aims and objectives

• What must researchers formulate in their studies?

  A research aim
• What does the research aim describe?

  What the study intends to investigate
• What qualities must a research aim possess?

  It must be informative, concise, and accurate
• What does a researcher manipulate in their investigation?

  At least one variable
• What is a variable?

  Anything that can vary
• What is the independent variable?

  The one you change
• What is the dependent variable?

  The one you measure
• What does it mean to operationalise a variable?

  To describe it in a measurable form
• What are extraneous variables?

  Variables not the IV that may influence the DV
• What is a confounding variable?

  An extraneous variable that influences the DV
• How does a confounding variable relate to the independent variable?

  It changes systematically with the IV
• What is the aim of controlling extraneous variables?

  To prevent them from affecting the DV
• What are random errors?

  Effects that cannot be predicted or controlled
• What factors can contribute to random errors?

  Participant's state of mind and motivation
• What is the goal regarding random errors in an experiment?

  To ensure they do not affect one condition more
• What are constant errors?

  Serious problems that affect conditions unequally
• How can individual differences be minimized in experiments?

  By random allocation of participants
• What can cause constant errors in an experiment?

  Failure to counterbalance or randomise conditions
• What are the key differences between extraneous and confounding variables?

  • Extraneous variables: Not the IV, may influence DV
  • Confounding variables: Extraneous variables that systematically affect DV
• What are the implications of random and constant errors in research?

  • Random errors: Unpredictable, hard to control, balance out
  • Constant errors: Serious, affect conditions unequally, need counterbalancing