PSY 402 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Longitudinal Study, Design Of Experiments, Observational Error
16 Sep 2016
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Chapter 3: the study of adult development and aging research methods. Variable: characteristic that varies from each individual. Dependent variable: the outcome that researchers observe. Independent variable: the factor that researchers manipulate. Experimental design: researchers decide on conditions that will allow them to manipulate the independent variable. Age is seen as an independent variable, however it is not a true independent variable as it cannot be manipulated researchers cannot assign people to a random certain age group unless they are that age. Studies of aging represent the quasi-experimental design: researchers compare groups on predetermined characteristics a cause and effect cannot be concluded but the results are instead able to show differences between age groups. Individuals believe that some effects on the body are due to aging when really they are due to other variables that are due to extrinsic rather than intrinsic variables (ex. social & historical factors)
