Experimental design

Question 1

What is experimental design?

Answer 1

The different ways in which participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions

Question 2

What are the 3 key types of experimental design?

Answer 2

• Independent groups
• Repeated measures
• Matched pairs

Question 3

What is the independent groups design?

Answer 3

There are 2 separate groups of participants- one group takes part in condition A, the other takes part in condition B (each group only does ONE condition)

Question 4

What are the strengths of the independent groups design?

Answer 4

• Order effects are not a problem
• Demand characteristics have less of an influence

Question 5

What are the limitations of the independent groups design?

Answer 5

• Participant variables not controlled - confounding variables (should use random allocation)
• Less economical- more time and money

Question 6

What is the repeated measures design?

Answer 6

There is one group of participants. Everyone in the group takes part in BOTH conditions

Question 7

What are the strengths of the repeated measures design?

Answer 7

• Participant variables controlled
• Fewer participants needed (less time and money)

Question 8

What are the limitations of the repeated measures design?

Answer 8

• Order effects (should use counterbalancing)
• Demand characteristics feature more

Question 9

What is the matched pairs design?

Answer 9

Two seperate groups, but people are matched into pairs for shared qualities. ONE of each pair takes part in condition A, and the other takes part in condition B

Question 10

What are the strengths of the matched pairs design?

Answer 10

• Order effects not a problem
• Less demand characteristics
• Control participant variables (somewhat)

Question 11

What are the limitations of the matched pairs design?

Answer 11

• Difficult to achieve a perfect match, so some participant variables
• Time consuming and expensive