A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What does the term 'independent groups design' imply in research?

1. Same participants are tested multiple times

2. Different groups of participants are used for different conditions

3. Participants create their own groups

4. Participants are matched based on demographics

The correct answer is: Different groups of participants are used for different conditions

The term 'independent groups design' in research refers to the approach where different groups of participants are employed for each condition of the study. This means that each participant is only exposed to one of the experimental conditions, allowing researchers to compare outcomes between these distinct groups without the influence of repeated measures from the same individuals. This design is particularly useful in minimizing carryover effects and participant fatigue, which can occur if the same individuals are tested under multiple conditions. In independent groups design, since each group experiences only one condition, the results can more clearly isolate the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable, without the confounding influence of previous exposure to other conditions. While the other options describe various aspects of research design, they do not accurately define what an independent groups design entails. For instance, using the same participants repeatedly (as mentioned in the first option) characterizes a repeated measures design rather than independent groups. Creating their own groups (the third option) implies a lack of control over participant assignment, which isn't a feature of an independent groups approach. Finally, matching participants based on demographics (the fourth option) is associated with matched pairs design instead, which seeks to control for specific variables by having similar participants in each condition.