Experimental Method
The objective and systematic method of research in any scientific analysis
Goal of Experimental Method
To determine if a variable influences some form of behavior
1) vary the quantity or quality of the variable
2) see if the variables had an impact on behavior
Independent Variable (IV)
Factor or variable being studied
Dependent Variable (DV)
behavior being studied; involves some measure
Goal of Correlational Method
To see if two (or more) variables are related by careful observation of both (correlation does not imply causation)
Advantages of Laboratory Experiements
1) control of IV
2) random assignment of participants
3) simplify world (control behavior)
Disadvantages of Laboratory Experiements
1) Mundane realism
2) External validity
3) Demand characteristics
4) Experimenter expectations
5) Evaluation apprehension
Mundane realism
The degree to which the experiment resembles real-world events.
External validity
The degree of “generalizablility” of the findings to other people.
Demand characteristics
Cues that reveal the hypothesis under study
Evaluation apprehension
The participants concern about being observed during the study.
Most people we study are people that are:
1) white
2) sophomores
3) 19 years old
4) middle class
Called “The Study of the College Sophomore”
Overt Field Experiments
Participants know they are being observed
Covert Field Experiements
Participants are unaware of being observed
Advantages of Field Experiements
1) high external validity and mundane realism
2) covert studies avoid evaluation apprehension and demand characteristics
Disadvantages of Field Experiements
1) IV must be salient (noticeable)
2) DV is often simple (behavior is either present or absent)
3) practical problems = little control over the real world and unexpected events may destroy the study
Charles Darwin
1) Facial Expressions are universal and innate
2) Human facial expressions evolved from animal emotions and expressions
3) Facial expressions have survival value
4) Insanity = primitive stage of emotional development
Paul Eckman
1) Hypothesis: facial expressions carry same meaning regardless of cultural, context or language
2) Mapped Facial Muscles: human face has total of 44 muscles; found 10,000 anatomical combinations in facial muscles
3) Micro-momentary Expressions (MME): average expression = 1 to 1.5 seconds; MME is a brief, contradictory facial expression of emotion; masking is substitution of one facial expression with another
4) MME analysis and clinical intervention
Eckman & Friesen
Studied emotional expressions in tribal people
Eckman & O’Sullivan
1) lie detection with law enforcement personnel
2) brought in agents from CIA, FBI, police, forensic psychiatrists, secret service agents, and students
3) the one group that was better in catching lies: U.S. Secret Service (only group that could accurately detect liars
Modification of LOC attributions
1) aging is associated with an increase in ILOC
2) trauma may produce shift towards ELOC
Fundamental Attribution Error/Bias
Tendency to overestimate personality/dispositional factors & ignore situational factors
- tendency to assume that someone’s behavior is due to their personality rather than the situation