PSYB01H3 Lecture : Oct 25
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Confound variable: an uncontrolled 3rd variable known to affect a relationship between two variables. Look at past studies to see if there"s any confounding factors already noticed limitations of our study. Goal: find convergence in results among different studies. how? randomly assign participants to do experimental/ control design, equally distributing the differences among participants. when? when the variables among participants cannot be held constant. Sampling the whole population = impossible, so we sample 1 population most of the time (limited sample size) Easy/ enough because differences between subjects are too large . adequacy of the operational definition of variables. ability to draw conclusions about causal relationships from our data. *experimental studies have higher chance b/c we"re controlling variable, reducing possibilities of confounds. 1. when control groups are absent (non- experimental studies) b/c you have less power to control study and come to conclusion based on collected date.
