RESEARCH METHODS (PSYCHOLOGY) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #22
1. What is an extraneous variable?: Anything that can affect the DV that
isnt the IV
2. What is an aim ?: A general statement of what the researcher intends
to inves- tigate; the purpose of the study.
3. What is the purpose of an aim ?: To identify what variables the
study is investigating and to explain the outline and purpose of
the study
4. What is a hypothesis ?: A clear, precise, testable statement that
states the relationship between the variables to be investigated.
5. What is a null hypothesis ?: This ALWAYS predicts that any difference
or relationship is down to CHANCE so there is NO significant difference
or relationship
6. What is operationalisation ?: Explaining precisely how IV can be
manipulated and how DV can be measured.
7. What is a directional hypothesis?: A one tailed hypothesis - it will
specifically state the direction of the results.
8. What is a non-directional hypothesis?: A two tailed hypothesis - it wont
specify the expected direction of the results.
9. What are the four types of experiment ?: Lab experiment / field
experiment / natural experiment / quasi experiment
10.What is a lab experiment ?: Setting - a tightly controlled artificial
experiment. IV - deliberately manipulated by the experimenters.
DV - the experimenters measure it. It will produce
quantitative data. Extraneous variables - attempt to
control and minimise them.
11.What is a field experiment ?: Setting - natural real word
environment. IV - deliberately manipulated
DV - measured
Extraneous variables - minimal control
12.What is a natural experiment ?: Setting - any setting
IV - not manipulated, but naturally occurring (event or
experience) DV - measured
Extraneous variables - little to no control
13.What is a quasi experiment ?: Setting - any
setting IV - pre existing characteristics, so not
manipulated
DV - measured
Extraneous variables - little to no control
14.What is validity ?: The extent to which an experiment is accurate in
,RESEARCH METHODS (PSYCHOLOGY) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #22
measuring what it claims to measure
15.What is internal validity?: - Investigator effects
- Demand Characteristics
- Social Desirability
,RESEARCH METHODS (PSYCHOLOGY) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #22
16.What is external validity?: - Population validity
- Temporal validity
- Ecological validity
17.What are demand characteristics ?: Any cue from the researcher or
the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as
revealing the purpose of the investigation. This may lead to a
participant changing their behaviour within the research situation.
18.What is mundane realism?: The extent to which the tasks used in the
experi- ment are representative of tasks completed in every day life.
19.What is internal validity ?: The extent to which an experiment can be
repeated to check the consistency of the results.
20.What is ecological validity ?: The extent to which the experimental
setting respects real life situations and behaviour.
21.What is standardization?: Keeping everything the same
The extent to which there is confidence in the IV causing the effect on
the DV.
22.What is replication?: Findings should be able to be repeated on
different occasions
23.What are some advantages of lab experiments ?: High internal validity/
high reliability
24.What are disadvantages of lab experiments ?: Low ecological validity
and mundane realism/ High demand characteristics
25.What are advantages of field experiments ?: High ecological validity
and mundane realism / low demand characteristics
26.What are disadvantages of field experiments ?: Low validity and low
reliability
27.What are advantages to natural/quasi experiments ?: High ecological
validity and mundane realism
28.What are disadvantages of natural/quasi experiments ?: Low internal
validity
/ low reliability
29.What is a confounding variable?: An extraneous variable, that
systematically changes alongside the IV so it can cause the change in
DV
30.What's a situational variable ?: Features of the environment or setting
that may affect participants behaviour
Lighting/weather
, RESEARCH METHODS (PSYCHOLOGY) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #22
31.What's a participant variable ?: Individual differences between
participants and the ways in which each participant varies from the
other
1. What is an extraneous variable?: Anything that can affect the DV that
isnt the IV
2. What is an aim ?: A general statement of what the researcher intends
to inves- tigate; the purpose of the study.
3. What is the purpose of an aim ?: To identify what variables the
study is investigating and to explain the outline and purpose of
the study
4. What is a hypothesis ?: A clear, precise, testable statement that
states the relationship between the variables to be investigated.
5. What is a null hypothesis ?: This ALWAYS predicts that any difference
or relationship is down to CHANCE so there is NO significant difference
or relationship
6. What is operationalisation ?: Explaining precisely how IV can be
manipulated and how DV can be measured.
7. What is a directional hypothesis?: A one tailed hypothesis - it will
specifically state the direction of the results.
8. What is a non-directional hypothesis?: A two tailed hypothesis - it wont
specify the expected direction of the results.
9. What are the four types of experiment ?: Lab experiment / field
experiment / natural experiment / quasi experiment
10.What is a lab experiment ?: Setting - a tightly controlled artificial
experiment. IV - deliberately manipulated by the experimenters.
DV - the experimenters measure it. It will produce
quantitative data. Extraneous variables - attempt to
control and minimise them.
11.What is a field experiment ?: Setting - natural real word
environment. IV - deliberately manipulated
DV - measured
Extraneous variables - minimal control
12.What is a natural experiment ?: Setting - any setting
IV - not manipulated, but naturally occurring (event or
experience) DV - measured
Extraneous variables - little to no control
13.What is a quasi experiment ?: Setting - any
setting IV - pre existing characteristics, so not
manipulated
DV - measured
Extraneous variables - little to no control
14.What is validity ?: The extent to which an experiment is accurate in
,RESEARCH METHODS (PSYCHOLOGY) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #22
measuring what it claims to measure
15.What is internal validity?: - Investigator effects
- Demand Characteristics
- Social Desirability
,RESEARCH METHODS (PSYCHOLOGY) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #22
16.What is external validity?: - Population validity
- Temporal validity
- Ecological validity
17.What are demand characteristics ?: Any cue from the researcher or
the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as
revealing the purpose of the investigation. This may lead to a
participant changing their behaviour within the research situation.
18.What is mundane realism?: The extent to which the tasks used in the
experi- ment are representative of tasks completed in every day life.
19.What is internal validity ?: The extent to which an experiment can be
repeated to check the consistency of the results.
20.What is ecological validity ?: The extent to which the experimental
setting respects real life situations and behaviour.
21.What is standardization?: Keeping everything the same
The extent to which there is confidence in the IV causing the effect on
the DV.
22.What is replication?: Findings should be able to be repeated on
different occasions
23.What are some advantages of lab experiments ?: High internal validity/
high reliability
24.What are disadvantages of lab experiments ?: Low ecological validity
and mundane realism/ High demand characteristics
25.What are advantages of field experiments ?: High ecological validity
and mundane realism / low demand characteristics
26.What are disadvantages of field experiments ?: Low validity and low
reliability
27.What are advantages to natural/quasi experiments ?: High ecological
validity and mundane realism
28.What are disadvantages of natural/quasi experiments ?: Low internal
validity
/ low reliability
29.What is a confounding variable?: An extraneous variable, that
systematically changes alongside the IV so it can cause the change in
DV
30.What's a situational variable ?: Features of the environment or setting
that may affect participants behaviour
Lighting/weather
, RESEARCH METHODS (PSYCHOLOGY) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #22
31.What's a participant variable ?: Individual differences between
participants and the ways in which each participant varies from the
other
