PSYC 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Random Assignment, Operational Definition, Nocebo
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PSYC 101 Full Course Notes
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An independent variable is the variable that the experimenter manipulates. The dependent variable is the variable that the experimenter measures to see whether this manipulation has had an effect. When we define our independent and dependent variables for the purposes of a study, we"re providing what some psychologists call an operational definition. A working definition of what they"re measuring. An operational definition involves taking something abstract and turning it into something measurable. Confounds refers to any difference between the experimental and control groups other than the independent variable. The two major features of an experiment random assignment to conditions and manipulation of an independent variable permit us to infer cause-and-effect relations. Improvement resulting from the mere expectation of improvement. To avoid placebo effects, it"s critical that patients not know whether they"re receiving the real medication or a placebo. Harm resulting from the mere expectation of harm. Researchers hypotheses lead them to unintentionally bias the outcome of a study.
