PHIL 100 Lecture 5: ch 5 controlled experiments
Document Summary
Controlled experiments are used to establish causes and effects. Mill"s methods are used in the course of controlled experiments, as are inductive arguments such as arguments from analogy, and inductive generalizations. There are three main types: randomized experimental studies. Two groups are randomly selected from a uniform populations: the experimental group, which is manipulated in some way e. g. given a substance which is being tested, the control group, which is not manipulated. Both groups are tracked, and if some effect is manifested in the experimental group, and not in the control group, then the whatever was done to the experimental group is likely to be the cause of that effect. The example considered in chapter 4 as an argument from analogy is a randomized experimental study: In the example where rats are investigated for their reaction to the birth-control hormone, 2 groups of 100 laboratory rats are selected.
