Research Method: Control of Variables

Created by: Tatterdemalion
Created on: 13-06-21 17:45

What is an independent variable?

The variable being changed in an experiment e.g. amount of exercise done in a fitness study

1 of 9

What is a dependent variable?

The variable being measured in an experiment (The DV depends on the IV) e.g. level of fitness as measured by maximum bench press

2 of 9

What are Extraneous Variables?

Any variable that interferes with investigating the effect of the IV on the DV e.g. the time of day, lighting in the lab etc.

3 of 9

What are Confounding Variables?

Variables that change systematically with the IV and confound the study

4 of 9

What are Confounding Variables? (cont.)

For example, in the aforementioned fitness study, knowing proper bench press technique may influence the result so having a group of experienced weightlifters and a group of inexperienced people would confound the study

5 of 9

What are Demand Characteristics?

The clues in an experiment that may give an idea of an experimenter's intentions or the aims of an experiment and thereby lead to them either helping or hindering the experiment, confounding the results

6 of 9

What are Investigator Effects?

Actions taken by the experimenter (conscious or otherwise) that may influence the outcome e.g. smiling when a participant is taking an expected action

7 of 9

What is the definition and purpose of Randomisation?

The use of chance to reduce the researcher's influence on the outcome of an experiment

8 of 9

What is the definition and purpose of Standardisation?

The idea that all participants should be subject to the same environment so as to produce consistent results

9 of 9

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is a dependent variable?

Back

The variable being measured in an experiment (The DV depends on the IV) e.g. level of fitness as measured by maximum bench press

Card 3

Front

What are Extraneous Variables?

Back

Card 4

Front

What are Confounding Variables?

Back

Card 5

Front

What are Confounding Variables? (cont.)

Back

View more cards

Get Revising

Research Method: Control of Variables