Research methods (WIP)

What is the definition of Psychology?

The study of the mind/brain and behaviour.

What is the independent variable?

What is changed/ manipulated

What is the dependant variable?

What is measured

What is a laboratory experiment?

Done in a controlled environment where the researched manipulated the IV and records its effect on the DV

What are the strengths of laboratory experiments? (3)

• high control over extraneous variables so can ensure the change in IV caused the effect on DV- High internal validity

• Reliable as the controlled environment means it can easily be replicated

• variables can be measured accurately.

What are the limitations of laboratory experiments? (3)

• low ecological validity and generalisability

• participants may alter their behaviour based on their interpretation of what the purpose of the experiment is (demand characteristics)

• experimenter bias (expectations may affect interactions with participants and interpretations of results

What are Field experiments?

Takes place in a natural environment and the researcher manipulates the IV

What are the strengths of field experiments? (2)

• ecological validity

• less demand characteristics and participants may not know they are in an experiment

What are the limitations of field experiments? (4)

• ethical issues and participants don’t give informed consent

• not reliable as its harder for experiments to be recreated due to extraneous variables

• extraneous variables also mean cause and effect can not be as guaranteed.

• sampling bias- does not represent the entire group, results collected have a higher chance of appearing then other data

What are natural experiments?

take place in natural, everyday settings. IV is not manipulated, it would have happened regardless

What are the strengths of natural experiments? (4)

• high ecological validity

• external validity as they study real life issues

• no demand characteristics

• possible to test things that would otherwise be impossible for unethical to test.

What are the limitations of natural experiments? (30)

• sampling bias

• extraneous variables may confound results

• ethical issues

What are quasi experiments?

IV is an existing difference eg. age or sex. Experiments can be in a natural environment of controlled

What are the strengths of Quasi experiments?

• external validity

• often under controlled experiments so same strengths as lab experiments

What are the limitations of Quasi experiments?

• not reliable due to participant variables (eg. an older person with better memory)

• lack internal validity- results could be explained buy other factors