Variables

• What is an independent variable?

  The variable that is changed in the experiment
• What are the different levels of independent variables called?

  Conditions
• What is the dependent variable?

  The variable that is measured in the experiment
• What are control variables?

  Variables that stay the same in the experiment
• What are extraneous variables?

  Variables that have not been controlled and may impact the cause and effect relationship of The Independent independent variable
• What is a hypothesis?

  A clear, precise, testable statement that States the relationship between the different conditions of The Independent variable and the dependent variable
• What does it mean to operationalize variables?

  Clearly and precisely defining variables in an experiment so that we can easily change the IV and measure the dv
• What is the alternative hypothesis?

  States that there is a relationship between the IV and DV-the IV will have an effect on the dv
• What is a null hypothesis?

  States that there is not a relationship between the IV and dv-the IV will have no effect on the dv
• Why do most researchers prefer to do experiments in a laboratory?

  Experimental variables are much easier to control
• What is a confounding variable?

  Variables that have unintentional effects on the dependent variable
• What are the five different types of extraneous variables?

  1. Situational variables

  2. Participants variables

  3. Experimenter effects/researcher bias

  4. Demand characteristics

  5. Order effects
• What are situation of variables?

  Aspects of the environment that may affect participants for example noise / weather
• When do situation or variables, like order effects, become a problem?

  In a repeated measure design
• What are participant variables?

  Aspects of the participants themselves which may affect them comma for example mood, age or personality
• What are experimental effects?

  Behaviours of the experimenter that may affect results all the tendency of a researcher to unintentionally influence the results of a study due to their expectations or preferences
• What are demand characteristics?

  Features of the experimental situation that may give away the aim of the investigation and demands a particular response from participants
• What are order effects and what are the two types?

  The order in which things are presented or done in and experiment can affect people's responses or behavior in the study. These include:

  1. Fatigue effects: decline in performance as the participant becomes tired or bored

  2. Practice effects: improvement in performance due to practice