Experimental method Flashcards
characteristics of this method
cause-effect relationship can be established
hypotheses
independent variable
treatment variable: 1+ and manipulated to see if it affects a behavior
dependent variable
the affected variable: measured after an experiment and varies as a result of manipulating the independent variable
experimental group
exposed to the treatment
control group
comparison group: does not receive the treatment
benefits of the experimental method
rules out confounding variables and by changing the independent variable we can make stronger statements about cause-effect relationships
3 factors/problems that cause changes in the dependent variable
selection bias, placebo effect, experimenter bias
selection bias is…
when groups already have pre-existing differences that might be accounting for changes in the experiment
solution for selection bias
groups by random assignment so that participants have equal opportunity of being assigned to a group
placebo effect is…
when a response to a treatment is due to a participant’s expectations of what will happen
solution for placebo effect
the control group because participants won’t know if they are receiving the treatment or not
experimenter bias is…
when the expectations of an experimenter affect results(finding what they expect to find): expectations are transferred to participants and they can influence how results are interpreted
solution to experimenter bias
double-blind technique (participants and the experimenter don’t know what group they are in)
advantages of experimental method
revealing cause-effect relationships and control
