The Experimental Research Study

Question 1

What is an experiment?

Answer 1

A study that attempts to show the cause and effect of one variable onto another

Question 2

What are the 4 basic elements of an experimental study?

Answer 2

1. Manipulation - manipulation of one variable to create two or more treatment conditions
2. Measurement - second variable for participants to obtain a set of scores in each treatment condition
3. Comparison - Comparing scores from both treatment condition
4. Control - All other variables controlled for minimal interference

Question 3

What is an independent variable?

Answer 3

The variable being manipulated by the researcher

Question 4

What are treatment conditions?

Answer 4

Situations or environments characterized by one specific value of an independent variable

Question 5

Specific conditions used in experiments are called what of the independent variable?

Answer 5

Levels

Question 6

The variable that is measured in each of the treatment conditions is called what?

Answer 6

Dependent variable

Question 7

What are extreneous variables?

Answer 7

All variables in the study except for the independent and dependent variables

Question 8

Why do variables in experimental research rarely exist in isolation?

Answer 8

Changes in one variable often change other related variables unintentionally

Question 9

What is the third-variable problem?

Answer 9

The possibility that two variables are related are influenced by a third variable, causing its relationship

Question 10

What is the directionality problem?

Answer 10

Not knowing which variable caused the other and the existence of the relationship isn’t explained

Question 11

To establish a cause-and-effect relationship, what must an experiment control?

Answer 11

Nature, creating an artificial situation where variables are isolated from other confounding variables

Question 12

How are experimental research studies different from other types of research?

Answer 12

Only experiments can demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between variables

Question 13

What is manipulation?

Answer 13

Identification of specific values of the independent variable and creating treatment conditions to those values, changing the independent variable

Question 14

How does manipulation help eliminate an aspect of the third-variable problem?

Answer 14

The independent variable is allowed to be changed during the experiment

Question 15

Why is control over other variables in an experiment crucial?

Answer 15

To ensure the observed relationship is not contaminated by confounding or unwanted variables

Question 16

Other than the independent and dependent variables, how many other variables can exist in any experiment?

Answer 16

Thousands

Question 17

What are two characteristics of confounding variables?

Answer 17

1. It directly influences the dependent variable
2. It systematically varies with the independent variable

Question 18

What is the first step in controlling confounding variables?

Answer 18

Identifying variables most likely to influence the dependent variable

Question 19

What are the two active methods for controlling extraneous variables?

Answer 19

1. Holding a variable constant
2. Matching values across treatment conditions

Question 20

How might holding a variable constant have negative consequences on an experiment?

Answer 20

It can limit its external validity

Question 21

What is randomization?

Answer 21

A random process to help avoid systematic relationships between two variables, preventing confounding variables

Question 22

What needs to happen in a random process?

Answer 22

All possible outcomes are equally likely

Question 23

What is random assignment?

Answer 23

Using a random process to assign participants to treatment conditions

Question 24

Why isn’t randomization not guaranteed to be successful?

Answer 24

There is a trust in chance to balance the variables across the different treatments

Question 25

What is the primary technique for controlling the large amount of extraneous variables in an experiment?

Answer 25

Randomization

Question 26

What is the experimental condition?

Answer 26

The treatment condition in an experiment

Question 27

What is the control condition?

Answer 27

The condition with no treatment condition, or a placebo condition

Question 28

What phenomenon refers to a positive response by a participant to an inert medication with no real impact?

Answer 28

The placebo effect

Question 29

What is the difference between outcome research and process research?

Answer 29

Outcome research: investigates the effectiveness of a treatment
Process research: identifies the active components of a treatment

Question 30

What is an additional measure used to assess participants’ perception and interpretation of the manipulation or its direct effect?

Answer 30

A manipulation check

Question 31

What is the purpose of using control conditions in experiments?

Answer 31

It provides a baseline that can be used to evaluate the size of the treatment effect

Question 32

What is simulation?

Answer 32

The creation of conditions within an experiment that closely resemble a natural environment

Question 33

What is a field study?

Answer 33

Research conducted in a place that the participant or subject perceives a natural environment