Research methods (experimental method)

Question 1

Experimental method

Answer 1

Involves the manipulation of the dependent variable

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

What the researcher intends to investigate; the purpose of the study

Question 3

Hypothesis

Answer 3

A clear testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated

Question 4

Directional hypothesis

Answer 4

States the direction of the difference or relationship

Question 5

Non-directional hypothesis

Answer 5

Does not state the direction

Question 6

Variables

Answer 6

Any ‘thing’ that can change within an investigation.

Resulting in changes to another

Question 7

Independent variable (IV)

Answer 7

Some aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher

Question 8

Dependent variable (DV)

Answer 8

The variables that is measured by the researcher.

Question 9

Operationalisation

Answer 9

How variables can be measured

Question 10

Laboratory experiment

Answer 10

Conducted in control conditions where the researcher manipulates the IV to measure effect on DV

Question 11

Laboratory experiment advantages

Answer 11

• Control over extraneous variables

- High degree of internal validity causing an effect between the IV and DV

Question 12

Laboratory experiment disadvantages

Answer 12

• They lack external validity
• Its an artificial environment
• Participants change (behavior)- unnatural

Question 13

Field experiment

Answer 13

Carried out in natural conditions where the researcher manipulates the IV to measure effect on the DV

Question 14

Field experiment advantages

Answer 14

• Have a higher level of ecological validity in comparison to lab studies
• Results are accurate of behavior for everyday life

Question 15

Field experiment disadvantages

Answer 15

• There are ethical issues associated with field experiments

- Research involves their privacy rights

Question 16

Natural experiment

Answer 16

The researcher does not manipulate the IV and examines the effect of an existing IV on the DV

Question 17

Natural experiment advantages

Answer 17

Real life situations from using this method

Question 18

Natural experiment disadvantages

Answer 18

• High in ecological validity given in real life issues that are being studied rather than being manipulated artificially
• There is no control, it is difficult for research to accurately assess the effects of the IV on the Dv

Question 19

Quasi- Experiment

Answer 19

A naturally occurring independent variable which already exists. Eg. gender, IQ, age or a personality trait

Question 20

Quasi- Experiment advantages

Answer 20

• No control over the environment & extraneous variables making it difficult to be sure factors such as age, gender or ethnicity have been affected by the DV

Question 21

Quasi-Experiment disadvantages

Answer 21

Participants cannot be randomly allocated to research conditions remove the issue of bias in procedure

Question 22

Extraneous variable

Answer 22

Any variable other than the IV that might affect the DV and affect the results

Question 23

Confounding variable

Answer 23

Any variable other than the IV that may have affected the DV so we cannot be sure of the true source changes to the DV