Experimentation Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to experimentation and research methods.

Experimental Method

The only research method for investigating cause-and-effect relationships, enabling researchers to manipulate variables and observe the effects on measured variables.

Independent Variable

The variable that the experimenter manipulates to observe its effect on another variable.

Dependent Variable

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

Operational Definition

A clear and detailed description of how a variable is measured in a study.

Population

All the individuals who could potentially participate in a study.

Sample

A smaller group selected from the population to represent the entire group.

Representative Sample

A sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population.

Sampling Bias

An error in the sampling process where some members of a population are more or less likely to be included in a study.

Random Sample

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

Stratified Sampling

Subgroups within the population are equally represented and members of those population subgroups have an equal chance of becoming members of the sample

Convenience Sampling

A sampling method where the sample is drawn from a readily available part of the population.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the experimental treatment or manipulation.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment, used for comparison.

Random Assignment

Ensures that all members of the sample have an equal chance of being placed into either the control or experimental group.

Confounding Variables

Extraneous factors that may interfere with the independent variable and impact the study's outcome.

Placebo Effect

A real response to an action or substance based solely on expectations.

Single-Blind Study

A study in which participants do not know whether they are in the control or experimental group.

Double-Blind Study

A study where neither the experimenter nor the participants know which group the participants belong to.

Experimenter Bias

An error resulting from the experimenter’s unconscious expectations of results.

Validity

The extent to which an experiment tests what it is supposed to test.

Reliability

The consistency of a test in yielding the same results.