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PSYC 306 > Ch. 7: The Experimental Research Strategy > Flashcards

Ch. 7: The Experimental Research Strategy Flashcards

1
Q

the experimental research strategy

A

establishes the existence of a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables

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2
Q

how does the experimental research strategy accomplish its goal?

A

the experiment manipulates one variable while a second variable is measured and other variables are controlled

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3
Q

true experiment

A

attempts to show that changes in one variable are directly responsible for changes in a second variable

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4
Q

independent variable

A

the variable that is manipulated by the research

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5
Q

independent variable in the behavioural sciences

A

it usually consists of two or more treatment conditions to which participants are exposed

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6
Q

treatment condition

A

a situation or environment characterized by one specific value of the manipulated variable

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7
Q

how many treatment conditions do expiments contain?

A

Experiments contain two or more treatment conditions that differ according to the values of the manipulated variable

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8
Q

levels

A

the different values of the independent variable selected to create and define the treatment conditions

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9
Q

dependent variable

A

the variable that is observed for changes to assess the effects of manipulating the independent variable

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10
Q

dependent variable in behavioural research

A

Typically a behaviour or a response measured in a treatment condition

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11
Q

extraneous variables

A

all the variables in the study other than the independent and the dependent variable

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12
Q

4 basic elements of experimental studies

A
  1. manipulation
  2. measurement
  3. comparison
  4. control
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13
Q

manipulation

A

the researcher manipulates one variable by changing its value to create a set of two or more treatment conditions

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14
Q

measurement

A

a second variable is measured for a group of participants to obtain a set of scores in each treatment condition

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15
Q

comparison

A

the scores in one treatment condition are compared with the scores in another treatment condition. Consists of differences between treatments provide evidence that the manipulation has caused changes in the scores

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16
Q

control

A

all other variables are controlled to be sure that they do not influence the two variables being examined

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17
Q

what studies are considered “real experiments”

A

ones that satisfy all 4 elements

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18
Q

what elements are unique to experimental studies?

A

Control and manipulation

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19
Q

how do you determine statistical significance?

A

you must conduct a hypothesis test and determine that the difference is statistically significant

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20
Q

significant result

A

the difference is large enough and consistent enough for a hypothesis test to rule out chance as a plausible explanation, and thereby conclude that the difference must have been caused by the treatment

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21
Q

if there is a difference between scores does that mean the treatment has caused the difference?

A

not necessarily

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22
Q

causation and the third variable problem

A
  • Just because two variables are related doesn’t mean that they have a causal relationship
  • It is always possible that a third variable is controlling the two variables and is responsible for producing the observed relation
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23
Q

causation and the directionality problem

A
  • Although a research study may establish a relationship between two variables, the existence of a relationship doesn’t always explain the direction of the relationship
  • The remaining problem is to determine which variable is the cause and which is the effect
24
Q

controlling nature

A

To establish a cause-and-effect relationship, an experiment must control nature by creating an unnatural situation wherein the two variables being examined are isolated from the influence of other variables

25
Q

why do experimental studies control nature?

A
  • it’s a necessity
  • just because an experiment takes place in an unnatural environment doesn’t imply that the results are unnatural
26
Q

two specific goals of experimental research

A
  1. Demonstrating that the cause (independent variable) happens before the effect (dependent variable). To accomplish this, a researcher manipulates the independent variable and then observes the dependent variable to see if it also changes
  2. Rule out that the changes are caused by an extraneous vairbale
27
Q

purposes of manipulation

A
  • To allow researchers to determine the direction of a relationship (the directionality problem)
  • To help researchers control the influence of outside variables (the third-variable problem)
28
Q

purpose of control

A

Eliminating confounding variables

29
Q

confounding variable

A

a third variable that is allowed to change systematically along with the two variables being studies

30
Q

two important characteristics of a confounding variable

A
  1. It influences the dependent variable
  2. It varies systematically with the independent variable
31
Q

what is most important when controlling extraneous variables

A

Identifying those that are most likely to influence the dependent variable

32
Q

3 main methods of controlling extraneous variables

A
  1. Holding a variable constant
  2. Matching values across treatment conditions
  3. Control by randomization
33
Q

holding a variable constant

A
  • Holding an extraneous variable constant can eliminate it
  • This can be done by standardizing the environment and participants
  • Often it is unreasonable to hold a variable completely constant
  • It can limit the external validity of an experiment
34
Q

matching values across treatment groups

A
  • Matching the levels of an extraneous variable across treatment conditions can help eliminate it
  • This can be done by ensuring that the averages of participant, environmental, and time-related vairables (ex. Age, order of treatment conditions) are the same across conditions
  • The demands of this technique are impractical for all extraneous variables
35
Q

counterbalancing

A

the process of matching treatment conditions

36
Q

randomization

A

the use of a random process to help avoid a systematic relationship between two variables

37
Q

what does randomization involve?

A

using an unpredictable and unbiased procedure to distribute different values of each extraneous variable across the treatment conditions

38
Q

random process

A

all the different possible outcomes are equally likely

39
Q

example of a random prcoess

A

random assignment

40
Q

random assignment

A

the use of a random process to assign participants to treatment conditions

41
Q

advantages of control by randomization

A
  • Randomization is the primary technique for controlling the huge number of extraneous variables that exist in any experiment
  • It offers a method of controlling a multitude of variables simultaneously
  • It does not require specific attention to each extraneous variable
42
Q

limitations of control by randomization

A
  • It doesn’t guarantee that extraneous variables are really controlled; it uses chance to control variables
  • In the long run, with large numbers, it will guarantee a balanced result, but not in the short term, especially with small numbers
43
Q

advantages and disadvantages of active control methods

A
  • Holding constant and matching require some extra effort
  • They are usually only used with one or two specific variables identified as real threats for confounding
  • Holding a variable constant can limit external validity
44
Q

experimental condition

A

the condition in which the treatment is administered

45
Q

control condition

A

the condition in which the treatment is not administered

46
Q

no-treatment control condition

A

a condition in which the participants do not receive the treatment being evaluated

47
Q

the placebo effect

A

a positive response by a participant to an inert medication that has no real effect on the body. It occurs simply because the individual thinks the medication is effective

48
Q

placebo control condition

A

a condition in which participants receive a placebo instead of the actual treatment

49
Q

outcome research

A

investigates the effectiveness of a treatment

50
Q

goal of outcome research

A

to determine whether a treatment produces a substantial or clinically significant effect

51
Q

placebo research

A

attempts to identify the active components of a treatment

52
Q

the placebo effect in placebo research

A

The placebo effect must be separated from other, active components of the treatment

53
Q

manipulation check

A

an additional measure to assess how participants perceived and interpreted the manipulation and/or to assess the direct effect of the manipulation

54
Q

two ways to check manipulation

A
  • An explicit measure of the independent vairable
  • Embed specific questions about the manipulation in a questionnaire that participants complete after they participate in the experiment
55
Q

four situations in which manipulation checks are particularly important

A
  1. Participant manipulations
  2. Subtle manipulations
  3. Placebo controls
  4. Simulations

PSYC 306 (17 decks)

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