Variables

• What is the independent variable?


  Variable that is manipulated/changed by the researcher (thing you change)
• What is the dependent variable?


  Variable that is measured to assess effect of IV
• What is an extraneous variable?


  Any factors that affects the DV that is not the IV

  (time,mood,temperature)
• What is a confounding variable?

  Participant variables, differences in participants (age, sex, cultures)
• What is the operationalisation of variables?

  refers to how researchers make IV and DV measurable, clear, specific, clear and not ambiguous
• What is randomisation?

  Use of 'chance' in setting up the investigation
• How to randomly allocate participants?

  Allocate participants a number

  Put numbers in a hat

  Put x numbers to group A

  Put x numbers to group B
• What is standardisation?

  Ways in which procedures/materials/instructions are kept the same for all participants
• What is counter-balancing?


  Randomly allocate participants to Group 1 or 2

  Group 1 does task A then B

  Group 2 does task B then A

  Compare results