Experimental design

• In the independent groups design, participants only perform one condition of the IV.
• A strength of using the independent groups design is there is no order effect and less likely to be demand characteristics.
• A limitation of using the independent groups design is participant variables.
• Participant variables can be controlled by random allocation.
• In the repeated measures design, the same participants take place in all conditions of the IV.
• A strength of the repeated measures design is that there are fewer participant variables and is less time consuming as half the amount of participants are needed.
• A limitation of the repeated measures design is order effect. People may also be more likely to have demand characteristics as they have already completed one condition
• Order effect can be controlled by counterbalancing.
• The matches pairs design is when pairs of participants are matched on some variables that could affect the DV. One member of each pair does a different condition.
• strengths of the matched pairs design is there are no order effects and less demand characteristics.
• Limitations of the matched pairs design is that it is time consuming as a large pool of participants are needed. It is difficult to know which variables are appropriate.