3.3 PSYCHOLOGIAL SCIENCE
PSYCHOLOGY ELECTIVE 2020-2021
ANH PHAM
EUR INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
, OUTLINE
GOODWIN – RESEARCH PSYCHOLOGY – METHOD & DESIGN
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
ARTICLES
• O’Keefe, D. J. (2007)
• Zeelenberg, R., & Pecher, D. (2013).
• Nieuwenhuis, S., Forstmann, B. U., & Wagenmakers, E.-J. (2011).
• Cohen, J. (1990). Things I have learned (so far)
• Cohen, J. (1994). The earth is round (p < .05)
• Loftus, G.R. (1993)
• Simmons, J. P., Nelson, L. D., & Simonsohn, U. (2011)
• Wagenmakers, E.-J., Wetzels, R., Borsboom, D., Van der Maas, H. L. J., & Kievit, R. A. (2012)
4 LECTURES
, GOODWIN BOOK
CHAP 5
1. WITH ANXIETY AS AN EXAMPLE, ILLUSTRATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES THAT ARE (A) MANIPULATED VARIABLES AND (B)
SUBJECT VARIABLES.
Independent variables that are:
• Manipulated variables are used for experiments instead of observing. They are the
manipulated condition in which to examine a controlled setting.
• Subject variables are used for observing the changes in participants. They are selected by the
researcher (gender, living environment,..)
2. USE EXAMPLES TO SHOW THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SITU ATIONAL, TASK,
AND INSTRUCTIONAL INDEPENDENT VARIABLES.
Situational independent variables are features in the environment that participants might encounter
(bystander effects). Task variables are the number of task in differences between participants.
Instructional variables are manipulated by asking different participants/groups of participants to
perform a particular task in different ways.
3. WHAT IS A CONFOUND AND WHY DOES THE PRESENCE OF ONE MAKE IT
IMPOSSIBLE TO INTERPRET THE RESULTS OF A STUD Y?
Confound is an uncontrolled extraneous variable that happens to contribute to the explanation for the
final results. Confounding variable changes at the same time that independent variable changes and
its effect cannot be separated from the effect of the independent variable.
When a study has a confounding variable, the results could be due to the effect of either the
confounding/independent variables or the combination of those two. Therefore, it’s difficult/impossible
to decide among those alternatives.
4. WHEN A STUDY USES SUBJECT VARIABLES, IT IS SAID THAT CAUSAL
CONCLUSIONS CANNOT BE DRAWN. WHY?
When a study use subject variables, the causal conclusion cannot be drawn because the degree of
control is not present. We can only say that the independent variable precedes the dependent
variable, and covaries with it. We cannot eliminate alternative explanations for the relationship
because certain extraneous factors cannot be controlled. All we can say is the groups performed
differently on the dependent measure.
5. DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD REDUCE THE STATISTICAL
CONCLUSION VALIDITY OF AN EXPERIMENT.
Reduce the statistical conclusion validity of an experiment
• Wrong analysis / violate some of the assumptions required for performing a particular analysis
• Selective bias - only report positive results and ignore others
PSYCHOLOGY ELECTIVE 2020-2021
ANH PHAM
EUR INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
, OUTLINE
GOODWIN – RESEARCH PSYCHOLOGY – METHOD & DESIGN
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
ARTICLES
• O’Keefe, D. J. (2007)
• Zeelenberg, R., & Pecher, D. (2013).
• Nieuwenhuis, S., Forstmann, B. U., & Wagenmakers, E.-J. (2011).
• Cohen, J. (1990). Things I have learned (so far)
• Cohen, J. (1994). The earth is round (p < .05)
• Loftus, G.R. (1993)
• Simmons, J. P., Nelson, L. D., & Simonsohn, U. (2011)
• Wagenmakers, E.-J., Wetzels, R., Borsboom, D., Van der Maas, H. L. J., & Kievit, R. A. (2012)
4 LECTURES
, GOODWIN BOOK
CHAP 5
1. WITH ANXIETY AS AN EXAMPLE, ILLUSTRATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES THAT ARE (A) MANIPULATED VARIABLES AND (B)
SUBJECT VARIABLES.
Independent variables that are:
• Manipulated variables are used for experiments instead of observing. They are the
manipulated condition in which to examine a controlled setting.
• Subject variables are used for observing the changes in participants. They are selected by the
researcher (gender, living environment,..)
2. USE EXAMPLES TO SHOW THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SITU ATIONAL, TASK,
AND INSTRUCTIONAL INDEPENDENT VARIABLES.
Situational independent variables are features in the environment that participants might encounter
(bystander effects). Task variables are the number of task in differences between participants.
Instructional variables are manipulated by asking different participants/groups of participants to
perform a particular task in different ways.
3. WHAT IS A CONFOUND AND WHY DOES THE PRESENCE OF ONE MAKE IT
IMPOSSIBLE TO INTERPRET THE RESULTS OF A STUD Y?
Confound is an uncontrolled extraneous variable that happens to contribute to the explanation for the
final results. Confounding variable changes at the same time that independent variable changes and
its effect cannot be separated from the effect of the independent variable.
When a study has a confounding variable, the results could be due to the effect of either the
confounding/independent variables or the combination of those two. Therefore, it’s difficult/impossible
to decide among those alternatives.
4. WHEN A STUDY USES SUBJECT VARIABLES, IT IS SAID THAT CAUSAL
CONCLUSIONS CANNOT BE DRAWN. WHY?
When a study use subject variables, the causal conclusion cannot be drawn because the degree of
control is not present. We can only say that the independent variable precedes the dependent
variable, and covaries with it. We cannot eliminate alternative explanations for the relationship
because certain extraneous factors cannot be controlled. All we can say is the groups performed
differently on the dependent measure.
5. DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD REDUCE THE STATISTICAL
CONCLUSION VALIDITY OF AN EXPERIMENT.
Reduce the statistical conclusion validity of an experiment
• Wrong analysis / violate some of the assumptions required for performing a particular analysis
• Selective bias - only report positive results and ignore others
