PSYCH 1X03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Energy Drink, Observer-Expectancy Effect, Paradigm Shift
Document Summary
Introduction to scientific research the scientific method ensures reliable and meaningful research. Eric"s theory: test performance can be affected by external factors hypothesis: students taking energy drink should show improved test performance when compared with student not drinking energy drinks. Experiment: scientific tool used to measure the effect of one variable on another. Within-subjects design: manipulating the independent variable within each participant to minimize the effect of external variables on the dependent measure ex. Eric drinks mega study before some tests but not others and comparing results on the different tests (eric acts as his own control group) Problems: time consuming & costly, measure used (tests) or subject (eric) may change during course of experiment, practice effect. Practice effect: improved performance over the course of an experiment due to becoming more experienced. Control groups if there is difference b/w dependent variables, likely due to manipulation of independent variable.
