A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Which experimental design did Dixon et al employ in their research?

1. Randomized controlled trial

2. 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design

3. Longitudinal study

4. Case study

The correct answer is: 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design

Dixon et al. used a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design in their research, which is a type of experimental design involving multiple independent variables, each with two levels. This design allows for the examination of the interaction effects between the independent variables, as well as their individual effects on the dependent variable. By utilizing this approach, Dixon et al. were able to systematically manipulate and analyze the outcomes based on different combinations of the independent variables. Factorial designs are particularly useful in psychology as they enable researchers to investigate complex interactions that can provide deeper insights into the phenomena being studied, such as how various factors may influence behavior or cognitive processes. This design contrasts with the other options. A randomized controlled trial would focus on randomly assigning participants to different conditions to control for bias, which is not the primary focus of a factorial design. A longitudinal study would examine changes over time rather than manipulate variables in a controlled environment. A case study involves an in-depth examination of a single individual or group, which is a different methodology that does not allow for the simultaneous manipulation or comparison of multiple variables in the way a factorial design does.