211297
| Question | Answer |
| Independent Groups Design (definition) | Independent Groups: (aka between participants) Different participants are used in the control and experimental conditions |
| Independent Groups Design (strengths) | • Fewer participants needed than for matched participants • No loss of participants (cf matched design) • Order effects (repetition, boredom or fatigue) do not influence the results (cf repeated measures design) • Same test can be used with all participants |
| Independent Groups Design (weaknesses) | • Participant variables differ leading to more potential extraneous variables • More variation between groups/conditions • More participants required as each is tested only once and is less economical (cf repeated measures design) |
| Matched Participants Design (definition) | Similar participants are used in the control and experimental conditions. The participants are matched on a characteristic/s other than the IV that may affect the DV |
| Matched Participants Design (strengths) | • Participant variables are more constant between conditions resulting in less likelihood of participant effects (extraneous variables) • Same test can be used with all participants |
| Matched Participants Design (weaknesses) | • Participant variables can never be matched exactly • May not match on a relevant variable • Matching participants is time consuming and difficult • More participants needed than in independent groups design as there may be loss of participants due to matching • More participants needed (cf repeated measures design) |
| Repeated Measures Design (definition) | The same participants are used in all levels of the IV, for example, in both the control and experimental conditions. |
| Repeated Measures Design (strengths) | • Fewer participants are needed • Participant differences are eliminated resulting in far fewer extraneous variables |
| Repeated Measures Design (weaknesses) | • Order effects (boredom, repetition or fatigue) may become consistent errors (confounding variable) • Different tests may be needed for the two conditions • Demand characteristics may be evident as the participants can ‘figure out’ what the experiment is about |
| Random Sampling (definition) | Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected for the study |
| Random Sampling (strengths) | Random sampling in a large target population provides the best chance of an unbiased representative sample |
| Random Sampling (weaknesses) | If there are large variations in the target population that may affect the impact of the IV on the DV it is difficult to obtain a representative sample randomly |
| Stratified Sampling (definition) | The target population is divided into subcategories (strata) and then electing members of each stratum in the same proportion that they occur in the target population |
| Stratified Sampling (strengths) | Used when characteristics of the members of the target population are likely to affect the impact of the IV on the DV. Separating these characteristics minimises their impact on the results |
| Stratified Sampling (weaknesses) | Can be very time consuming as strata need to be identified and correctly apportioned |
| Random Stratified Sampling (definition) | Once the participants have been divided into strata the sample is chosen by randomly selecting from each stratum |
| Convenience Sampling (definition) | Participants are chosen from the target population on the basis of availability to the researcher |
| Convenience Sampling (strengths) | Quick and easy to obtain participants |
| Convenience Sampling (weaknesses) | High probability that the sample is not representative of the population of interest. Likelihood of bias |
| Placebo Effect | A placebo is any treatment that appears to have an effect even though it is, in reality, an inactive treatment. The placebo effect refers to a change in the participants’ behaviour due to the individuals’ belief that they are receiving some kind of experimental treatment rather than the actual treatment itself |
| Single-blind Procedure | The participant does not know which condition of the experiment to which they are exposed |
| Double-blind Procedure | Both the participant and the experimenter do not know what condition they are being exposed to |
| Order Effect | Boredom, repetition or fatigue can influence the second condition of an experiment using repeated measures design |
| Participant Variables | (extraneous variables) can be a problem, especially in an independent groups design because the differences between people might account for the difference between groups rather than the experimental condition |
| Qualitative Data | Descriptions of the characteristics of what is being studied |
| Quantitative Data | Measurements or numerical information about the variables being studied |
| Subjective Data | Based on opinion and has no external baseline for what is measured e.g. feelings on quality of sleep |
| Objective Data | Data that are measured according to an identifiable external criterion |
| Descriptive Statistics | These are techniques that provide a means to summarise the research data. These may be numerical or graphical. Measures of central tendency give the ‘usual’ or ‘typical’ score for a group. These measures are: Mean – the sum of the individual scores divided by the number of individual scores Median – the central score in a set of rank-ordered scores Mode – the most frequently occurring score in a set of scores |
| Inferential Statistics | Mathematical techniques that provide a means to infer whether the difference between two groups is due to the IV, that is, a change in the DV can be attributed to the effect of the IV or due to chance differences e.g. t-test showing p-value |
| Confidentiality | Participants must not be identified in any way. Data must be kept anonymous unless participants have given consent to disclose identity. Participants may demand that data be destroyed after debriefing |
| Voluntary Participation | Participants have the right to refuse to participate in a study without pressure or coercion |
| Withdrawal Rights | Participants can leave a study at any time regardless of the effect on the results. This should be explained to participants prior to the commencement of the study. They are not required to give reasons for their withdrawal |
| Informed Consent | Participants should be given information about the study before agreeing to become involved. If children are to be participants the parent or guardian must be fully informed of the experiment and give consent on behalf of the child |
| Deception | Participants should not be deliberately misled without strong medical or scientific justification, for example, if the research results can be confounded when participants have too much information about a study. At the end of the study debriefing must occur |
| Debriefing | Participants are provided with all the information about the study: intent, nature, results and conclusions. Any deception about the intent of the study must be corrected at this stage and any potential harm removed |
| No Lasting Harm | The responsibility on the experimenter is ensure the participant experiences no long term mental or physical injury |
Want to create your own Flashcards for free with GoConqr? Learn more.