SELECTION TEST UVA PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH
METHODS UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
observational research
Answer:
- frequency claims
- association claims
Question:
confounding factors
Answer:
anything that intervenes with the independent variable and the result. it can be
individual factors
an IV that is conceptually distinct but empircally inseparable from one or more
other independent variables - impossible to differentiate that variable's effect in
isolation from its effect in conjunction with other variables
causes systematic differences between the groups
Question:
obscuring factors
Answer:
this affects the dependent variable (the effect): external situations, individual
differences, ineffective manipulation, measurement issues
a variable that makes the effect of your manipulation hard to see
prevent seeing a relationship between IV and DV
Question:
individual differences
Answer:
example: age, gender, motivation, experiences
can be reduced by randomising participants
people naturally differ on the dependent variable, irrespective of the
manipulation e.g short term memory, motivation and understanding of tsk
larger differences, harder to see effect of manipulation
Question:
how to decrease individual differences by control
Answer:
- only use people within a restricted age range
- make sure everybody is equally motivated
- make sure everyone understands task
- use different design e.g within subjects design and randomised block designs/
matched designs
, Question:
Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one
experimental condition
Answer:
independent group design
Question:
within subject design
Answer:
reversibility
carry over effects
participant dropout
Question:
what is a within subject design
Answer:
dependent variables are measured repeatedly in the same subjects under
different conditions
Question:
some effects cant be taken away e.g children learning how to ride a bike or
treating depression
there is no solution to the problem only by using between-subjects design
Answer:
reversibility
Question:
occur when the effects of one treatment persist when another treatment is
introduced
effects due to administering a task twice
positive ones: memory effects
practice effects
motivation effects (i want to do better this time)
negative effects:
boredom effects
fatigue effects
METHODS UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
observational research
Answer:
- frequency claims
- association claims
Question:
confounding factors
Answer:
anything that intervenes with the independent variable and the result. it can be
individual factors
an IV that is conceptually distinct but empircally inseparable from one or more
other independent variables - impossible to differentiate that variable's effect in
isolation from its effect in conjunction with other variables
causes systematic differences between the groups
Question:
obscuring factors
Answer:
this affects the dependent variable (the effect): external situations, individual
differences, ineffective manipulation, measurement issues
a variable that makes the effect of your manipulation hard to see
prevent seeing a relationship between IV and DV
Question:
individual differences
Answer:
example: age, gender, motivation, experiences
can be reduced by randomising participants
people naturally differ on the dependent variable, irrespective of the
manipulation e.g short term memory, motivation and understanding of tsk
larger differences, harder to see effect of manipulation
Question:
how to decrease individual differences by control
Answer:
- only use people within a restricted age range
- make sure everybody is equally motivated
- make sure everyone understands task
- use different design e.g within subjects design and randomised block designs/
matched designs
, Question:
Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one
experimental condition
Answer:
independent group design
Question:
within subject design
Answer:
reversibility
carry over effects
participant dropout
Question:
what is a within subject design
Answer:
dependent variables are measured repeatedly in the same subjects under
different conditions
Question:
some effects cant be taken away e.g children learning how to ride a bike or
treating depression
there is no solution to the problem only by using between-subjects design
Answer:
reversibility
Question:
occur when the effects of one treatment persist when another treatment is
introduced
effects due to administering a task twice
positive ones: memory effects
practice effects
motivation effects (i want to do better this time)
negative effects:
boredom effects
fatigue effects
