Zero correlation: Two variables do not have any systematic relationship with each other (knowing the variable of one does not tell you anything about the variable with other) (e.g., crime rates and full moon) We can know there is a relationship between the Correlation is not causation: two variables but we cannot know if one variable causes the other. The relationship may be caused by a third variable The variables may be influencing each other simultaneously Why use it? There are times where it would be Impossible or unethical to use experimental methods with humans and ask them to place themselves at risk, but we can draw correlations between existing behaviors in people and their functioning or health. When conducting an experiment, the researcher has a great deal Experimental Methods: of control over the variables and context. Experiments allow researchers to talk about cause. Begins designing an experiment with a I do this, then that will hypothesis: “If To test the hypothesis , the researcher manipulates or modifies one or happen.” more variables and observes changes in others The variable controlled by the experimenter is the independent variable. The is the observed result of the manipulation of the dependent variable independent variable. Participants get assigned to one of two groups: The group that experiences all experimental procedures with the Control group: exception of exposure to the independent variable The group that does experience the independent variable Experimental group: To prevent individual differences from masking or distorting the effects of the independent variable, participants are to the control or randomly assigned experimental group. Each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to either group. Variables that are irrelevant to the hypothesis being Confounding variables: tested, such as individual differences among participants that can alter conclusions Limitations: Experiments can be artificial; people may change their behavior if they know they are participants in a study. Variables may also not truly represent real-life variables. Making a study realistic has ethical challenges in that it could physically or psychologically harm participants. Independent and dependent variables must be operationalized; that is, they can be defined and implemented in a concrete fashion. Different researchers operationalize variables in different ways. Thus, methods can vary widely from study to study. A statistical analysis of many previous experiments on the same topic. Meta-analyses: Typically it proves a clearer picture of the phenomenon being studied than
Zero correlation: Two variables do not have any systematic relationship with each other (knowing the variable of one does not tell you anything about the variable with other) (e.g., crime rates and full moon) Correlation is not causation: We can know there is a relationship between the two variables but we cannot know if one variable causes the other. The relationship may be caused by a third variable The variables may be influencing each other simultaneously Why use it? There are times where it would be Impossible or unethical to use experimental methods with humans and ask them to place themselves at risk, but we can draw correlations between existing behaviors in people and their functioning or health. Experimental Methods: When conducting an experiment, the researcher has a great deal of control over the variables and context. Experiments allow researchers to talk about cause. Begins designing an experiment with a hypothesis: “If I do this, then that will happen.” To test the hypothesis , the researcher manipulates or modifies one or more variables and observes changes in others The variable controlled by the experimenter is the independent variable. The dependent variable is the observed result of the manipulation of the independent variable. Participants get assigned to one of two groups: Control group: The group that experiences all experimental procedures with the exception of exposure to the independent variable Experimental group: The group that does experience the independent variable To prevent individual differences from masking or distorting the effects of the independent variable, participants are randomly assigned to the control or experimental group. Each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to either group. Confounding variables: Variables that are irrelevant to the hypothesis being tested, such as individual differences among participants that can alter conclusions Limitations: Experiments can be artificial; people may change their behavior if they know they are participants in a study. Variables may also not truly represent real-life variables. Making a study realistic has ethical challenges in that it could physically or psychologically harm participants. Independent and dependent variables must be operationalized; that is, they can be defined and implemented in a concrete fashion. Different researchers operationalize variables in different ways. Thus, methods can vary widely from study to study. Meta-analyses: A statistical analysis of many previous experiments on the same topic. Typically it proves a clearer picture of the phenomenon being studied than
Psych1_Test1Study_F13_01.docx