Question

Discuss how to minimize the problems of fatigue, boredom, or practice effects in within-subject designs

Answer 1

• A within subject design is the one in which the same group of participants is used for all the experimental conditions.Because of using same participants again and again for all experimental conditions,leads to fatigue,boredom and practice effects in this design.
• These problems can negatively affect the performance, concentration, and the accuracy of the experiment. Also,the results of the experiments could be improved also since subjects get familiar with the task.
• The effects of fatigue,boredom and practice effects can be minimized through counterbalancing.Counterbalancing means when different experimental conditions would be given in different order to the participants,in this way the results would less impacted by practice or boredom.For example,one half of the participants could be given condition A first,and then B,C etc.;and other half could be given condition C first,then A and then B.
• Boredom can also be minimized by providing breaks during the experiment.These breaks will make the participants freshen up their minds and not feel bored or tired.Fatigue can be minimized by conducting only one or two experimental treatments per session,too many treatments will affect the participants health and cause them to lose concentration.