experimental design and pilot studies

Independent group design

Participants only perform in one condition of the experiment

IGD strength

No order effects and demand characteristics are reduced

IGD limitations

No control over participant variables

More participants needed than RMD

Repeated measures

Same participants take part in all conditions of the IV

RMD STRENGTH

Eliminates participant variables

Not time consuming

RMD weakness

Order effects

Matched pairs

Pairs are initially assed and ranked then the top two are assigned to seperate conditions

MPD strength

No order effects

MPD limitation

Time consuming and expensive to match

Pilot study

Small scale version of the main study done before the real study

Single blind

Researchers don’t tell participants if they are given a test treatment or control treatment

Double blind

Neither participants nor experimenter know who is receiving a particular treatment