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• What is a laboratory experiment?

  Conducted under controlled conditions
• What does the researcher manipulate in a laboratory experiment?

  The independent variable (IV)
• Why are conditions heavily controlled in laboratory experiments?

  To minimize extraneous variables' effects
• What is a confounding variable?

  An uncontrolled extraneous variable affecting the DV
• How does participant awareness affect laboratory experiments?

  It may lead to unnatural behavior
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of laboratory experiments?

  Strengths:

  • High control over extraneous variables
  • High internal validity
  • Easier replication

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Low external validity
  • Artificial environment
  • Demand characteristics may occur
• What is a field experiment?

  Conducted in natural conditions
• What is a key advantage of field experiments compared to laboratory experiments?

  Higher ecological validity
• Why are demand characteristics less likely in field experiments?

  Participants may not know they are being studied
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of field experiments?

  Strengths:

  • Higher ecological validity
  • Less demand characteristics

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Less control over extraneous variables
  • Ethical issues with informed consent
• What defines a quasi-experiment?

  Contains a naturally occurring independent variable
• What is a strength of quasi-experiments?

  Allows comparison of different types of people
• What is a limitation of quasi-experiments regarding participant allocation?

  Participants cannot be randomly allocated
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of quasi-experiments?

  Strengths:

  • More realistic
  • High ecological validity

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • No random allocation
  • Less control over extraneous variables
• What is a natural experiment?

  Examines the effect of an existing IV
• What is a key strength of natural experiments?

  High external validity
• What is a limitation of natural experiments?

  No control over extraneous variables
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of natural experiments?

  Strengths:

  • High ecological validity
  • Unique insights into real-life situations

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • No control over environment
  • Rare events limit generalization
• What is the aim of a research study?

  General statement of investigation intent
• What is a hypothesis?

  A precise testable statement
• What is a directional hypothesis?

  States specific direction of expected results
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?

  States a difference without direction
• What is the independent variable (IV)?

  The variable manipulated by researchers
• What is the dependent variable (DV)?

  The variable measured by researchers
• What are extraneous variables?

  Variables other than the IV affecting performance
• What are confounding variables?

  Uncontrolled extraneous variables affecting results
• How can researchers control extraneous variables?

  By eliminating or managing their effects
• What is operationalization?

  Defining and measuring a variable for research
• What is randomization in research?

  Presenting tasks in random order
• What is standardization in research?

  Keeping all situational variables identical
• What are demand characteristics?

  • Participants guess research purpose
  • Change behavior to support hypothesis
  • Can lead to lack of validity
• How can demand characteristics be controlled?

  Using a single-blind experimental technique
• What are investigator effects?

  • Researcher influences results
  • Can be conscious or unconscious
  • Affects interpretation of ambiguous data
• How can investigator effects be controlled?

  Using a double-blind experimental technique
• What is the relationship between population and sample?

  • Population: larger group of interest
  • Sample: smaller group selected from population
  • Sample should represent the population
• What does it mean for a sample to be representative?

  It closely matches the population's characteristics
• What is generalization in research?

  Applying findings to the larger population
• What are the strengths and limitations of sampling methods?

  Strengths:

  • Random sampling reduces bias
  • Stratified sampling represents subgroups

  
  

  Limitations:

  • Opportunity sampling may not be representative
  • Volunteer sampling can lead to bias
• What are the different sampling methods?

  1. Random
  2. Systematic
  3. Opportunity
  4. Volunteer
  5. Stratified
• What is a pilot study?

  • Small-scale trial run
  • Conducted before real research
  • Helps identify issues in the research design