Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersWhat is an experiment?
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All 10 Flashcards — Experimental methods
Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.
Question
What is an experiment?
Answer
A method that manipulates an IV and measures its effect on a DV, controlling other variables.
Question
What is the independent variable (IV)?
Answer
The variable the researcher changes on purpose.
Question
What is the dependent variable (DV)?
Answer
The variable the researcher measures.
Question
What is a true experiment?
Answer
One that randomly allocates participants to conditions.
Question
What is a quasi-experiment?
Answer
One where the IV is a pre-existing feature (e.g. age), so no random allocation is possible.
Question
Why does random allocation matter?
Answer
It spreads individual differences evenly, so DV changes are more likely caused by the IV.
Question
Why can experiments show cause?
Answer
Control and random allocation isolate the IV as the likely cause of DV changes.
Question
One strength of experiments?
Answer
Best method for showing cause and effect, with high control and replicability.
Question
One limitation of experiments?
Answer
Control can make them artificial, and participants may show demand characteristics.
Question
Which concept do experiments link to?
Answer
Causality — they test whether the IV causes a change in the DV.
Read the notes
Full study notes for Experimental methods
Topic 2.4 hub
Research methodology
More from Topic 2.4
All flashcards in this topic
Psychology exam skills
Paper structures & tips
Track your progress with spaced repetition
Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.
Start Free