psychology research methods

• standardised instructions


  The instructions given to each participant are kept identical - to help prevent experimenter bias.
• demand characteristics


  occur when the participants try to make sense of the research and act accordingly to support the aim of the research
• Order effects


  occurs when participants' responses in the various conditions are affected by the order of conditions to which they were exposed.
• Counterbalancing


  To make half of the participant sample experience the different conditions of the experiment in one order, and the other half of the participants complete it in the opposite order.
• Participant variables


  any characteristic or aspect of a participant's background that could affect study results, even though it's not the focus of an experiment.
• Extraneous Variable


  any variable other than the independent variable that may have an effect on the dependent variable if it is not controlled
• Confounding Variable


  Any extraneous variable that is not controlled and therefore effects the DV.
• Standardisation


  Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study.
• Investigator effects


  occur when a researcher unintentionally or unconsciously influences the outcome of any research they are conducting.