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Unlock This CourseImagine you're baking cookies using a recipe. If everyone follows exactly the same recipe with the same ingredients and timings, you'll all make similar cookies. This is basically what standardised procedures are in psychology research - making sure everyone gets the same 'recipe' to follow!
Key Definitions:
Standardisation helps researchers control variables that might affect results. When all participants experience the same conditions, any differences in results are more likely to be due to what's being tested rather than how the study was run.
The main goal is to reduce experimenter bias and ensure that any changes in the dependent variable are caused by the independent variable, not by differences in how the study was conducted.
Instructions given to participants must be identical for everyone. This means using the same words, tone and delivery method.
In Loftus and Palmer's (1974) car crash study, all participants watched the same video clips and were asked questions using exactly the same wording except for one critical verb (smashed, collided, bumped, hit, contacted). This ensured that any differences in speed estimates were due to the verb used, not other factors.
Good standardised instructions should be:
The timing of different parts of a study should be the same for all participants.
How long participants see stimuli (e.g., 30 seconds to view an image)
How long participants have to respond (e.g., 2 minutes to complete a task)
Time between different parts of the study (e.g., 5-minute break between tasks)
All participants should use exactly the same materials, equipment and environment.
This includes:
In Asch's famous conformity studies (1951), he used standardised procedures by ensuring all participants saw the same line cards, sat in the same position (always sixth in a row of seven people) and experienced the same pattern of unanimous wrong answers from the confederates. This standardisation meant that differences in conformity rates could be attributed to the experimental manipulation rather than procedural variations.
When procedures are standardised, studies can be replicated more easily. Other researchers can follow the same steps and check if they get similar results. This increases the reliability of the findings.
Standardisation helps control extraneous variables (unwanted factors that might affect results). This means we can be more confident that changes in the dependent variable are caused by the independent variable.
When all participants experience the same conditions, it's easier to make fair comparisons between different groups or conditions in the study.
Standardisation helps reduce experimenter bias by ensuring researchers treat all participants the same way and don't unconsciously influence the results.
While standardisation is important, it does have some drawbacks:
Highly standardised procedures can create artificial situations that don't reflect real life, reducing ecological validity.
Strict standardisation doesn't allow researchers to adapt to unexpected situations or individual differences.
Some valuable data might be missed because the standardised procedure doesn't capture it.
IQ tests like the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) use highly standardised procedures. The test administrator must follow an exact script, time sections precisely and score responses according to strict criteria. This ensures that someone taking the test in London gets the same experience as someone taking it in Manchester, making the scores comparable.
When designing standardised procedures for a psychology study, researchers should:
Different research methods require different approaches to standardisation:
These typically have the highest level of standardisation, with tightly controlled conditions, precise timings and identical materials for all participants.
Standardisation involves using the same questions, response options and instructions. Online questionnaires help ensure everyone gets exactly the same experience.
Structured interviews use standardised questions asked in the same order. Semi-structured interviews balance standardisation with flexibility.
Standardised observation schedules specify exactly what behaviours to record and how to code them.
When answering exam questions about standardised procedures:
Standardised procedures ensure all participants experience the same conditions during a study. This includes using identical instructions, timings, materials and environments. Standardisation improves reliability and control but may reduce ecological validity. The goal is to ensure that any differences in results are due to the variables being studied, not differences in how the study was conducted.