Between Subjects Design:

A research design in which different groups of participants are exposed to different treatments or conditions.

Overview:

A between subjects design, also known as an independent groups design, is a type of experimental design used in research. It involves dividing participants into separate groups, with each group experiencing a different treatment or condition being studied.

Key Features:

• Independent groups: Each group of participants is isolated from the others, meaning they do not experience multiple conditions or treatments.
• Random assignment: Participants are randomly assigned to different groups to ensure equal distribution of individual differences and confounding variables.
• Comparative analysis: The responses or outcomes of the different groups are compared to determine the effect of the treatment or condition being studied.

Advantages:

• Elimination of order effects: Participants are only exposed to one condition, reducing the likelihood of carryover or practice effects.
• Control over individual differences: Random assignment helps minimize the influence of individual characteristics, creating more comparable groups.
• Clear cause-and-effect relationship: By comparing different groups, it becomes easier to attribute changes or effects to the specific treatment or condition being investigated.

Disadvantages:

• Increased sample size: Assigning participants to separate groups requires a larger sample size compared to within-subjects designs.
• Potential individual variability: Individual differences across groups can increase variance and potentially obscure treatment effects.
• Time and resource-consuming: Recruiting, managing, and coordinating different groups can be more demanding in terms of time, resources, and logistical challenges.