Cheatography
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Research methods - experimental methods
This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.
experimental methods - terms
aim |
what the researcher intends to find out |
hypothesis |
what the researcher predicts will be the outcome of the experiment |
procedure |
steps in order to carry out research |
findings |
the principle outcomes of a research project - what the project has suggested revealed or indicated |
conclusion |
what the findings tell us about people in general rather Han about specific participants - conclusions are used to construct theories |
demand characteristics |
a cue in the environment that makes the participant aware of the aim of the study |
internal validity |
when the researcher is able to measure what they intended to measure |
reliability |
when the study can be carried out again and collect the same results |
mundane realism |
when the tasks in the study are reflective of real life tasks |
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strengths and weaknesses of experimental designs
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hypotheses
hypothesis |
An accurate and testable statement predicting the outcomes of the research project |
There are two types of hypotheses.... |
1. Null hypothesis |
2. Alternative hypothesis |
a null hypothesis is used to predict that there will be no difference or relationship in the results |
an alternative hypothesis is used to predict a difference or relationship in the results |
There are two types of alternative hypothesis... |
1. Directional hypothesis (one tailed) |
2. Non directional hypothesis (two tailed) |
a directional hypothesis states which direction the results are predicted to go. Eg. there will be an increase in... |
a directional hypothesis states that there will be a difference but not which direction the results are predicted to go. Eg. there will be a difference between... |
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extraneous variable
extraneous variable |
an extraneous variable is a variable that can affect the results if not controlled. |
eg. age of pts, temperature, or researchers body language |
there are three different types of extraneous variable... |
1. Participant variables |
2. Situational variables |
3. Experimenter variables |
participant variables are differences in the participants between conditions that can affect the results. Eg. age, experience, ethnicity |
situational variables are differences in the situation between conditions that can affect the results. Eg. temperature, noise level, time day |
experimenter variables are differences in the experimenters body language or tone of voice between conditions that can affect the results. |
these extraneous variables can be controlled in different ways... |
participant variables can be completely removed by using a repeated measures design. matched pairs design may help to control participant variables |
situational variables may be controlled by using standardised procedures where as many of the variables in the conditions remain the same |
experimenter variables can be overcome by writing down any instructions for the participants so the they dont have to interact with the experimenter. |
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experiments
experiment |
an experiment is a research method used to find an cause and effect relationship between the independent variable and the dependant variable |
there four types of experimental methods... |
1. laboratory experiment |
a laboratory experiment is used to investigate the causal relationship between the independent and dependant variable in controlled conditions |
2.
field experiment |
a field experiment is used to investigate the causal relationship between the independent and dependant variable in more natural conditions |
3.
natural experiment |
a natural experiment is used to investigate the relationship between the independent and dependant variable when the independent variable cannot be manipulated because it is something the participant has experienced |
4.
quasi experiment |
a quasi experiment is used to investigate the relationship between the independent and dependant variable when the independent variable cannot be manipulated because it is a characteristic of the participant |
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