EMSA 2a and 2b Revision Quantitative methods - taking human behaviour and coding it numerically. These numeric codes are our variables. (Variables are things that change). Types of variables - · Categorical - belonging to a group · Continuous - along a scale Hypothetical variables - Assign an intangible/abstract label to human behaviour. Treating hypothetical constructs as real is called reification. Operationalised variables - Should be: · Reliable - Testing the same people in similar circumstances should produce similar responses or findings (test-retest reliability) . Valid - Should measure what they set out to measure Confounding variable - Uncontrolled variables that may provide an alternative explanation. Random allocation - Random allocation is important because it reduces the effect of individual differences and spreads them out over conditions so confounding variables have a less significant effect on findings. True Experiments - · Full control over variables / able to manipulate it . Random allocation · Limit confounding variables · Isolate cause and effect Quasi Experiment - Means 'almost', some are violated for example, random allocation is not used. Variables - Independent variables - The variable that is changed / manipulated to find a causal relationship. They are conceptualised in terms of levels (how many conditions or groups) Dependent variables - The variable that you measure Types of designs - · Independent groups - between groups · Repeated measures - within group Order effects - The order you take part in tasks can have an effect on results, such as fatigue Non-equivalent stimuli - If participants are completing the study twice we would need to change the stimuli used (how do we know these stimuli's are equal? These may have different effects