7.4: control conditions and manipulation checks, 7.5: increasing external validity simulation and field

experimental condition

refers to the treatment condition in an experiment

control condition

refers to the no-treatment condition in an experiment

• participant does not receive treatment

placebo control condition

everything is identical between two groups except for the type of intervention

• the participant thinks the medication is effective but it’s really a placebo

  • in an experiment, use the word nonspecific instead of placebo

outcome research

investigates the effectiveness of a treatment to determine if treatment is clinically significant in effectiveness

process research

attempts to identify the active components of the treatment

what do manipulation checks do

directly measure if the IV had the intended effect on the participant

four situations to focus on during manipulation checks

• participant manipulation

• subtle manipulation

• placebo controls

• simulations

simulation

the creation of conditions within an experiment that closely duplicates the natural environment for a behaviour

• bring outside world into lab

mundane realism

physical features that mimic the external world

experimental realism

the psychological aspect to mimic the real world

field study

research conducted in a place that the participant or subject perceives as a natural environment

• take lab to outside world

advantages of simulation and field studies

allows researchers to investigate more lifelike situations

disadvantages of simulation and field studies

allow nature to intrude, reduce control, risk compromising internal validity