Research Methods, Memory and Perception

When researchers standardise procedures it means

• they make sure participants don't come to any harm

• they make sure there are no order effects that can influence the results

• they make sure everything is done the same way, to reduce extraneous variables

• they make sure no extraneous variables cause a change in the IV

Extraneous variables need to be identified so that

• there are no order effects

• only the independent variable affects the dependent variable

• there are no demand characteristics

• there is lots of control

in matched pairs the participants are only tested once. This means

• the study is less expensive to run

• we can trust results

• there are order effects

• there are no order effects

Allocation to conditions is

• how participants are given a level of the IV (one condition)

• how participants are allocated a condition each

• how conditions are allocated to participants

In an experiment, the 'control' group is

• tested before the study so that the researcher can control which condition they get in the experiment.

• put into the more controlling condition, where extraneous variables are controlled

• a group of participants who receive no 'treatment'. Their behaviour is a baseline for the experimental group.

The target population is

• everyone the researcher is interested in studying, from which a smaller sample is selected.

• the population the researcher is targeting for their research.

• the wider public that we might generalise results to.

Where do researchers find ethical guidelines?

• In the BDI

• In the DCI

• In the ICD

• In the BPS

A quantitative method is

• using data that can be counted, usually given as numbers

• using data that is expressed in words, usually non-numerical

• using data that is gathered by the researcher themselves

• using data that is gathered by others

A covert observation is

• when participants are told in advance they will be observed

• when the researcher is part of the group of participants

• when participants are not aware their behaviour is being recorded

• when participants are aware their behaviour is being recorded

One strength of observation studies is

• they provide better indication of behaviour than questionnaires or interviews

• the behaviour watched may not be truthful

• they are done on unique individuals so provide insight on more unusual behaviour