Standardisation in Psychological Research

What does standardisation mean in psychological research?

• Making the study fun for participants

• Ensuring all participants experience the same conditions and instructions

• Using random sampling

• Debriefing participants

Why is standardisation important?

• It makes the study more interesting

• It reduces bias and increases reliability

• It guarantees participants enjoy the study

• It eliminates the need for ethics

In the “Teacher A vs Teacher B” scenario, what was the independent variable?

• Memory ability

• The wording of the instructions

• The teacher’s age

• The number of students

What type of bias is introduced when participants change behaviour because of instructions?

• Observer bias

• Demand characteristics

• Sampling bias

• Counterbalancing

What is the purpose of a brief?

• To explain the results of the study

• To gain informed consent and explain rights

• To make the participants relaxed

• To provide instructions for analysis

Which of these belongs in a standardised brief?

• “You must complete this task.”

• “You have the right to withdraw at any time.”

• “This is a test of your intelligence.”

• “Please try to do well for me.”

What is the main purpose of a debrief?

• To test if participants remembered instructions

• To explain the true aim and ensure no harm

• To tell participants their score

• To keep participants blinded

Which of these would be appropriate in a debrief?

• “Do not tell anyone what happened.”

• “Thank you for taking part, the true aim was to study memory under different conditions.”

• “Please come back for the next test.”

• “You were the best group.”

Extraneous variables are…

• Always the same as confounding variables

• Uncontrolled variables that might affect the DV

• The IVs in a study

• Ethical issues

Which of these is a situational variable?

• Age of participants

• Level of noise in the room

• Motivation differences

• Researcher expectations