Pilot Studies and Controls

• What is the purpose of pilot studies in research?

  To check for flaws before full-scale research
• What is one assumption of the Cognitive approach?

  Human behavior is influenced by mental processes
• How do SSRI drugs work to treat OCD?

  They increase serotonin levels in the brain
• What is the difference between an aim and a hypothesis in a study?

  An aim states the study's purpose; a hypothesis predicts outcomes
• What are the types of variables that must be controlled in research?

  • Independent variables
  • Dependent variables
  • Extraneous variables
  • Confounding variables
• What is random allocation in research?

  Assigning participants to groups using random methods
• What is counterbalancing in repeated measures design?

  Alternating the order of conditions for participants
• Why are standardised procedures important in research?

  They ensure fairness and improve reliability of results
• What is a single-blind study?

  Participants do not know their group assignment
• What is a double-blind study?

  Both participants and researchers are unaware of group assignments
• What are some potential extraneous variables in a study?

  • Time of day
  • Participant characteristics
  • Environmental conditions
  • Researcher behavior
• What is the ceiling effect in research?

  When tasks are too easy, limiting performance
• What is the floor effect in research?

  When tasks are too hard, limiting performance
• Why is it important to check photographs in a pilot study?

  To ensure clarity and avoid confusion in responses
• What should be checked in a pilot study regarding instructions?

  Whether the instructions are clear and easy to follow
• What is the aim of using a pilot study in the context of misleading information research?

  To identify flaws before conducting the full experiment
• What is the significance of using random allocation in experiments?

  It reduces the chance of participant variables affecting results
• What is the purpose of conducting a pilot study?

  To test the feasibility and identify potential issues
• What are the key components of a standardised procedure?

  • Same location for all participants
  • Same equipment and materials
  • Same environmental conditions
  • Same timing for all participants
  • Same instructions given uniformly
• What are the potential biases in a study due to investigator effects?

  Researcher behavior may influence participant responses
• What is the role of a pilot study in checking for bias?

  To identify and rectify potential biases before the main study
• How can a pilot study help with ethical issues?

  By identifying potential ethical concerns before the main study
• What is the importance of checking for poorly formatted questions in a pilot study?

  To ensure clarity and effectiveness of the survey
• What is the significance of using clear tasks in a pilot study?

  To avoid confusion and ensure accurate results
• Why is it important to rectify unclear tasks before the main study?

  To ensure participants understand what is required
• What should researchers look for regarding task difficulty in a pilot study?

  To ensure tasks are neither too easy nor too hard
• What is the purpose of assessing extraneous variables in a study?

  To identify factors that could affect the results
• How can researchers deal with extraneous variables?

  By controlling or randomizing their effects
• What is the significance of testing children in their own classrooms?

  To reduce environmental variables affecting performance
• Why might the time of day affect children's test performance?

  Children may be more alert at different times
• What is the purpose of using random allocation in the study of children?

  To minimize the impact of participant variables
• Why is it important to ask different questions in the misleading information study?

  To assess how question wording affects memory recall
• What is the significance of using random allocation in the misleading information study?

  To ensure equal distribution of participant characteristics
• What should researchers do if they find issues in a pilot study?

  Rectify the issues before conducting the main study
• What is the role of a pilot study in research design?

  To refine the research design and methodology
• Why is it important to have clear instructions in a pilot study?

  To ensure participants understand the tasks
• What is the purpose of assessing the clarity of tasks in a pilot study?

  To ensure tasks are understandable for participants
• How can researchers ensure tasks are appropriately challenging?

  By testing them in a pilot study first
• What is the significance of identifying opportunities for bias in a pilot study?

  To minimize bias in the main study's results
• Why is it important to address ethical issues in a pilot study?

  To ensure the main study adheres to ethical standards