Experimental Methods

Empiricism, Determinism, Parsimony, Testability

List the 4 principles of the scientific method

Empiricism 

Gaining knowledge through systematic observation of the world. Emphasized experience, evidence, and observation in the form of knowledge. 

Determinism

The assumption that phenomena have identifiable causes.

Parsimony

The assumption that the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is most likely to be correct.

Testability

The assumption that explanations of behavior can be tested and falsified through observation. 

Experimental Research

Researchers provide treatments to different groups. It will have a cause and effect, it’s quantitative, where treatments are called independent variables, and effects are called dependent variables.

Non-experimental Research 

Want to know the cause, but can’t experiment for ethical reasons. Includes surveys, polls, and Ex post facto (quasi-experimental) study after the fact, no random assignment of subjects to groups.  

Coorelational and Qualitative Studies

Other examples of other types of non-experimental research

Basic and Applied Research

What are the 2 Major Categories of Research

Basic Research

Research conducted to understand the fundamental processes of phenomena. Includes fundamental knowledge and findings used for applied research. 

Applied Research

Research conducted with the goal of solving everyday problems. Includes cochlear implants (auditory research), deep brain stimulations, and brain machine interfaces.

Your question, constructing a hypothesis, designing an experiment, collecting data, analyzing and interpreting results, and your next question.

List out the main concepts of the scientific method

Knowledge, observation, and intuition 

What is your question based on? 

How to construct your hypothesis

Must predict a relationship between two or more variables, must be justifiable, and must be testable.

Independent Variable

It is known as a “cause” and includes a nominal scale (categories).

Dependent Variables

It is known as an “effect”, it’s measurable, and is a continuous scale (interval or ratio). 

Interval scale

No zero or a null value (examples: temperature or standardized tests). 

Ratio scale

Range of values that includes zero (examples: height, weight, or duration).

Casual Hypothesis

Proposes that one variable will directly influence another variable (IV, DV) 

Associative Hypothesis

Proposes a relationship between two variables ( DV, DV) 

Simple hypothesis

2 variables

complex variables

3+ variables

Directional Hypothesis

Predicts the direction such as more, less, increase or descrease

Non-directional hypothesis

Does not predict direction but effect

Key factors in experimental design

Includes replication, sampling, randomized group assignments, between-group v. within-group groups, controls, blind (single blind & double blind), and counterbalance control.