Experimental Research

Question 1

What is a Scientific Research? (2 parts –> 1 - 2)

Answer 1

1. It is a controlled test of hypothesis ( a cause-and-effect statement)
   - Basic idea is: you put a hypothesis to test by conducting an experiment, to see if outcome of experiment confirms or disconfirms the hypothesis
2. Experimental research is explanatory research:
   - The focus is on finding the causes of things, on explaining why and how things happen.
   - Thus, experiments permit strong inferences about cause-and-effect.

Question 2

Explain the term Manipulation (2 points).

Answer 2

• It means “to make a change to something”.
• It means that to test a hypothesis, the experimenter makes a change to the environment of the subjects (specifically, to the researcher’s IV) & observes the effect of the change.

Question 3

Explain the term Logic of Experimentation (2 points).

Answer 3

• The experimenter will manipulate (introduce a change to) the researcher’s IV under controlled conditions, to see if it has an effect on the researcher’s DV
• If the manipulation has an observed effect on the DV, the conclusion is that the researcher’s IV and DV are causally related.

Question 4

What are intervening (or confounding) variables?

Answer 4

They are variables other than the researcher’s IV in the experiment that might influence the DV (i.e., might be responsible for the observed change in the DV).

Question 5

List the 2 ways that eliminate intervening (or confounding) variables.

Answer 5

1. Random Allocation
2. Experiences of subjects be exactly the same

Question 6

What is the Laboratory Experiment?

Answer 6

• Known as a “true” or “classical” experiment
• Takes place in a laboratory: a specially-designed setting created by the researcher.

Question 7

What is the 1st Step of the Laboratory Experiment?

Answer 7

The people taking part in experiment (subjects) are randomly allocated to two groups: the Experimental group and the Control group.

Question 8

What is the 2nd Step of the Laboratory Experiment? (2 points)

Answer 8

The researcher gives everyone (exper. & control group) a test:
- Called the “pre-test”
- Results of pre-test are called the “baseline data”

Question 9

What is the 3rd Step of the Laboratory Experiment? (2 points)

Answer 9

Experimental group receives the experimental treatment.

Control group does not receive the experimental treatment.

Question 10

What is the 4th Step of the Laboratory Experiment? (6 points)

Answer 10

• Both groups are tested again.
• They are given a “post-test”
• Researcher compares the two groups
• If the post-test results of the experimental group show a difference compared to the pre-test results, and the control group shows no difference, the conclusion is:
• The observed difference in the experimental group is caused by the treatment.
• The IV and the DV are causally related.

Question 11

List 1 advantage of Experimental Research (2 points).

Answer 11

• Experiments allow researcher to exercise greater control over the conditions of observation than any other researcher
• Therefore, they are the best way to test hypothesis and find the causes of phenomena.

Question 12

List 1 disadvantage of Experimental Research.

Answer 12

• Risk of demand characteristics:
  Idea that subjects try to give the experimenter the answer/response they think the experimenter wants/ is expecting, instead of behaving naturally, as they would in a real-life setting.