A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What does counterbalancing aim to address in repeated measures designs?

1. Order effects

2. Extraneous variables

3. Sample bias

4. Control groups

The correct answer is: Order effects

Counterbalancing primarily aims to address order effects that can occur in repeated measures designs. In these studies, the same participants are exposed to all conditions, which can lead to systematic variations in their performance based on the order in which they experience those conditions. For instance, a participant may perform better or worse simply due to having seen one condition before another. By implementing counterbalancing, researchers systematically vary the order of conditions across different participants. This approach helps ensure that any effects observed in the study are due to the experimental manipulation and not influenced by the sequence in which the conditions are presented. This method enhances the internal validity of the study, making it easier to determine the true effects of the independent variable being tested. Other options, while relevant to experimental design, do not directly relate to what counterbalancing specifically addresses. Extraneous variables refer to outside influences that might affect the outcome; sample bias concerns the representativeness of the study's participants; and control groups are used to compare against the experimental group to assess the effect of the treatment or intervention. None of these options encompass the primary aim of counterbalancing, which is to mitigate order effects.