Experimental design

• What are independent groups?

  two separate groups of participants experience two different conditions of the experiment.
• what is repeated measures?

  all participants experience both conditions of experiment
• what’s matched pairs?

  participants are paired together on a variable relevant to experiment. one participant from each pair goes to different condition.
• whats counterbalancing?

  control order effects in a repeated measures design:

  • one half of participants go A to B
  • other half of participants go B then A
• what are strengths to independent groups?

  • less time consuming
  • order effects not a problem
  • low risk of demand characteristics
• what are weaknesses to independent groups?

  • individual differences play a role
  • more participants needed- expensive and difficult
• what are strengths to repeated measures?

  • individual differences controlled
  • fewer participants needed
• what are weaknesses to repeated measure?

  • order effects
  • demand characteristics
• what are strengths to matched pairs?

  • order effects and demand characteristics not a problem
• what are weaknesses to matched pairs?

  • individual differences can occur
  • time consuming
  • expensive
  • matching is complex.