Imagine you have been asked to design a study to investigate potential differences in spatial navigation and route-learning efficiency between daily video game players (defined as playing >15 hours per week) and non-gamers (defined as playing <1 hour per week). You decide you will ask participants to navigate a complex virtual reality (VR) maze using a handheld controller to find five specific virtual checkpoints in a set order. You decide you will record the total virtual distance travelled (in virtual meters) by each participant using the software's built-in tracking log before they successfully locate all checkpoints.
Discuss the following aspects of this investigation:
With reference to the virtual reality navigation task, explain how you would ensure that this is made the same task for all participants.
Identify one methodological issue you should take into account when obtaining suitable participants for this study, and explain how you would deal with this issue.
Explain how you would ensure that the experience of your participants is ethical.
Practise AQA A Level Psychology Experimental method with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 32 questions, matched to the AQA A Level Psychology (7182) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.