Chapter 1: Data structures, research methods and statistics Flashcards
the goal of the experimental method is to what?
to demonstrate a cause and effect relationship between two variables
the experimental method has two characteristics that differentiate experiments from other types of research studies. These are:
Manipulation and Control
What does manipulation mean?
The researches manipulates one variable by changing its value from one level to another. A second variable is observed (measured) to determine whether the manipulation causes changes to occur
What does control mean?
The researcher must exercise control over the research situation to ensure that other, extraneous variables do not influence the relationship being examined.
To be able to say that the difference in aggressive behaviour is caused by the amount of violence in the game, the researcher must rule out any other possible explanation for the difference. That is, any other variables that might affect aggressive behaviour must be controlled. There are two general categories of variables that researchers must consider. What are these?
Participant variables and environment variables
What are participant variables?
These are characteristics such as age, gender and intelligence that vary from one individual to another. Researchers must ensure that participant variables do not differ from one group to another.
What are environmental variables?
Characteristics of the environment such as lighting, time of day and weather conditions
In the experimental method, one variable is manipulated while another variable is observed and measured. To establish a cause and effect relationship between the two variables, an experiment attempts to do what?
To control all other variables to prevent them from influencing the results
The independent variable is the variable that is what?
Manipulated by the researcher
The dependent variable is the one that is observed to assess what?
The effect of the treatment
How are the control conditions of an experimental study different to that of a correlational study?
an experimental study evaluates the relationship between two variables by manipulating one variable (the independent variable) and measuring one variable (the dependent variable). Note that in an experiment, only one variable is measured. You should realise that this is different to a correlational study in which both variables are measured and the data consist of two separate scores for each individual
Individuals in a control condition do not receive what?
experimental treatment
