PSYC 1020H Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Quasi, The Control Group

• School: Trent University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1020H
• Professor: Fournier Neil

Document Summary

Scientific study of the mind and behaviour. A procedure for finding truths using empirical evidence. The process of describing, explaining, predicting, and controlling variables. Describes the characteristics of a population or phenomenon. Often deals with frequency [how often something happens] and percentages. Allows us to determine if two variables are related. Does not allow us to make inferences about causation. The results would give us info about their relationship between studying and exam grades. Cannot conclude that studying caused the students grades. Other possible causes: intelligence, number of lectures attended, how much sleep students got before the exam. All of the above impacted both time spent studying and exam grades. Two factors of an experiment: manipulation. Changing a variable to determine its casual power. The variable that is manipulated is the iv. This creates two groups: the experimental group, the control group. Random assignment not possible: may be unethical or impossible (sex, gender, height, age)