chap 4 | EXP Flashcards | Quizlet

What is experimentation defined as in scientific inquiry?

A recording of observations, quantitative or qualitative, made by recorded operations and in defined conditions followed by appropriate statistical and mathematical rules, for the existence of significant relations.

What are the four steps of the Hypothetico-Deductive Cycle?

Step 1: Theory, Step 2: Hypothesis, Step 3: Empirical Test, and Step 4: Theory Revision.

What assumption is made by the Null Hypothesis ($H_0$)?

It assumes there is no real relationship in the population and any observed effect in the sample is purely due to random sampling error ("The World of Chance").

What assumption is made by the Alternative Hypothesis ($H_1$)?

It assumes the manipulated independent variable actually caused a real change in the population ("The World of Causality").

What is the primary goal of hypothesis testing?

To determine if the data is surprising enough to reject the Null reality in favor of the Alternative.

What does achieving statistical significance indicate?

It measures probability, not importance; a statistically significant finding simply means the result was unlikely to occur by chance alone.

What is a Type I Error?

Claiming a causal relationship exists when it is actually just random chance (a False Positive).

What is a Type II Error?

Failing to detect a real causal relationship, often due to low statistical power or a small sample size (a False Negative).

What is an Independent Variable (IV)?

The Cause / Predictor Variable; the input that is manipulated or allowed to vary.

What is a Dependent Variable (DV)?

The Effect / Criterion Variable; the output that should only vary in response to the IV.

What distinguishes extraneous variables from confounding variables?

Extraneous variables are uncontrollable background noise, whereas confounding variables are critical threats that have accidentally co-varied with the IV.

What are the three categories of participant measures used in experiments?

Self-Report Measures, Behavioral Measures, and Physiological Measures.

What is an Unrelated Design, and what are its alternate names?

An experimental arrangement with different participants in different conditions; also termed Between-subjects, Between-participants, Independent groups, or Unrelated groups.

What is a Related Design, and what are its alternate names?

An experimental arrangement with the same group of participants across different conditions; also termed Within-subjects, Within-participants, Repeated measures, or Dependent groups.

What are the four Rules of Experimental Manipulation?

Rule 1: Active Creation, Rule 2: Minimum Threshold, Rule 3: Isolation, and Rule 4: Verification.

What is required by Rule 2 (Minimum Threshold) of experimental manipulation?

A manipulation must have at least two different levels (e.g., Treatment vs. No Treatment).

What do random assignment and random sampling establish respectively?

Random assignment establishes causality, while random sampling establishes generalizability.

What inference is drawn from combining Random Assignment with Random Sampling?

Causal inference, generalized to the whole population (The Ideal; establishes Causation).

What inference is drawn from using Random Assignment with NO Random Sampling?

Causal inference, but only valid for this specific sample (establishes Causation).

What inference is drawn when using NO Random Assignment with Random Sampling?

No causal inference (correlation only), but the correlation generalizes to the whole population (establishes Correlation).

What are the three levers for controlling extraneous variables?

Lever 1: Elimination, Lever 2: Constancy of Conditions, and Lever 3: Balancing.

How does Lever 1 (Elimination) control extraneous variables?

By completely removing extraneous physical variables from the situation (e.g., soundproofing a room to eliminate outside noise).

How does Lever 2 (Constancy of Conditions) control extraneous variables?

By keeping all aspects of the treatment conditions identical, except the IV (e.g., testing all subjects in the exact same room, or at the exact same time of day).

How does Lever 3 (Balancing) control extraneous variables?

By equally distributing the effects of a variable across all conditions (e.g., running half the subjects for condition A in the morning, and the other half in the evening).

What are the five steps comprising the anatomy of a basic experimental design?

Step 1-Sample Selection, Step 2-Random Assignment, Step 3-Manipulation, Step 4-Measurement, and Step 5-Comparison.