AICE Psychology Sample Notes and Procedures/Expectations

My process for notetaking is as follows: 1. READ - I read the textbook, first.

2. RE-READ TEXTBOOK & TAKE NOTES IN YOUR OWN WORDS - Then I re-read

the textbook and take my notes in my own wording.

a. STRUCTURE OF NOTES: I structure my notes based on the headers and sub-

headers in the textbook’s section. I write down the important themes from the headers

and sub-headers, and I bold/highlight any words that the textbook bolds or highlight

specific key words.

EXAMPLE: Below is an example from the section on Experiments. Here are some notes I took

from that section’s headers and its sub-headers:

Experiments

An experiment looks for a cause-and-effect relationship. The researcher sees how the

independent variable effects the dependent variable. To do this, the researcher manipulates

the independent variable (IV) and then measures the effect on the dependent variable (DV). For

example: an IV could be light levels and the DV could be paying attention. To be certain of the

cause-and-effect relationship, the researcher must control other variables which could affect the

DV. These random variables are called extraneous variables. The situations or levels of the IV

are called experimental conditions such as dull and bright lights. These conditions are

compared to a condition in which the experimental variable is absent such as the control

condition. An example of a control condition is daylight.

Experimental Design

The experimental design is the way in which participants are used in the different levels of the

IV. The three designs are: independent measures, repeated measures, and matched pairs.

Independent Measures Design

In independent measures, a separate group of participants is used for each experimental

condition or IV level. The data from each IV level is independent since it comes from different

people. Continue from there…