Key Concepts: Operational Definitions, Constructs, and Experimental Control

Operational Definitions and Constructs

Constructs are the theoretical concepts you aim to measure or manipulate. An operational definition specifies how to measure these constructs, translating abstract ideas into concrete, observable procedures.

Purpose of Experimental Research

Experiments have an explicit goal: to determine cause-and-effect relationships between variables. This focus on causality is what makes experiments powerful.

Controlling Extraneous Variables

Extraneous variables are unwanted factors that can confound results. In experiments, you aim to minimize or control these variables to isolate the effect of the independent variable. Lab studies are a common context for this control.

Hypotheses and Lab Context

Experiments often test specific predictions, such as: when temperature is high, aggression increases. A clear, specific hypothesis guides the experiment and interpretation of results.