PS102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Sampling Bias, Scientific Method, Dependent And Independent Variables
Document Summary
The scientific method is designed to help the scientific process remain as accurate and precise as possible. Example: you notice that all your musician friends excel at mathematics. Makes you wonder about the link between musical training and mathematical ability, so you review previous studies. Hypothesis: a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables. Best if the hypothesis is operationally defined. Defined in such a way that it is measurable and testable. Variables: any measurable conditions that are controlled or observed in a study. Independent variable: the variable you manipulate (amount of music) Dependent variable: the variable you measure (math ability) Example: people with more than 10 hours per week of musical training from the ages of 3-13 years will get higher grades in grade 12 math. Step 3: choose participants, select the research method, collect data. A sample of participants is chosen from a population using random selection.
