lesson 12 - extraneous variables and controls

define extraneous variables

any variable other than the IV which may affect the DV

define demand characteristics

and cue from the researcher or the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of an investigation

define investigator effect

any effect from the investigator’s conscious or unconscious behaviour on the research outcome

define randomisation

the use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing material and deciding the order of conditions

define standardisation

using exactly the same formalised procedure and instructions for all participants in a research study so as to avoid investigator effects caused by different procedures or instructions