Unit 0 IB Sports Science HL

Control Group

A group of participants in an experiment that is not exposed to the treatment or intervention being tested, allowing for comparison with the experimental group to assess the effect of the treatment.

Treatment Group

A group of participants in an experiment that receives the treatment or intervention being tested, allowing researchers to assess its effects compared to the control group.

Placebo Effect

When participants show effects simply because they expect themto occur, rather than due to the actual treatment. This psychological phenomenon can significantly influence the results of clinical trials.

Blinding

Parctipcants don’t know what group they are in. This technique helps eliminate bias in experiments by ensuring that participants' expectations do not influence outcomes.

Double Blinding

Neither participants nor researchers know what groups the participants are in. This method minimizes bias by preventing expectations from influencing both participants and researchers.

Null Hypotheis

States no difference exists between the treatment and control groups in an experiment.

Alternate Hypothesis

Predicts an effect will occur if there is a difference between the treatment and control groups in an experiment.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction that describes the relationship between variables in an experiment.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated or changed in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured in an experiment, which is affected by changes in the independent variable.

Control Variables

A variable that remains unchanged throughout an experiment to ensure that any observed effects are solely due to the independent variable.

Confounding Variables

Factors that can influence the dependent variable but are not the independent variable being tested, potentially skewing the results of the experiment.

Experimental Condition

The condition that is actually being manipulated / changing.