RESEARCH METHODS EXAM
QUESTIONS 2025 WITH 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is an experiment? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔An experiment is a research technique in which
an IV is manipulated / and the effects of this on a DV are observed and measured. / Other
(extraneous) variables are held constant. / A true experiment is one in which the IV is directly
under the experimenter's control (as in laboratory or field experiments). / In natural and quasi-
experiments the IV varies on its own and some would argue that, because of this, they are not
really experiments. (5 marks)
Identify one difference between an experiment and a correlation - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔The
main difference between an experiment and a correlation is that experiments enable us to talk
about 'cause and effect' / whereas correlations simply describe patterns of linear relationship
between pairs of data / and do not allow us to make cause and effect statements. / In addition,
an experiment is a research method / but correlation is a technique of data analysis applied to
data gathered by some other means. (5 marks)
What is an independent variable (IV)? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔An IV is the influencing factor /
which a researcher manipulates in an experiment / in order to observe its effect on a DV / for
example, in a study of the effect of alcohol on driving ability, the IV would be the amount of
alcohol given to the drivers. (4 marks)
What is a dependent variable (DV)? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔A DV is the factor in an experiment
which is influenced by changes in the IV / and which is observed and measured by the
researcher. / In the example given in 3, the DV would be driving ability. (3 marks)
What is a confounding variable? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔A confounding variable is an influence
in an experiment that is not the IV yet causes changes in the DV. / For example, researchers may
find age affects IQ in that older people do less well than younger people. / However, this could
be due to the confounding variable of how the test is approached. Older people may be more
, careful and less concerned about 'beating the clock' than are younger people, consequently,
their scores are lower. (3 marks)
What is an extraneous variable? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Extraneous variables are all other
variables apart from the IV and DV that need to be controlled in an experiment / e.g. the testing
environment, time of day, instructions to participants. / If extraneous variables are not taken
care of they could obscure the effect of the IV / or, if systematic, turn into a confounding
variable. (4 marks)
What is a control group? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔In a simple two-sample experiment, control
group participants are affected by everything the experimental group experiences with the
exception of the IV. / Scores from the control group thus provide baseline data / against which
scores from the experimental group can be compared. (3 marks)
Distinguish between independent groups, matched pairs and repeated measures designs -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔These are experimental designs / used to control variation due to
individual differences between participants. / In a simple experiment comparing two conditions,
the independent groups design consists of two different groups of participants / who have been
allocated by chance to either of the two conditions. / Matched pairs designs involve pairing
participants on variables relevant to the study / then splitting the pairs and randomly allocating
the members of the pair to one or other condition. / In a repeated measures design,
participants undergo both conditions in the experiment. (7 marks)
What are practice effects? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Practice effects occur in repeated measures
designs / when participants carry over an improvement to the second experimental condition /
as a result of having done the first condition. / (In this case, practice becomes a confounding
variable.) (4 marks)
What are order effects? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Order effects occur in repeated measures
designs / when participants' performance in the second condition is affected by them having
done the first. / This could include improvements, as in practice effects, / but it also includes the
detrimental effects of fatigue or boredom. (4 marks)
QUESTIONS 2025 WITH 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is an experiment? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔An experiment is a research technique in which
an IV is manipulated / and the effects of this on a DV are observed and measured. / Other
(extraneous) variables are held constant. / A true experiment is one in which the IV is directly
under the experimenter's control (as in laboratory or field experiments). / In natural and quasi-
experiments the IV varies on its own and some would argue that, because of this, they are not
really experiments. (5 marks)
Identify one difference between an experiment and a correlation - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔The
main difference between an experiment and a correlation is that experiments enable us to talk
about 'cause and effect' / whereas correlations simply describe patterns of linear relationship
between pairs of data / and do not allow us to make cause and effect statements. / In addition,
an experiment is a research method / but correlation is a technique of data analysis applied to
data gathered by some other means. (5 marks)
What is an independent variable (IV)? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔An IV is the influencing factor /
which a researcher manipulates in an experiment / in order to observe its effect on a DV / for
example, in a study of the effect of alcohol on driving ability, the IV would be the amount of
alcohol given to the drivers. (4 marks)
What is a dependent variable (DV)? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔A DV is the factor in an experiment
which is influenced by changes in the IV / and which is observed and measured by the
researcher. / In the example given in 3, the DV would be driving ability. (3 marks)
What is a confounding variable? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔A confounding variable is an influence
in an experiment that is not the IV yet causes changes in the DV. / For example, researchers may
find age affects IQ in that older people do less well than younger people. / However, this could
be due to the confounding variable of how the test is approached. Older people may be more
, careful and less concerned about 'beating the clock' than are younger people, consequently,
their scores are lower. (3 marks)
What is an extraneous variable? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Extraneous variables are all other
variables apart from the IV and DV that need to be controlled in an experiment / e.g. the testing
environment, time of day, instructions to participants. / If extraneous variables are not taken
care of they could obscure the effect of the IV / or, if systematic, turn into a confounding
variable. (4 marks)
What is a control group? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔In a simple two-sample experiment, control
group participants are affected by everything the experimental group experiences with the
exception of the IV. / Scores from the control group thus provide baseline data / against which
scores from the experimental group can be compared. (3 marks)
Distinguish between independent groups, matched pairs and repeated measures designs -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔These are experimental designs / used to control variation due to
individual differences between participants. / In a simple experiment comparing two conditions,
the independent groups design consists of two different groups of participants / who have been
allocated by chance to either of the two conditions. / Matched pairs designs involve pairing
participants on variables relevant to the study / then splitting the pairs and randomly allocating
the members of the pair to one or other condition. / In a repeated measures design,
participants undergo both conditions in the experiment. (7 marks)
What are practice effects? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Practice effects occur in repeated measures
designs / when participants carry over an improvement to the second experimental condition /
as a result of having done the first condition. / (In this case, practice becomes a confounding
variable.) (4 marks)
What are order effects? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Order effects occur in repeated measures
designs / when participants' performance in the second condition is affected by them having
done the first. / This could include improvements, as in practice effects, / but it also includes the
detrimental effects of fatigue or boredom. (4 marks)
