Experimental Design

• What are the three types of experimental designs discussed in the study material?

  Repeated measures, independent groups, matched pairs
• What is the key feature of an independent groups design?

  Different participants are assigned to each condition
• What is a strength of the independent groups design?

  Less demand characteristics
• What is a limitation of the independent groups design?

  No control of participant variables
• What is random allocation?

  Assigning participants to conditions using chance
• What is randomisation?

  The use of chance when determining procedures in an investigation
• What is the purpose of matched pairs design?

  To minimise participant variables between groups
• What is a strength of matched pairs design?

  Minimises participant variables
• What is a limitation of matched pairs design?

  Time-consuming to match participants
• What is the key feature of repeated measures design?

  Same participants are used in all conditions
• What is a limitation of repeated measures design?

  Risk of order effects
• What is an order effect?

  Change in participants' behaviour due to the order of conditions
• What is a practice effect?

  Participants improve performance due to familiarity with the task
• How can order effects be remedied in repeated measures design?

  Counterbalancing
• Which experimental design is used when participants are paired based on severity of symptoms and assigned to different therapies?

  Matched pairs
• Which experimental design is used when students are given a hazard perception test before and after school?

  Repeated measures
• Which experimental design is used when participants are randomly assigned to two conditions with different word recall tasks?

  Independent groups
• What is counterbalancing?

  Varying the order of conditions to control for order effects
• What is the purpose of counterbalancing?

  To distribute order effects equally across conditions
• What is the definition of experimental design?

  The overall structure of an experiment that dictates how participants are allocated to different conditions
• What is the definition of independent groups design?

  An experimental design where different participants are assigned to each condition
• What is the definition of repeated measures design?

  An experimental design where the same participants are used in all conditions
• What is the definition of matched pairs design?

  An experimental design that involves pairing participants based on similar characteristics and assigning each pair to different conditions
• What is the definition of order effects?

  Changes in participants' performance due to the order of conditions
• What is the definition of practice effects?

  A type of order effect where participants improve performance due to familiarity with the task
• What is the definition of counterbalancing?

  A technique used to control for order effects by varying the order of conditions
• What are the strengths and limitations of independent groups design?

  Strengths:

  • Less demand characteristics

  
  

  Limitations:

  • No control of participant variables
• What are the strengths and limitations of matched pairs design?

  Strengths:

  • Minimises participant variables

  
  

  Limitations:

  • Time-consuming to match participants
  • May not control all participant variables
• What are the strengths and limitations of repeated measures design?

  Strengths:

  • Direct comparison of performance across conditions

  
  

  Limitations:

  • Risk of order effects
  • Risk of practice effects
  • Participants may guess the purpose of the study
• What are the key features of independent groups, matched pairs, and repeated measures designs?

  Independent Groups:

  • Different participants in each condition

  
  

  Matched Pairs:

  • Participants matched based on similar characteristics

  
  

  Repeated Measures:

  • Same participants in all conditions
• How can order and practice effects be remedied in repeated measures design?

  • Counterbalancing: Half of the participants do condition A then condition B, half do condition B then condition A
• What are the steps to identify the correct experimental design in a given scenario?

  1. Identify if the same participants are used in all conditions (Repeated Measures)
  2. Identify if participants are matched based on similar characteristics (Matched Pairs)
  3. Identify if different participants are assigned to each condition (Independent Groups)
• What are the key considerations when designing an experiment?

  • Control of participant variables
  • Minimisation of demand characteristics
  • Control of order and practice effects
  • Appropriate allocation of participants to conditions
• What are the key considerations when evaluating an experimental design?

  • Strengths and limitations of the design
  • Control of confounding variables
  • Appropriateness of the design for the research question
  • Practical considerations (time, resources, etc.)
• What are the key considerations when applying experimental design to novel scenarios?

  • Identification of IV and DV
  • Formulation of a hypothesis
  • Selection of appropriate experimental design
  • Consideration of strengths and limitations of the chosen design
• What are the key considerations when interpreting results from an experiment?

  • Consideration of confounding variables
  • Consideration of order and practice effects
  • Consideration of demand characteristics
  • Consideration of participant variables
• What are the key considerations when designing a repeated measures experiment?

  • Control of order and practice effects
  • Use of counterbalancing
  • Consideration of demand characteristics
  • Consideration of task difficulty
• What are the key considerations when designing an independent groups experiment?

  • Control of participant variables
  • Use of random allocation
  • Consideration of demand characteristics
  • Consideration of group size
• What are the key considerations when designing a matched pairs experiment?

  • Identification of relevant participant variables
  • Time required to match participants
  • Consideration of demand characteristics
  • Consideration of group size
• What are the key considerations when designing an experiment to investigate the effect of noise on memory?

  • Identification of IV (noise) and DV (memory recall)
  • Selection of appropriate experimental design
  • Control of confounding variables (e.g., participant variables, order effects)
  • Consideration of demand characteristics