SOCI 2030 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Hawthorne Effect, Random Assignment, Internal Validity
24 Apr 2013
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Experimental research allows researcher to focus sharply on causality (changing one variable, causes another variable to change) There are 3 criteria for causality: there must be an association between variables. Dropping pen & weather getting hotter = no logical association: need to establish a temporal order (one have to occur before the other) ex. Take drug before losing weight: need to rule out rival causal factors even though there is an association & comes before, must consider if another variable is causing the change. Experimental research is good for focusing on small groups & set variables & suited for when you can manipulate the independent variable. Dividing subjects into groups at the beginning of experimental research using a random process, so the experimenter can treat the groups as equivalent: subjects. Cases or people used and on whom variables are measured: experimental group/treatment. This is the group that experiences the modification or stimulus (aka treatment: control group.
