Experimental Method

• The researcher must be aware of the potential impact on participants, including physical harm or psychological distress.
• what is ‘randomisation’ ?
• What is a ‘confounding variable’ ?

  A variable other than the Independent variable that has an effect on the dependent variable. They DO change systematically with the Independent variable. Therefore, it is harder for the researcher to be sure of the origin of the imoact ion the dependent variable.
• How can a researcher ensure randomisation is used in a study?

  Through design of study

  Order of conditions

  Participant selection
• What is observer bias?

  When an observer’s reports are biased by what they expect to see
• What is operationalisation?

  Clearly defining the variables in terms of how they are being measured.

  Should be defined and measurable
• What is a hypothesis?

  A preise statement which clearly states the relationship between the variables being investigated. It is either directional or non-directional.
• What is a natural experiment?

  The IV is not brought about by the researcher, The event would have happened even if the researcher hadn’t been there such as an earthquake.
• What is standardisation?

  Using the exact same formalised procedures and instructions for every single participant involved in the research process. Allows to eliminate the effects of extraneous variables.
• What is the investigator effect?

  Any unwanted influence form the researcher‘s behaviour, conscious or unconscious on the DV measured.
• What is an extraneous variable ? 


  Any other variable that is not the IV that has an effect on the DV and DOES NOT vary systematically with the IV
• Example of an extraneous variable (2)


  Lighting in a lab

  Age of participants
• What is an independent variable?

  It is manipulated by the researcher or changes naturally to have an effect on the dependent variable which is being measured.
• What is a lab experiment?

  An experiment which takes place in an environment where different variables can be carefully controlled.
• What is the dependent variable?

  The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or observed in an experiment.
• What is a field experiment?

  A research method which takes place in a natural environment not a lab BUT the variables are still being controlled.
• What is an ‘Aim’ In psychology

  The purpose of the researcher’s study. Aims are developed from theories and theories developed from reading other similar research.
• What is the experimental method?

  The experimental method is a scientific research approach that involves manipulating the IV and measuring the effects on the DV in order to establish cause-and-effect relationships. Experiments can be field,lab,quasi or natural.
• What is a quasi experiment?


  An experiment where the IV has not been determined by the researcher, instead it naturally exists Ex. Gender
• What is the formula for inter-observer reliability?

  (Total number of agreements / Total number of observations) x 100
• What level oagreement shows high observer reliability

  80%
• What is an unstructured observation?

  It consists of continuous recording where he researcher writes everything they see in the observation
• How can observer bias be mitigated?

  By checking inter observer reliability of the observation. This can be done by many conducting the observational study and their results are compared and a score is calculated using the formula for high inter observer reliability.
• What is a structured observation?


  The researcher quantifies what they are observing using predetermined list of behaviours and sampling methods.
• What is a behavioural category

  target behaviour is Broken down into precise components which are observable and measurable. ex. Aggression can be punching, sweating, kicking
• What is time sampling

  Recording of behaviour within a predetermined timeframe before the observational study.
• What is event sampling

  Counting the amount of times a particular event occurs by the target group or individual
• Strengths and L of time sampling

  s

  • Reduces the number of observations that has to be made so less time consuming

  L

  • data unrepresentative as taken from small time frame
• S and L of event sampling

  s

  • good for infrequent behaviours that are likely to be missed if time sampling wa used.

  l

  • if complex behaviour is being observed, important details of behaviour may be overlooked.
  • If behaviour is frequent there could be counting errors
  • Itis difficult to judge the beginning and end of a behaviour.
• what is a correlation

  Measure of an association between two co-variables.

  positive : above 0 when one variable increases the other decreases

  Negative: below 0 when one increases the other increases

  Zero: 0 no relationship
• Strengths and L of correlations

  s

  • Starting points to assess patterns between co-variables
  • Quick and economical to carry out
  • Secondary data can be used so less time consuming

  l

  • Difficulty to establish a cause and effect relationship
  • correlation is not cause - it can be misused or misunderstood.
  • third variable problem.