Methodology: Variables and Types of Bias Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Methodology: Variables and Types of Bias Deck (28)
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1
Q

What are the 3 main types of variables?

A

1) Independent variable
2) Dependent variable
3) Extraneous variable

2
Q

Define ‘operationalisation’.

A

Variables must be fully operationalised, especially the dependent variable in order to be made measurable.

3
Q

Define ‘independent variable’.

A

The variable that the experimenter manipulates to demonstrate a difference between the experimental conditions.

4
Q

Give an example of an independent variable used in cognitive psychology.

A

Baddeley’s (1966) acoustic similarity and semantic similarity word lists.

5
Q

Evaluate the reliability of independent variables using a high point.

A

P - High test-retest
E - Manipulation of the IV creates a standardised procedure
E - Therefore the experiment will be easy to replicate to test for consistency

6
Q

Evaluate the validity of independent variables using a high and low point.

A

P - High
E - Having an IV coincides with a DV
E - Can therefore establish cause and effect relationship
P - Low
E - Manipulation conditions of an experiment usually creates artificial settings
E - Therefore it wouldn’t be natural to ppts and so they wouldn’t exhibit behaviour that reflects real life

7
Q

Define ‘dependent variable’.

A

The variable that the experimenter measures to see if the change in IV has created a different effect.

8
Q

Give an example of a dependent variable used in cognitive psychology.

A

Baddeley’s (1966) number of words from a list recalled correctly.

9
Q

Evaluate the reliability of dependent variables using a low point.

A

P - Low
E - Sometimes variables may not be fully operationalised
E - Therefore they can be hard to measure and compare

10
Q

Evaluate the validity of dependent variables using a high and low point.

A

P - High
E - Having an IV coincides with a DV
E - Can therefore establish cause and effect relationship
P - Low
E - Operationalisation and measurement of variables may lead to researcher bias as they will be looking for specific things
E - Therefore can impact credibility with subjective findings

11
Q

Define ‘extraneous variable’.

A

The variables that aren’t the IV or DV.

12
Q

Define ‘confounding variable’.

A

An EV that is important enough to provide an alternative explanation for the effects on the DV.

13
Q

What are the 2 types of extraneous variables?

A

1) Situational

2) Participant

14
Q

Define ‘situational variable’.

A

Variables from the environment.

15
Q

Give an example of a situational variable.

A

Weather

16
Q

Define ‘participant variable’.

A

Variables that create differences in the sample due to ppts individual characteristics.

17
Q

Give an example of a participant variable.

A

Gender

18
Q

Evaluate the reliability of extraneous variables using a low point.

A

P - Low test-retest
E - They can make conditions hard to standardise or measure in any one given way
E - Therefore conditions will be hard to replicate to test for consistency

19
Q

Evaluate the validity of extraneous variables using a low point.

A

P - Low
E - They can interfere with the relationship between the IV and DV
E - Therefore limiting the cause and effect relationship that can be established

20
Q

Define ‘demand characteristics’.

A

Behaviours of ppts that results in cues from the aim of the environment of the experiment that suggest they should behave a certain way.

21
Q

Evaluate the validity of demand characteristics using a low point.

A

P - Low
E - Ppts often try to guess the aim and so behave in a way they think the experimenter would want them to or not want them to
E - Therefore behaviour will not reflect behaviour in real life due to this bias

22
Q

Define ‘experimenter effect’.

A

When aspects of the researcher can lead ppts to think they should act a certain way.

23
Q

Give an example of an experimenter effect in psychology.

A

Their appearance/behaviour.

24
Q

Define ‘researcher bias’.

A

When a researcher influences the results in order to achieve a certain outcome.

25
Q

Give an example of researcher bias in psychology.

A

Discarding results that reject the hypothesis of the experiment.

26
Q

Define ‘single blind procedure’.

A

When ppts don’t know the true aim of the study.

27
Q

Define ‘double blind procedure’.

A

When ppts and the researcher don’t know the true aim of the study.

28
Q

How do single/double blind procedures remove bias?

A

Single blind - it removes DCs from ppts as they are unaware of the aim so would behave normally as wouldn’t know otherwise
Double blind - it removes DCs and researcher bias as they wouldn’t know what data to change/discard to fit the hypothesis