experiments & data

• Investigator effects are when the investigator's behaviour (conscious or unconscious) influences the outcome of the experiment
• demand characteristics are when participants start to become aware of the purpose of the study and may change their behaviour, altering the data gathered
• independent groups is when participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition
• repeated measures is when all participants take part in all conditions of the experiment
• counterbalancing is when participants are randomly assigned to one of two conditions, but the conditions are not repeated in the same order, in the attempt to decrease order effects (AB,BA)
• order effects are when the order of presentation of the conditions affects the response, participants may understand the experiment and try harder
• a limitation of a lab experiment is that it lacks mundane realism and therefore lacks generalisability
• a strength of lab experiments is its high control over confounding variables
• a strength of field experiments is there high mundane realism as the participants are in the real world
• a limitation of field experiments is there high risk f confounding variables as theres a lack of control
• a strength of a natural experiment is its high external validity
• a limitation of natural experiments is that they are not always randomised and therefore cannot be controlled for
• an aim of the study is what a researcher intends to investigate, the overall purpose of the study
• a hypothesis is a clear, testable statement that states the relationship between variables to be investigates
• a directional hypothesis is a hypothesis that predicts the direction of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables
• a non-directional hypothesis does not state the direction of the study
• operationalisation means to clearly define variables in terms of how they can be measured
• extraneous variables are any variable other than the IV that may impact the DV if not controlled
• confounding variables are a type of extraneous variable that varies systematically with the IV meaning we can't tell if the change in the DV is due to the IV of confounding variables
• A pilot study is a small scale version of the experiment that aims to check procedures, materials and measuring scales etc. allowing the researcher to make any changes if needed
• What are standardized procedures in research?

  • A set of procedures that are the same for all participants to ensure repeatability of the study
• What are extraneous variables?

  Variables that do not change the independent variable but may impact the dependent variable
• What is a directional hypothesis?

  A hypothesis that states the expected direction of the predicted difference between two conditions
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?

  A hypothesis that predicts there will be a difference between two conditions without stating the direction
• What is mundane realism?

  The extent to which a study mirrors real-life situations
• What is a double-blind design?

  A design where both participants and researchers do not know the aims of the study
• What is primary data?

  Information gained from first-hand experience designed to fit the study's aims
• What is secondary data?

  Information gained from past studies completed by others
• • Controlled observation: behaviour is observed under conditions organized by the investigator.
  • Naturalistic observation: behaviour is observed in everyday settings without interference from the investigator.
• What is the difference between participant and non-participant observation?

  Participant observation involves the observer/researcher taking part in the task, while non-participant observation does not.
• • Unstructured observations: any relevant behavior is recorded without a system.
  • Structured observations: various systems are used to organize observations.