Experiments and experimental design

• What is matched pair design based on?

  Independent group design
• In matched pair design, what is done with participants who share key characteristics?

  They are placed in different groups
• In a study using matched pair design, what should be the IQ levels of participant A in group 1 and participant A in group B?

  The same IQ level
• What does a researcher do with the data in a matched pairs design?

  Compares the data
• What is a key limitation of the matched pair design?

  It is very time consuming
• Why can't the researcher control all variables in a matched pairs design?

  Some variables may be unknown
• If a researcher conducts an experiment on memory and finds someone's memory is better than anticipated, what problem does this highlight?

  Uncontrolled variables
• How can a researcher address the difficulty of matching participants on key variables?

  Limit the number of variables
• What type of study can be conducted to consider key variables that may be important when matching?

  Pilot study
• In a repeated measures design, how many levels of the IV do all participants receive?

  All levels
• In a repeated measures design, if participants complete a homework task with the TV on and then with the TV off, what is being compared?

  Performance on the homework task
• In a repeated measures design, how can the research deal with the problem of the test becoming familiar?

  Using two different tests
• In a repeated measures design, how can researchers prevent participants from guessing the aim of the study?

  Create a cover story
• What are order effects in repeated measures design?

  The order affects performance
• How can researchers counterbalance order effects in a repeated measures design?

  Using the AB/BA method
• What is the practice effect in repeated measures design?

  Doing better the second time
• What is the boredom effect in repeated measures design?

  Doing worse on the second task
• What are demand characteristics in experimental design?

  Participants change their behaviour
• In an independent groups design, how are participants placed?

  Into separate groups
• In an independent groups design, what do both groups have the same of?

  Standardised instructions
• In an independent groups design, what does the control group do?

  Completes a memory task with no music
• In an independent groups design, what does the experimental group do?

  Completes a memory task with music
• What does the researcher do with the performance of the two groups in independent groups design?

  Compares the performance
• In independent groups design, what is the researcher unable to control?

  Participant variables
• What can participant variables act as in independent groups design?

  Confounding variable
• What is a potential problem related to the number of participants in the independent groups design?

  You need more participants
• How can a researcher address the issue of participant variables in an independent groups design?

  Randomly allocate participants
• What is a key aspect of conducting an experiment?

  Experimental design
• What are the different types of experimental designs?

  • Independent group design
  • Matched pair
  • Repeated measures
• Why are key characteristics important in a matched pair design?

  They are relevant to the study