Chapter 7.2 Distinguishing Elements of an Experiment

Basic goals in demonstrating a cause-and-effect relationship

1. Demonstrate that the "cause" happens before the "effect"

2. Establish that one SPECIFIC variable is responsible for changes in another

What does manipulation consist of?

• determining the specific values of the independent variable to be examined

• creating a set of treatment conditions corresponding to that set of identified values

True or False Directionality Problem: Manipulation allows researchers to determine the direction of the relationship

True

True or False Third-Variable Problem: Manipulation can not be used to control the influence of outside variables

False, it can be used

True or False: Manipulation does not allow researchers to determine the direction of the relationship.

False, it does allow researchers to establish the relationship direction between variables.

True or False: An extraneous variable becomes a confounding variable only if it influences the dependent variable.

True, an extraneous variable is deemed confounding if it affects the results of the study by influencing the dependent variable.