Research methods

• What does the experimental method involve?

  The manipulation of an independent variable to measure the effect on the dependent variable
• What are the types of experiments mentioned?

  Laboratory, field, natural, and quasi experiments
• What is the main strength of laboratory experiments?

  High control over confounding and extraneous variables
• What is a limitation of laboratory experiments regarding generalizability?

  The artificial environment may lead to unusual participant behavior
• What are demand characteristics in laboratory experiments?


  Participants may behave unnaturally because they are aware they are being tested
• Where do field experiments take place?

  In a natural everyday setting
• What is a strength of field experiments?

  Higher mundane realism leading to more valid and authentic behavior
• What is a limitation of field experiments regarding cause and effect?

  Loss of control over confounding and extraneous variables makes it harder to establish cause and effect
• What ethical issue arises in field experiments?

  Participants may not be aware they are being studied, leading to a lack of consent
• What characterizes natural experiments?

  The researcher has no control over the independent variable
• What is a strength of natural experiments?

  They provide opportunities for research that might not be possible due to practical and ethical reasons
• What is a limitation of natural experiments regarding generalizability?

  They are very rare, making it hard to generalize findings
• What defines quasi-experiments?

  The independent variable is based on an existing difference between people
• What is a strength of quasi-experiments?

  They share some strengths of laboratory experiments when conducted under controlled conditions
• What is a limitation of quasi-experiments?

  They may have confounding variables
• What is the aim of an investigation?

  A general statement that describes the purpose of the investigation
• What is a hypothesis?

  A clear statement that states the relationship between variables to be investigated
• What is a directional hypothesis?

  A hypothesis that states the direction of the difference or relationship
• What is a null hypothesis?

  A hypothesis that states there is no difference
• What is an independent variable?

  The variable that is changed in an experiment
• What is a dependent variable?

  The variable that is measured in an experiment
• What is an extraneous variable?

  Any variable other than the independent variable that may affect the dependent variable
• What are confounding variables?

  A variable not included in an experiment that affects the relationship between the independent and dependent variables
• What are demand characteristics?

  Cues that influence participant behavior
• How can demand characteristics be minimized?

  Using double-blind designs and deception
• What are investigator effects?

  Unwanted influences the investigator communicates to participants based on their expectations
• What is randomisation in research?

  The use of chance methods to reduce unconscious biases when designing an investigation
• What is standardisation in research?

  Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants
• What is counterbalancing?

  An attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design
• What is an independent groups design?

  Participants are allocated to different groups representing different experimental conditions
• What is a strength of independent groups design?

  There are no practice or fatigue effects
• What is a limitation of independent groups design?

  Differences could be due to individual differences between participants
• What is a repeated measures design?

  All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment
• What is a strength of repeated measures design?

  Participant variables are reduced since the same participants are used in each condition
• What is a limitation of repeated measures design?

  Order effects such as practice and fatigue can affect participant behavior
• What is a matched pairs design?

  Pairs of participants are matched on variables that may affect the dependent variable
• What is a strength of matched pairs design?

  It reduces participant variables
• What is a limitation of matched pairs design?

  It is time-consuming to match participants
• What is a target population?

  The total group of individuals from which the sample might be drawn
• What is a sample in research?

  A subset of individuals selected from a larger population for study