2. Research Issues

• 1. Research Issues - Extraneous Variables


  EVs:

  • anything other IV affecting DV.
  • not confound, makes harder to detect result.
  • need to be controlled.
  • easy control, e.g. participant’s age.
• 2. Research Issues - Cofounding Variables

  CVs:

  • presence effects variables so results don’t reflect actual relationship between IV + DV.
  • EVs can become CVs + confuse results by affecting DV.
• 3. Research Issues - Demand Characteristics


  Demand C:

  • participant reactivity = EV, difficult to control.
  • change behaviour bc trying figure out purpose of exp.
  • e.g unnatural (social desirability); nervousness; wrong answer purposely; right answer to please researcher.
• 4. Research Issues - Investigator Effects

  Investigator Effects:

  • unconscious/conscious behaviour of researcher that effects results.
  • e.g. physical characteristics (like gender); less obvious characteristics (like accent); unconscious bias in data interpretations.
• Research Issues - Randomisation

  Randomisation:

  • use chance methods to control bias.
  • minimise EVs/CVs.
  • control investigator effects.
• Research Issues - Standardisation

  Standardisation:

  • use same formalised procedures for all participants.
  • same environment, info, experience.
  • standardisation = non-standardised changes don’t act as EVs.