Notes on research methods

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Repeated measures design is when participants are used in all conditions of the experiment. Strengths of this is that no individual differences will be measured. Weaknesses of this is that order effects may be observed because the participants may be fatigues and if participants drop out all data will be lost rather than just one set.

Independent group designs is when different participants are randomly allocated to different arts of the experiment. A strength of this design is that order effects won't be served and the data collection will be less time-consuming as different conditions can be conducted simultaneously. However, a weakness of this is that there will be individual differences.

Matched pairs design is when participants take part in one condition but are specifically recruited to be similar relevant characteristics such as age, gender and intelligence. A strength of this is hat order effects won't be observed and the risk of individual differences being observed is reduced. Weaknesses of this is that it can be time consuming and very difficult to match participants identically.

Laboratory experiment is a well-controlled environment where accurate measurements are possible. Control is taken over extraneous variables and it can be easily replicated. This will lack ecological validity and may have high risk of demand characteristics. Ethical issues with this experiment is that the participants may feel that they don't have the right to withdraw there contribution because they think it would disrupt the research.

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Field experiment is when experiments are carried out in a natural setting such as public transport. The behaviour of the participants is more likely to be ecologically valid they're based in a natural setting. Therefore there's also less risk of demand characteristics. A disadvantage of this experiment is that there is less control over extraneous variables and the study is difficult to replicate. Ethical issues surrounding this experiment is hat participants may not be aware they're taking part in an experiment which is deception.

Natural and quasi experiments are conducted in an everyday environment of participants but experimenters have no control over the independent variable as it occurs naturally. Advantages are that behaviour is more natural so it has high ecological validity and demand characteristics are less likely to occur. There is no control over the extraneous variables which is a disadvantage. Participants may be deceived if they aren't aware they're being observed.

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Independent variable is the variable that is controlled by the experimenter. Dependent variable is the variable that is being measures.