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Research Methods

Experimental designs and types of experiment

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 1

Overview

Independent groups, repeated measures and matched pairs designs, and laboratory, field and natural experiments with a strength and a weakness of each.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is an experimental design?

Key term

What is an independent groups design?

Evaluation

Give one strength and one weakness of an independent groups design.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is an experimental design?

    Model answer

    An experimental design is the way participants are organised across the conditions of an experiment.

  2. 2

    What is an independent groups design?

    Model answer

    An independent groups design uses different participants in each condition. Each person takes part in only one condition.

  3. 3

    Give one strength and one weakness of an independent groups design.

    Model answer

    An independent groups design avoids order effects, because each person does only one condition. Differences between the people in each group may affect the results.

  4. 4

    What is a repeated measures design?

    Model answer

    A repeated measures design uses the same participants in every condition. Each person's scores in the different conditions are compared.

  5. 5

    Give one strength and one weakness of a repeated measures design.

    Model answer

    A repeated measures design removes participant variables, because each person is compared with themselves. Order effects, such as practice or boredom, may affect later conditions.

  6. 6

    What is a matched pairs design?

    Model answer

    A matched pairs design uses different participants who are paired on relevant features, such as age or IQ. One member of each pair goes into each condition.

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