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Edexcel IAL Psychology 2.2.8 Situational & Participant Variables

Practise Edexcel Psychology questions identifying situational and participant variables that may influence results and reduce the validity of an experiment.

Syllabus
First assessment 2026
Course
Psychology XPS01/YPS01
Level
AS

Exam points

  • identify situational or participant variables that could confound an experiment
  • explain how participant experience or setting can affect validity and results

2.2.8 - Situational and participant variables question 1

[Maximum number: 2]

Manon has decided to carry out a piece of research to test whether those who practise playing a computer game every day will achieve a higher score than those who do not practise.

Explain one participant variable that Manon may need to consider when planning her research.

Manon decides to carry out a second piece of research to test whether boys are quicker at completing computer games than girls. She carries out a laboratory experiment asking her sample of 9 females and 16 males to complete a car racing computer game.

The scores for both groups are recorded in Table 1 below.

Table 1

Table 1

The mean score for the time taken by females in Condition A to complete a car racing computer game is 22 minutes.

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