Threats to Validity

• What is a confounding variable?

  A variable that is not the IV.
• What may changes in the dependant variable be caused by?

  The confounding variable, not the IV.
• What does this mean for the results?

  They are confounded (meaningless)
• What are extraneous variables?

  A variable not being investigated that can affect the outcomes of the research.
• What can happen if extraneous variables are not controlled?

  It can become a confounding variable and lead to inaccurate conclusions about the relationship between IV and DV
• What is researcher bias?

  Happens when someone conducting a study intentionally or unintentionally influences the results based on their own expected outcome.
• What are participant variables?

  The differing individual characteristics that may impact how a participant responds in an experiment.
• What can happen if variables are not controlled?

  Can become confounding variables if not controlled for and invalidate the findings
• What are situational variables?

  Factors in the environment that can unintentionally affect the results of the study
• What are demand characteristics?

  Occur when participants try to make sense of the research and act accordingly o support the aim of the research.
• What is mundane realism?

  Describes the degree to which the research is similar to events that occur in the real world. If the research procedure is more reflective of what would happen in the real work, there is better ECOLOGICAL validity.
• What are standardised procedures?

  A set of procedures that are kept the same for all participants to tell them how to perform the task
• What is Social desirability bias?

  Where a participant will not answer honestly ut to expectations to avoid judgement from the researcher