PSYB01H3 Chapter 6: Chapter 6 notes.docx
Document Summary
True experiment: controlled investigation in which one or more variables are manipulated. Researcher has complete control over the manipulation of the independent variable. This allows for testing whether systematically varying the independent variable causes changes in the dependent variable. In psychology, causal explanations are much more difficult to establish than in some of the other sciences, even with true experiments. The defining feature of an experiment is the degree of control a researcher exercises over all aspects of the study design. In an experiment, the researcher controls with whom, with what, and how the study is conducted. Also controls what levels of the independent variable are to be manipulated. Finally, they control how the experiment is conducted by holding constant certain aspects (time, place, setting) of the study. : holding constant as many extraneous variables as possible so that any effect on the dependent variable can be attributed to changes in the independent variable.