PSY 1101 - Chapter 02: Methods (Pt. 3)

Question 1

What is Experimental Research?

Answer 1

allows us to observe, describe, make predictions and draw conclusions about cause and effect relationships

It is the only type of research that allows us to talk about cause and effect relationships

Question 2

Why is Experimental Research the ONLY research that allows us to talk about cause and effect relationships?

Answer 2

1. The researcher manipulates the independent variable they are studying
2. The researcher will control all the other independent variables that they are not interested in but that may affect all other results

Question 3

What is an Independent Variable?

Answer 3

It is a variable that causes a change in another variable
- researcher may be interested in studying and manipulating this variable

• Researcher will create at least two groups: control and experimental group

Question 4

What is a Dependent Variable?

Answer 4

A variable that is changed / affected by the independent variable
- The variable that the researcher is interested in measuring

Question 5

Where can Experimental Research be done?

Answer 5

• In the lab
• Field experiment: occurs in the real world

Question 6

What is the Control Group?

Answer 6

this group will not be exposed to the independent variable

Question 7

What is the Experimental Group?

Answer 7

the group that will be exposed to the independent variable

Question 8

What are Confounding Variables?

Answer 8

An unknown variable that may have affected the results of the independent variable

Question 9

Why must we control confounding variables?

Answer 9

We must control those variables (confounding variables) because if we don’t we will never know for sure what affected our dependent variable.

Question 10

What are known Confounding Variables?

Answer 10

these are variables that we know from research or from past experience that do affect our dependent variable

Question 11

How can we Control Unknown Confounding Variables?

Answer 11

We use random assignment

Question 12

What is Random assignment?

Answer 12

Has two components:
- every subject in the study has an equal chance of being in the experimental or control group
- chance and only chance will determine what group the subject will end in

*tries to equalize the groups

Question 13

What is the Placebo Effect?

Answer 13

Placebo is a substance that is inert
- it does not have any therapeutic values whatsoever
- patient feels ‘better’ from belief alone