Psychology 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Dependent And Independent Variables, Confounding, Internal Validity

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Mark Holden

Document Summary

One (or more) variable is manipulated to determine if it influences other variables: manipulation makes this the only method that allows for conclusions about causes. 3 characteristics of an experiment: manipulate one (or more) variables, independent variable: any variable that is manipulated by the experimenter. Experimenter varies it between people or across time: measure the effect on other variable(s, dependent variable: the variable that is measured to see if the i. v. influences it. The outcome variable, it depends on the i. v: control extraneous factors, control things that can affect the d. v. other than the i. v, want to avoid confounding variables. Most experiments, but not all, have an experimental and a control condition. Control group: receives no treatment, drugs, etc , zero-level of the independent variable. Experimental group(s: receives some treatment, drugs, etc . Can be multiple levels of the experimental condition (ex.