The Experimental Research Study Flashcards
What is an experiment?
A study that attempts to show the cause and effect of one variable onto another
What are the 4 basic elements of an experimental study?
- Manipulation - manipulation of one variable to create two or more treatment conditions
- Measurement - second variable for participants to obtain a set of scores in each treatment condition
- Comparison - Comparing scores from both treatment condition
- Control - All other variables controlled for minimal interference
What is an independent variable?
The variable being manipulated by the researcher
What are treatment conditions?
Situations or environments characterized by one specific value of an independent variable
Specific conditions used in experiments are called what of the independent variable?
Levels
The variable that is measured in each of the treatment conditions is called what?
Dependent variable
What are extreneous variables?
All variables in the study except for the independent and dependent variables
Why do variables in experimental research rarely exist in isolation?
Changes in one variable often change other related variables unintentionally
What is the third-variable problem?
The possibility that two variables are related are influenced by a third variable, causing its relationship
What is the directionality problem?
Not knowing which variable caused the other and the existence of the relationship isn’t explained
To establish a cause-and-effect relationship, what must an experiment control?
Nature, creating an artificial situation where variables are isolated from other confounding variables
How are experimental research studies different from other types of research?
Only experiments can demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between variables
What is manipulation?
Identification of specific values of the independent variable and creating treatment conditions to those values, changing the independent variable
How does manipulation help eliminate an aspect of the third-variable problem?
The independent variable is allowed to be changed during the experiment
Why is control over other variables in an experiment crucial?
To ensure the observed relationship is not contaminated by confounding or unwanted variables
Other than the independent and dependent variables, how many other variables can exist in any experiment?
Thousands
What are two characteristics of confounding variables?
- It directly influences the dependent variable
- It systematically varies with the independent variable
What is the first step in controlling confounding variables?
Identifying variables most likely to influence the dependent variable
What are the two active methods for controlling extraneous variables?
- Holding a variable constant
- Matching values across treatment conditions
How might holding a variable constant have negative consequences on an experiment?
It can limit its external validity
What is randomization?
A random process to help avoid systematic relationships between two variables, preventing confounding variables
What needs to happen in a random process?
All possible outcomes are equally likely
What is random assignment?
Using a random process to assign participants to treatment conditions
Why isn’t randomization not guaranteed to be successful?
There is a trust in chance to balance the variables across the different treatments
What is the primary technique for controlling the large amount of extraneous variables in an experiment?
Randomization
What is the experimental condition?
The treatment condition in an experiment
What is the control condition?
The condition with no treatment condition, or a placebo condition
What phenomenon refers to a positive response by a participant to an inert medication with no real impact?
The placebo effect
What is the difference between outcome research and process research?
Outcome research: investigates the effectiveness of a treatment
Process research: identifies the active components of a treatment
What is an additional measure used to assess participants’ perception and interpretation of the manipulation or its direct effect?
A manipulation check
What is the purpose of using control conditions in experiments?
It provides a baseline that can be used to evaluate the size of the treatment effect
What is simulation?
The creation of conditions within an experiment that closely resemble a natural environment
What is a field study?
Research conducted in a place that the participant or subject perceives a natural environment
