Experiments

Experiments

• A fundamental method in psychological research, designed to explore the relationship between cause and effect.

• They involve altering one factor to observe its impact on another.

Core components of experimental design

• Independent Variable (IV)

• Dependent Variable (DV)

• Control Variable

• Extraneous Variable

• Confounding Variable

Independent Variable (IV)

• This is the factor/variable that researchers deliberately change or manipulate to test its effect on another variable.

Dependent Variable (DV)

This is the factor/variable that is measured to see how it is influenced by changes in the independent variable.

Extraneous Variables

These are additional factors that could potentially affect the dependent variable.

Researchers aim to control or eliminate these to ensure the results are due to the independent variable alone.

The 4 types of extraneous variables

1.) Participant Variables

2.) Situational Variables

3.) Experimenter effects/bias

4.) Demand Characteristics