L6 Experimental design

• What are the two main types of conditions in an experimental design?

  Experimental and control conditions
• What is the purpose of an experimental condition?


  It is believed to have an effect on the participants
• What is a control condition?


  A normal condition used for comparison with the experimental condition
• What should you do after identifying experimental and control conditions?


  Put participants into the identified conditions
• What are the three types of experimental designs?

  1. Independent groups design
  2. Matched pairs design
  3. Repeated measures design
• In an independent groups design, how many conditions does each participant experience?


  Each participant experiences only one condition
• What is the main advantage of independent groups design regarding order effects?


  There are no order effects since participants only do one condition
• What is a potential disadvantage of independent groups design?


  Individual differences may affect the results
• What is the definition of repeated measures design?


  Participants do one condition and then the other condition
• What is a key feature of repeated measures design?


  All participants experience both conditions
• What is a common issue in repeated measures design that can affect results?


  Order effects may occur
• What is counterbalancing in the context of repeated measures design?


  It is a method to control order effects by varying the order of conditions
• What are order effects in repeated measures design?


  They occur when participants perform differently due to the order of conditions
• What is the ABBA method in counterbalancing?


  Half of the participants do condition A first, then condition B, and the other half do B first, then A
• What does matched pairs design involve?


  Finding participants who are similar and assigning them to different conditions
• What is a strength of matched pairs design?


  It reduces individual differences as participants are very similar
• What is a weakness of matched pairs design?


  It is more expensive and time-consuming than other methods
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of independent groups design?


  Strengths:

  • No order effects
  • Quickest and easiest to conduct

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Individual differences may affect results
  • Requires more participants
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of repeated measures design?


  Strengths:

  • Fewer participants needed
  • No individual differences

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Order effects may occur
  • Demand characteristics may arise
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of matched pairs design?


  Strengths:

  • Reduces individual differences
  • No order effects

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • More expensive and time-consuming
  • Requires careful matching of participants