Introduction
The simple experimental study forms an important part of psychological training.
It enables students to demonstrate the application of their skills and knowledge
of psychology. The psychology course defines the experimental method as requiring
the manipulation of one independent variable, while other variables are kept
constant. Consequently, correlational studies, quasi-experiments and natural
experiments (that is, any research undertaken without control over the independent
variable and without a controlled sampling procedure), including the use of
gender or age as the independent variable, are not acceptable for the simple
experimental study.
SL students are required to undertake a partial replication of a simple experiment. Examples of experiments that may be replicated and that may be made applicable at the standard level and include (for our course) some topic related to the cognitive perspective, which include, but are by no means limited to: memory, attention, or perception.
Requirements
1. Undertake a partial replication of and report on one simple experiment
2. Present results systematically
3. Use descriptive statistics only (see intro to research methodology)
4. Produce a written report between 1000-1500 words that must consist of
a. Title page
b. Abstract
c. Introduction
d. Method: design, participants, materials, procedures and ethics
e. Results
f. Discussion
g. References
h. Appendices