Research Methods - Key Terms

Variables that may affect the DV other than the IV.

Any characteristic of individual participants which may act as an extraneous variable.

Features of a research situation which may influence participants' behaviour and thus act as an extraneous variable.

A cue that makes participants aware of what the researcher expects to find or how participants are expected to behave. They can change the outcome of the study because the participants may change their behaviour.

The influence of the investigator's expectations and beliefs on the measurement and recording of data.

Any that the investigator does which has an effect on the participants' performance in a study other than what was intended (includes direct and indirect effects).

A tendency for respondents to answer questions in a way that will present them in a better light.

The tendency for participants to alter their behaviour merely as a result of knowing that they are being observed.

Occurs in a repeated measures design when an extraneous variable arises from the order in which the conditions are presented.

Manipulating of the order of conditions so that each is equally first, second, etc. across the sample.

A type of research design in which the participant is now aware of the research aims or of which condition of the experiment they are receiving.

A type of research in which neither the participant nor the experimenter are aware of the research aims or other details and thus have no expectations.

A small scale trial run of a study to test any aspects of the design with a view to making improvements.

Allocating participants to experimental groups or conditions using random techniques.