AS LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY (9990) - RESEARCH METHODS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2025

Define what the independent variable (IV) is - ANSWER The factor under investigation in an experiment which is manipulated to create two or more conditions (levels) and is expected to be responsible for changes in the dependent variable. Define what the dependent variable (DV) is - ANSWER The factor in an experiment which is measured and is expected to change under the influence of the independent variable. - The DV needs some form of operationalisation, therefore researchers must clearly define how they will measure. Define what the control variable (CV) is - ANSWER A way to keep potential extraneous variable constant. In an experiment, this would prevent the variable from affecting the DV in addition to instead of the IV. - This makes the study more valid because it means the experimenter would be more likely to be able to find a cause and effect relationship. Define what the control condition is - ANSWER A level of the IV in an experiment from which the IV is absent. It is compared to one or more experimental conditions. Define what an extraneous variable is - ANSWER A variable which acts either randomly, affecting the DV in all levels of the IV or systematically, i.e. on one level of the IV (called a confounding variable) so can obscure the effect of the IV, making the results difficult to interpret. Define what a confounding variable is - ANSWER Extraneous factors that affect the performance of participants. In an experiment, they would therefore affect scores on the DV, and so could obscure the effect of the IV. Define operationalisation - ANSWER The definition of variables so that they can be accurately manipulated, measured or quantified and replicated. This includes the IV and DV in experiments and the two measured variables in correlations. Explain the difference between qualitative & quantitative data - ANSWER - Quantitative data: numerical results, about the quantity of a psychological measure (e.g. pulse rate or a score on an intelligence test) - Q