Psychology Experimental Design Flashcards

Study Notes

Sampling

Convenience Sampling: Select samples based on ease of access without targeted selection.
Random Sampling: Participants are chosen randomly from the entire population.
Stratified Sampling: Samples reflect specific characteristics of the population, ensuring representation.
Random Stratified Sampling: Involves random selection from distinct groups within the population.

Experimental Designs

Independent Group Design: Participants are randomly assigned to either experimental or control groups.
Matched Participant Design: Pairs of participants are matched based on similarities and placed in different groups.
Repeated Measures: All participants serve as both experimental and control subjects, allowing comparison within the same group.

Extraneous Variables

Extraneous variables are factors other than the independent variable (IV) that can influence the dependent variable (DV); if uncontrolled, they can become confounding variables.

Types of Extraneous Variables

Non-Standardized Procedures: Lack of consistency in how the experiment is conducted.
Order Effects: Variations that occur due to the sequence in which conditions are presented to participants.
Experimenter Effects: Bias from the experimenter that can influence the outcome.
Placebo Effect: Changes in a participant's condition due to their expectations rather than the experimental treatment.

Controlling Extraneous Variables

Counter Balancing: Participants alternate between groups in repeated measures to mitigate order effects.
Placebos: Participants are unaware of their group assignment; both control and experimental groups receive treatments without active ingredients for the latter.
Standardized Procedures: Establishing uniform protocols to ensure consistent execution across all trials.
Double and Single-Blind Procedures: Experimenters and participants are blinded to the treatment groups to reduce bias.

Ethics

Ethical considerations entail moral principles and codes guiding researcher behavior and participant treatment.

Ethics: Participant Rights

Confidentiality: Ensures participant privacy regarding access and handling of personal data.
Voluntary Participation: Participants must choose to partake without coercion.

Ethics: Additional Considerations

Withdrawal Rights: Participants can exit the study at any time without negative consequences.
Informed Consent: Written consent is obtained after providing full disclosure about the study's nature.
Deception: Participants may not be told all details to prevent bias, but must be debriefed post-experiment.

Data Types

Quantitative Data: Numeric data that can be categorized, often involving measurements or test results.
Qualitative Data: Descriptive data that captures behavioral aspects, typically articulated through words or opinions.

P-Value

The p-value is a statistical measure that helps assess the significance of results in hypothesis testing, though specific context for its threshold is unspecified.

Description

Review the key concepts of experimental design in psychology with these flashcards. Learn about different sampling methods, including convenience sampling, random sampling, and stratified sampling. This quiz is an essential tool for students looking to enhance their understanding of experimental research techniques.