TEWLS 410 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTION | GRADED A+ LATEST EXAM
2025/2026
What is an experiment? - 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 -
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)? - 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
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,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)? - 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? - 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? - 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? - 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
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, 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 - 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? - 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? - 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)
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COMPLETE SOLUTION | GRADED A+ LATEST EXAM
2025/2026
What is an experiment? - 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 -
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)? - 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
1|Page
,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)? - 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? - 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? - 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? - 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
2|Page
, 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 - 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? - 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? - 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)
3|Page
