RM key terms

• define independent measures design

  different participants are used for each level of IV (they are only tested in one condtion)
• define repeated measures

  when participants are tested in both IV conditions
• define matched pairs/participants

  when participants are put into pairs as they are similar in one way and one of the pair is tested on one of the levels of IV (in most cases twins)
• define individual differences

  unique characteristics + traits which distinguish us from others
• define participant characteristics

  any characteristics/ aspect of participants background that can affect study results even though its not the focus of the experiment
• define demand characteristics

  a high risk that a participant will change their natural behaviour to fit their interpretation of the aim of the study
• define environmental variables

  factors that exist in an individual's physical environment that influence behaviour
• define mutually exclusive:

  if two things cannot happen at the same time
• what is a confederate?

  individuals recruited by lead experimenters to play the role of a bystander, participant or teammate
• what is a double blind technique?

  when the ppnt + researcher don't know what the hypothesis of an experiment is
• define aim:

  a short statement to identify the purpose of the study/investigation
• define alternative hypothesis:

  a hypothesis that states there is a SIGNIFICANT relationship between the IV + DV
• define experimenter bias:

  when the researcher = biased towards certain results or observations in order to fulfil their predictions
• define hypothesis:

  a testable statement where the researcher predicts the outcome of the study
• define null hypothesis:

  a hypothesis that states there is NO significant relationship between the variables being studied
• define observer bias:

  when an observer has a deliberate bias towards certain behaviours/conclusions or people
• define observer effect:

  when a ppt changes their behaviour as they know they're being observed
• define one tailed hypothesis:

  a hypothesis that precisely predicts the direction of the relationship
• define two tailed hypothesis:

  a hypothesis that does NOT specify the exact direction of the relationship but predicts there will be one
• define order effects:

  how the order of the conditions can affect ppts' behaviour/performance