Methodological Issues in Psychology
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Questions and Answers

What type of design is exemplified by subjects receiving multiple treatments across different days?

  • Matched pairs design
  • Within-subject design (correct)
  • Cross-sectional design
  • Between-subject design

    • Which method is used to ensure that potential confounding variables are equally distributed across experimental groups?

  • Random assignment
  • Placebo control
  • Matched pairs
  • Counterbalancing (correct)

    • In a study designed with a placebo group, what is primarily being controlled?

  • Environmental variables
  • Participant expectations (correct)
  • Sample size
  • Experimenter bias

    • Which potential issue arises when the experimenter influences participants' responses without their knowledge?

    <p>Experimenter effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of matched pairs design?

    <p>Different participants for each condition are matched on similar traits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main benefit of a double-blind study?

    <p>Eliminates researcher bias and participant expectations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method helps to assess the relationship between two variables without manipulating them?

    <p>Correlational methods</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of counterbalancing in an experiment?

    <p>To ensure the same number of trials for each condition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be a limitation of correlational methods compared to experimental methods?

    <p>Cannot control for external variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the concept of the experimenter effect?

    <p>The experimenter's expectations influence the outcomes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of within-subjects design in experimental methods?

    <p>Every participant is exposed to all conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following accurately describes a matched pairs design?

    <p>Participants are matched on several variables, then randomly assigned.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a limitation of correlational methods in research?

    <p>They cannot control for extraneous and confounding variables.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the experimenter effect?

    <p>The researcher influences the outcome based on their expectations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a double-blind study?

    <p>To eliminate bias from both the participants and the experimenters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about extraneous variables is true?

    <p>They are factors that may affect the outcome but are not the focus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a confounding variable?

    <p>Participants' prior knowledge of the material being tested.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes experimental methods from correlational methods?

    <p>Experimental methods establish cause-and-effect relationships.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which approach minimizes the risk of carry-over effects in an experiment?

    <p>Implementing a counterbalancing strategy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one primary advantage of using within-subjects designs in experimental methods?

    <p>They reduce individual differences across conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key feature of matched pairs design?

    <p>Participants are deliberately chosen based on specific characteristics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes a correlational method?

    <p>It measures the relationship between two variables without manipulation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of employing a double-blind study?

    <p>To ensure that neither the participants nor the experimenters know the treatment conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What potential issue do experimenter effects introduce in experimental methods?

    <p>They create confounding variables that can influence outcomes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which solution is effective for controlling the effects of word length in memory performance investigations?

    <p>Blocking the number of syllables used across conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major disadvantage of between-subjects designs compared to within-subjects designs?

    <p>They introduce more variability between groups.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can researchers mitigate the effects of word frequency on memory performance?

    <p>By blocking and using only medium frequency words.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does randomization in experimental design help to achieve?

    <p>It balances out known and unknown variables across conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by controlling for individual differences in experimental methods?

    <p>Matching participants based on certain criteria.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Methodological Issues in Psychology

    • Correlational methods identify relationships between variables but not causation. These methods observe naturally occurring relationships without intervention. Examples include studying the correlation between where a student sits in class and their grade in statistics, or comparing spending on science and suicides.
      • A lack of manipulation and control in correlational studies means extraneous and confounding variables might affect results. This lack of randomization creates another limitation.
    • Experimental methods involve manipulating an independent variable and measuring the effect on a dependent variable, offering a way to study cause-and-effect relationships.
      • The independent variable is directly controlled and the effect on the dependent variable is carefully measured. Examples include testing a new drug to see if it improves memory.
      • Scientific control is essential in experimental studies. Extraneous variables (anything that might affect results, like room lighting) need to be minimized. Confounding variables are directly linked to the dependent variable, and need to be carefully considered (e.g., length of words).
    • Within-subjects design: This approach tests the same group of subjects under different conditions. A crucial experimental method involving measuring the performance of a single group of subjects over time. Examples include different doses of a drug or no drug.
    • Between-subjects design: Different groups of subjects are tested under different conditions. This method involves comparing the performance of numerous independent groups of study subjects across different conditions.
    • Counterbalancing balances the influence of various conditions. Ensuring conditions (like different doses of a drug) are tested a similar number of times over every combination to help avoid learning influencing results.
    • Experimenter effects are cues from experimenters that might affect participants' performance.
      • Ensuring standardized instructions and procedures can minimize this effect. Using double-blind studies can reduce experimenter bias because neither the subject nor the experimenter knows the treatment.
    • Other considerations in experimental design include controlling for the length and frequency of words used in studies and accounting for confounding variables from participants' age or intelligence. Randomly assigning participants to each group.
      • Applying control measures to minimize potential confounding variables. Controlling for variables affecting participants is essential to avoid confounding variables from influencing study outcomes.
    • Summary: Experimental methods allow for the examination of causal relationships when extraneous variables are accounted for or controlled. Within and between subjects methods have respective benefits and limitations. As an experimenter, be mindful of your own actions influencing participants' performance.

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    PSGY1014 Lecture 9: Methodological Issues In Psychology PDF

    Description

    Explore the differences between correlational and experimental methods in psychology. This quiz covers the advantages and limitations of each approach, including the importance of scientific control and the implications of extraneous variables. Test your understanding of how these methods contribute to psychological research.

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