PSYCH 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Dependent And Independent Variables, Confounding, Internal Validity
Document Summary
Correlational research searches for association between naturally occurring events or variables. Researcher determines statistically whether x and y are related. Bi-directional causality problem: situation where either x could cause y, or where y could cause x (eg. parental warmth improves adjustment in children, or. Third-variable problem: situation where a third variable (z) is responsible for the cause-effect relationship (eg. genetic factors cause parental warmth and adjustment in children) Correlation coefficient a statistic that indicates the direction and strength of the. Correlational data allows predictions association between two variables. Experimental research most direct method for testing explanations of cause-effect relationships. Researcher measures whether this manipulation produces changes in a second variable. Researcher attempts to control for extraneous factors that might influence the outcome of the experiment. Independent variable factor that is manipulated by the experimenter. Experimental group receives treatment or active level of the independent variable.
