Unit 9

• Behavioural Measure


  An operationalization of a variable that involves directly observing and precisely recording behaviour
• Ceiling Effect


  The failure of a measure to detect difference because it was too easy and everyone does well
• Demand Characteristics


  Cues embedded in a study that inform the participant how they are expected to behave
• Double-blind Procedures


  Neither the experimenter or the participant know which condition the participant has been assigned
• Experimental Realism


  When a study engages and involves participants in a deep way
• Experimenter Bias


  Any intentional or unintentional influence that the experimenter exerts in the participants to confirm the hypothesis
• Filler Items


  Items included in the questionnaire measure to help disguise the true purpose of the measure
• Floor Effect


  The failure of a measure to detect a difference because it was too difficult
• Manipulation Check


  A measure used to determine either the manipulation of the independent variable has had its intended effect on a participant
• Manipulation Strength


  The degree to which levels of an independent variable differ from each other

  • Weak manipulation = subtly different
  • Strong ,manipulation = Maximally different
• Mundane Realism


  The extent to which the experiences in a study are experienced by participants as impactful and engaging
• Physiological Measure


  An operationalization of a variable that involves observing and recording a response from the body
• Pilot Study


  A small-scale study with a small sample conducted before an actual study

  • meant to test and change things before full study
• Placebo Group


  A control group given the expectation of improvement through treatment in order to control for the psychological effects of receiving a treatment
• Self-report Measure


  An operationalization of a variable that involves asking people to explicitly indicate something about themselves
• Sensitivity


  The ability of a measure to detect differences or changes
• Single-blind Procedure


  An experiment in which participants do not know to which condition they are in, but the researchers does
• Staged Manipulations


  Operationalizations of an independent variable that involves creating a complex situation. Participants then experience the situation and their responses are recorded
• Straightforward Manipulation


  Operationalizations that involve manipulating the independent variable using instructions or other stimulus materials in a simple and obvious way