A matched pairs design is a type of experimental design. 

It is sometimes possible to match every participant in one group with a very similar person in the other group. 

In order to get the pairing precise enough, it is common to get one group of participants together and then look round for partners for everyone.

Participants can be matched on variables which are considered to be relevant to the experiment in question.  For example, pairs of participants might be matched on their scores from intelligence or personality tests.

Although this design combines the key benefits of both an independent and repeated measures design, achieving matched pairs of participants is a difficult and time consuming task which may be too costly to undertake.

Successful use of a matched pairs design is heavily dependent on the use of reliable and valid procedures for pre-testing participants to obtain matched the pairs.

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Last Updated on 24 February 2006