 For the IB Diploma Programme psychology course, the experimental method is defined as requiring: 1. The manipulation of one independent variable while the other variables are kept constant. 2. The measurement of effect of the independent variable on one dependant variable. 3. It is recommended by IB that you only use 2 conditions.

 The use of experimental studies that examine the effect of naturally occurring independent variables is not permitted.  Variables that can not be manipulated by the researcher are considered naturally occurring such as: age, gender, ethnicity

 The purpose of the abstract is so the reader can quickly ascertain the paper’s purpose.  The abstract should include a brief summary/overview of the experimental study including the results.  It should include the aim, relevant aspects of the procedure, main findings, and a short conclusion.

 The study replicated is clearly identified with relevant background research that logically leads to your own hypothesis. Relevant details of the study are explained. Points deducted: -weak explanation of background research. -the aim of the study is not stated. -the aim is not clearly stated. -no introduction.

 The independent variable and dependant variable are accurately identified and operationalized. The experimental design is appropriate to the aim and its use is justified. There is clear indication and documentation of how ethical guidelines were followed. Dependent variable: is the observed result of the independent variable being manipulated Independent variable: the variable representing the value being manipulated or changed Operationalization: where even the most basic concepts are defined through the operations by which we measure them.

THE AIM The aim of the experiment is what you are setting out to accomplish. Example: Stroop Effect The aim was to demonstrate interference in the reaction time of a task. When a word such as blue, green, red, etc. is printed in a color differing from the color expressed by the word's semantic meaning (e.g. the word "red" printed in blue ink), a delay occurs in the processing of the word's color, leading to slower test reaction times and an increase in mistakes."

How are the participants allocated to the different conditions? Independent Measures: Different participants are used in each condition of the independent variable. This means that each condition of the experiment includes a different group of participants. This should be done by random allocation Repeated Measures: The same participants take part in each condition of the independent variable. This means that each condition of the experiment includes the same group of participants. You must justify your choice.

 Completely randomized design: is probably the simplest experimental design, in terms of data analysis and convenience. With this design, participants are randomly assigned to treatments.  Randomized block design: the experimenter divides participants into subgroups called blocks, such that the variability within blocks is less than the variability between blocks

ETHICAL GUIDELINES Be certain to discuss the ethical considerations in detail.  No use of unjustified deception.  Informed consent is used.  Children are not used.  Participants are debriefed.  All data is kept confidential.

 Relevant characteristics of the participants are identified. The sample is selected using an appropriate method and the use of this method is explained.  Participants- 1. characteristics of sample 2. sampling technique 3. allocation of participants to conditions. Participants can be identified based on age, sex, number of participants, nationality…

SAMPLING SIZE  If the samples are based on a student population in the school then the sampling technique should be identified as:  Opportunity Sampling/Convenience Sampling Or  Self-Selected Sampling  It has to be explained and justified.

 Random: A random sample is one chosen by a method involving an unpredictable component.  Opportunity: is a type of non-probability sampling which involves the sample being drawn from that part of the population which is close to hand.

 You will need standardized procedures to be written up to put in your appendix.  The procedural information is relevant and clearly described, so that the study is easily replicable. Details of how ethical guidelines were applied are included. Necessary materials have been included and are referenced in the appendices.  Each step in the process of conducting the experiment must be explained.

You must include in your appendices:  Standardized instructions  Informed consent  The paperwork/lists of words or other items used.  Debriefing notes.  If your experiment uses color you must copy those items in color for your appendices. Ex. Stroop Effect.

 You must have debriefing notes. Write up a description of how you will debrief the students.  Along with informed consent, the debriefing is considered to be a fundamental ethical precaution in research involving human beings.  It is especially important in social psychology experiments that use deception. Debriefing is typically not used in surveys, observational studies, or other forms of research that involve no deception and minimal risk to participants.

 In psychological research, a debriefing is a short interview that takes place between researchers and research participants immediately following their participation in a psychology experiment.  The debriefing is an important ethical consideration to make sure that participants are fully informed about, and not harmed in any way by, their experience in an experiment.

 You must create a simple graph that presents the effect of the Independent Variable on the Dependent Variable by presenting the means of the Dependent Variable for each group.  The graph of results is accurate, clear, and directly relevant to the aim of the study.  Results are presented in both words and tabular form.

 Results are clearly stated and accurate and reflect the aim of the research.  Appropriate descriptive statistics (one measure of central tendency and one measure of dispersion) are applied to the data and their use is explained.  Central tendency: the three most common measures of central tendency: the mean, the median, and the mode.  Measure of Dispersion: are descriptive statistics that describe how similar a set of scores are to each other.

 Candidates should interpret and analyze the data that is collected.  Provide a table and graph with sufficient headings and descriptions.  Name the average scores: do they reflect mean, median, mode?  Describe the differences between the experimental group and control group.  Include raw data and checked calculations in the appendix.

 Standard deviation is a widely used measurement of variability or diversity used in statistics and probability theory.  It shows how much variation or "dispersion" there is from the "average" (mean, or expected/budgeted value).  A low standard deviation indicates that the data points tend to be very close to the mean, whereas high standard deviation indicates that the data are spread out over a large range of values.

 Discussion of results is well developed (for example, differences in the results of calculations of central tendency and/or dispersion are explained).  The findings of the students experimental study are discussed with reference to the study being replicated.  Limitations of the design and procedure are highly relevant and have been rigorously analyzed. Modifications are suggested and ideas for further research are mentioned.  The conclusion is appropriate.

 Word Limit- 1,000-1,500  Complete in the required format.  References for the study is cited using a standard method.  Appendices are labeled appropriately and are referenced appropriately in the body of the text.  The abstract is clearly written and includes a summary overview of the student’s experimental study, including results.