M1: Research Variables Flashcards
any characteristic, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted in experimental investigations.
Variables
Variables can be _______ variable or _______ variable.
dependent ; independent
______ VARIABLE is manipulated to observe its effect,
INDEPENDENT
______ VARIABLE is the measured outcome.
DEPENDENT
provide the foundation for examining relationships, drawing conclusions, and making predictions in research studies.
Variables
the variable the experimenter manipulates or changes and is assumed to directly affect the dependent variable.
independent variable
It’s considered the cause or factor that drives change, allowing psychologists to observe how it influences behavior, emotions, or other dependent variables in an experimental setting.
independent variable
For example, allocating participants to drug or placebo conditions (_____ variable) to measure any changes in the intensity of their anxiety (_____ variable).
independent ; dependent
In a ________experimental study, the independent variable is the only important difference between the experimental (e.g., treatment) and control (e.g., placebo) groups.
well-designed
By changing the independent variable and holding other factors constant, psychologists aim to determine if it causes a change in another variable, called the ________.
dependent variable
For example, in a study investigating the effects of sleep on memory, the amount of sleep (e.g., 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours) would be the ______ variable, as the researcher might manipulate or categorize it to see its impact on memory recall, which would be the _______ variable.
independent ; dependent
In psychology, the ________ variable is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment.
dependent
represents the outcome or results and can change based on the manipulations of the independent variable.
dependent variable
it’s the presumed effect in a cause-and-effect relationship being studied.
dependent variable
TRUE or FALSE
An example of a dependent variable is depression symptoms, which depend on the independent variable (type of therapy).
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
In an experiment, the researcher looks for the possible effect on the dependent variable that might be caused by changing the independent variable.
TRUE
For instance, in a study examining the effects of a new study technique on exam performance, the technique would be the _______ variable (as it is being introduced or manipulated), while the exam scores would be the ______ variable (as they represent the outcome of interest that’s being measured).
independent ; dependent
TRUE or FALSE
There can be more than one independent or dependent variable in a study.
TRUE
In some studies, researchers may want to explore how multiple factors affect the outcome, so they include more than one ______ variable.
independent
may measure multiple things to see how they are influenced, resulting in multiple _______ variables.
dependent
related to independent and dependent variables involve treating participants fairly and protecting their rights.
Ethical considerations
Researchers must ensure that participants provide informed consent and that their privacy and confidentiality are respected. Additionally, it is important to avoid manipulating independent variables in ways that could cause harm or discomfort to participants.
Ethical considerations
Researchers should also consider the potential impact of their study on vulnerable populations and ensure that their methods are unbiased and free from discrimination.
Ethical considerations
TRUE or FALSE
Ethical guidelines help ensure that research is conducted responsibly and with respect for the well-being of the participants involved.
TRUE
consists of participants who do not receive any experimental treatment.
control group
The control participants serve as a ______ group.
comparison
The control group is matched as closely as possible to the _________ group, including age, gender, social class, ethnicity, etc.
experimental
The difference between the control and experimental groups is that the control group is not exposed to the ________ variable, which is thought to be the cause of the behavior being investigated.
independent
TRUE or FALSE
Researchers will compare the individuals in the control group to those in the experimental group to isolate the independent variable and examine its impact.
TRUE
The ______ ______ is important because it serves as a baseline, enabling researchers to see what impact changes to the independent variable produce and strengthening researchers’ ability to draw conclusions from a study.
control group
TRUE or FALSE
Without the presence of a control group, a researcher cannot determine whether a particular treatment truly has an effect on an experimental group.
TRUE
Control groups are critical to the ________ as they help ensure the internal validity of a study.
scientific method
consists of participants exposed to a particular
manipulation of the independent variable.
experimental group
These are the participants who receive the treatment of interest.
experimental group
TRUE or FALSE
Researchers will compare the responses of the experimental group to those of a control group to see if the independent variable impacted the participants.
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
An experiment must have at least one control group and one experimental group; however, a single experiment can include multiple experimental groups, which are all compared against the control group.
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
Having multiple experimental groups enables researchers to vary different levels of an experimental variable and compare the effects of these changes to the control group and among each other.
TRUE
