Types of study

• What do experimental methods examine?

  How variables affect outcomes
• What is experimental design?

  The way you assign participants to a group
• What are independent groups?

  Different participants in each group, where one group completes the experimental conditioon and one group does the control condition
• What are the types of experimental design?

  • Independent design
  • Repeated measure design
  • Matched pair design
• What are the strengths of independent groups design?

  It is quick and easy
• What is a weakness of independent groups design?

  Participants in each group can vary and may not be ideal for studying
• What is the repeated measure design?

  Every participant goes through both experiences
• What are the strengths of repeated measure design?

  Participant variables are not present and it is cheaper
• What are the weaknesses of repeated measure design?

  Can cause biased results due to demand characteristics. Order effects as a result of fatigue
• How can order effects be overcome in repeated measure design?

  By using counterbalancing
• What is matched pairs design?

  Participants are selected and matched based on characteristics
• What is the advantage of matched pairs design?

  It saves time as participants only need to complete one condition
• What are the weaknesses of matched pairs design?

  It can be more expensive, time-consuming to match, and may not match exactly
• What is counterbalancing


  Splitting the group in half and half does condition 1 first whilst the other are doing condition 2 and then they swap.