The use of control groups, counterbalancing, randomisation and order effects.
Experimenter effects, demand characteristics and control issues.
Past Paper Questions
Define the term ‘randomisation’. (1) January 2020
2 Markers
Explain one participant variable that Manon may need to consider when planning her research. (2) January 2018
Explain how one participant variable could have affected Zulikhat’s study. (2) June 2019
Describe one control that researchers would have considered for the memory game used in this experiment. (2) January 2020
4 Markers
Explain two controls the researcher may have considered when planning this experiment that tested participant decisions individually and as part of a group. (4) June 2017
Explain two variables that Philippa may have needed to control when designing her word lists. (4) October 2018
Explain two improvements Nairi and Talia could make to their memory experiment. (4) January 2019
Explain, using individual differences, two reasons why the students did, or did not, attend the meeting. (4) January 2020
