behavior to make sense of the research
• How can demand characteristics be controlled?

  By using a single-blind technique
• What is counterbalancing used for in research?

  To combat order effects in repeated measures design
• How does counterbalancing work?

  The sample is split in half, with one half completing conditions in one order and the other half in the reverse order
• What are investigator effects?

  When a researcher unintentionally influences participant behavior
• How can investigator effects be controlled in research?

  By using a double-blind technique
• What is randomisation in research?

  When all aspects of the research are dictated by chance
• Why is randomisation important in research?

  It helps to eliminate bias in the order of tasks or conditions