Experiments (Topic 4)

Flashcards for Psychology 1A Research Design: Experiments Week 2

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable that is measured to see if it is affected by the independent variable.

Confounding Variable

A variable that affects both the independent and dependent variables, potentially confounding the results.

Population

The entire group of individuals that a researcher is interested in studying.

Sample

A subset of the population that is selected for study.

Random Sample

A sample in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Convenience Sample

A sample that is easily accessible to the researcher.

Experimental Group

A group that receives the treatment or manipulation being studied.

Control Group

A group that does not receive the treatment or manipulation being studied, serving as a baseline for comparison.

Placebo Effect

The observed effect when a participant believes they are receiving treatment, even if they are not.

Experimenter bias

Unintentional influence of the experimenter on the results of the study.

Double Blinded Controlled Trial

A study in which neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the active treatment vs. the placebo.