Research Methods

Research Methods 

Confounding variables: a variable besides the IV which may have affected the DV

Extraneous variables: a variable besides the IV could affect the DV

Standardisation: the process of keeping variables the same

Demand Characteristics: features in an experiment which help participants work out the aim of the study 

Types of experiments 

• Laboratory experiments

( + ) easy to control extraneous variables - establish cause and effect

( - ) controlled environment - behaviours change > lacks EV

• Field experiments 

( + ) more EV - people are in RL settings so more likely to behave like normal

( - ) environmental factors eg how many people are around at the time

• Quasi experiments 

( + ) ethical reasons…