Research Methods 1

The Scientific Method

7 step recipe for how to collect and analyze information while trying to minimize biases, conflicts, and oversights

Hypothesis

makes a specific prediction about the relationship between variables involved

Experiment

scientific tool to measure the effect of one variable on another

Independent variable

variable being manipulated

Dependent variable

variable being observed

Within-Participant experimental design

technique test same subject repeatedly while independent variable is manipulated

Between-Participant experimental design

one group of participants receives the experimental manipulation, while other acts as a control group

Confounding variables

any variable associated with the independent variable that complicates the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable

control group

doesn’t receive manipulation

experimental group

does receive manipulation

population

general group of people were trying to learn about

sample

selected members from the population that we actually collect data from

random sample

choose from a population people at random to minimize biases

random assignment

assigning randomly people to experimental or control group to minimize biases

placebo effect

the situation where an individual exhibits a repose to the treatment that is not due to its real therapeutic actions

participant bias

participate may unintentionally/intentionally bias their performance to align with the results expected or to be seen as favourable

Blind study

participant doesn’t know whether they belong to experimental or control group and which treatment they are receiving

Double blind study

participant and experimenter do not know whether they belong to experimental or control group

experimenter bias

unintentionally spending more time encouraging his experimental group

paradigm shift

dramatic change in way of thinking

anecdotal evidence

evidence gathered from others or own experience