Experimental design (Ao3)

Independent groups- No order effects (strength)

Participants only take part in one condition of the experiment, therefore reducing the chance of variables like fatigue impacting results

Independent groups-Fewer demand characteristics (strength)

As participants only take part in one condition, demand characteristics are less likely, making participants less likely to perceive the aim of the study and therefore increasing the validity of results

Independent groups-Individual differences (limitation)

Each group has different participants which leads to individual differences, making it hard to tell if results are caused by the independent variable or by differences between people in each group

Independent groups-More participants required (limitation)

This is because each condition needs a separate group of people, which can lead to the study becoming more time consuming and cost more

Repeated measures-Individual differences removed (strength)

The same participants are in both conditions, which removes the risk of demand characteristics and makes it more likely that any changes in the dependant variable are cause by the independent variable

Repeated measures-Fewer participants required (strength)

Fewer participants needed since each person takes part in all conditions, this reduces the time and cost involved in recruiting and testing large groups of people, making the study more practical to run

Repeated measures- Order effects (limitation)

Participants take part in all conditions, leading to there performance possibly improving due to practise or decline due to fatigue, which can affect the results of the study

Repeated Measures-Demand characteristics (limitation)

Participants take part in all conditions, making it more likely for them to guess the aim of the experiment, leading to demand characteristics where they change there behaviour to fit what they think the researcher expects, which can affect the validity of the study

Matched pairs-Individual differences less likely (strength)

Participants in each group are matched on key characteristics, helping to keep the conditions more similar

Matched pairs-No order effects (strength)

Participants only take part in one condition of the experiment, reducing the chance of variables like fatigue impacting results

Matched pairs-fewer demand characteristics (strength)

As participants only take part in one condition, participants are less likely to perceive the aim of the study, increasing the internal validity of results

Matched pairs-Time consuming and expensive to match pairs (limitation)

Matched pairs is time consuming and expensive because it requires careful matching of participants based on specific characteristics, which limits the practicality of the study and overall costs

Matched pairs-No two participants are ever identical (limitation)

Participants in each condition are never perfectly matched due to individual differences, this may affect how they perform in conditions, therefore reducing the internal validity of the study