Final Exam Flashcards
Experiment
Must include at least one manipulated variable and at least one measured variable
Manipulated Variable
Researcher assigns participants to levels of the variable
Measured Variable
Researcher records what happens
Independent Variable
Manipulated Variable
Dependent Variable
Measured Variable
Control Variable
Any variable that an experimenter holds constant
Why do an experiment?
To have a more valid study, to make causal claims, to generalize more people, to collect evidence in the real world, to be the most scientific
What types of groups are used in experiments?
Treatment Groups, Comparison Groups, Control Groups, Placebo Group
How do experiments apply to covariance, temporal precedence, and internal validity?
It is also about the outcome, the cause variable comes before the effect variable, and well designed experiments rule out alternative explanations
Design Confound
When a second variable varies systematically along with the IV
Systematic Variability
Design Confound
Unsystematic Variability
Randomly distributed across groups
Selection Effect
Participants in one level of the IV are systematically different than participants in the other level of the IV
How do you avoid selection effects?
Random Assignment and Matched Groups
Independent Groups Designs
Different groups of participants are placed at different levels of the IV
Within-Groups Design
Each participant is presented with all levels of the IV
Posttest Only Design
Participants are randomly assigned to IV groups and are tested on the DV just once
Pretest/Posttest Design
Participants are tested on the DV once before and once after exposure to the IV