LECTURE 1
Elements of experimental designs:
- Manipulation: the researcher manipulates one variable by changing its value to create a set of two or
more conditions: groups, treatments → independent variable
→ creating different levels of independent variable
→ assessing effectiveness by manipulation check
→ keeping external variables constant
→ individual differences can’ be manipulated
- Measurement: a second variable is measured for a group of participants to obtain a set of scored in
each treatment condition. Scoring on behavior etc… → dependent variable
- Comparison: the scores in one treatment condition are compared with the scores in another treatment condition.
Consistent differences between treatments are evidence that the manipulation has caused changes in the scores
- Control: All the variables besides the independent variable are controlled to be sure that they do not influence the
two variables being examined
…. Milgram experiment … NOT A TRUE EXPERIMENT
→ Manipulation: NO → the researcher didn’t create groups
→ Measurement: YES → how far people would go
→ Comparison: NO
→ Control: YES-NO → they used a script, it was recorded, blabla.. a lot of things were controlled
Mundane vs. Experimental realism
→ Mundane realism: The extent to which the experimental situation is similar to situations people are likely to
encounter outside of the lab ( Milgram study: in our daily life it is normal to obey to higher personas, but for example, it is
not normal to receive shock)
→ Experimental realism: The extent to which participants experience the experimental situation as intended ( Milgram’s
study: high: people are very involved and obeying, people are really behaving as intended)
Methods of knowing and acquiring knowledge → methods that people use to discover answers:
- Method of tenacity: information is accepted as a true because it has always been believed or because
superstition supports it
- method of intuition: information is accepted on the basis of a hunch or “gut feeling”
- Method of authority: a person relies on information or answers from an expert in the subject area
- Method of faith: variant of method of authority in which people have unquestioning trust in authority figure and
accept information from the authority without doubt
- rational method: rationalism- seeks answers by the use of logical reasoning
- empirical method: empiricism - uses observation or direct sensory experience to obtain knowledge
, CHAPTER ONE - the scientific model
Scientific method - approach to acquiring knowledge that involves formulating specific questions and then systematically
finding answers that can be empirically tested.
Step 1 → often based on everyday events or curiosity
→ relatively small set of specific observations from the basis for forming a general statement about a
larger set of possible observations
Step 2 → Form a hypothesis
→ identify the factors, or variables, that are associated with your observation
→ variables are characteristics or conditions that change or have different values for different individuals
→ formulate a hypothesis, or a possible explanation, for your observation
Step 3 → Define and measure variable
→ how to manipulate IV and DV → divide in levels, groups
Manipulation check : check whether your manipulation was perceived as intended
HOW?
- ask a question to measure the success of your manipulation
- test if your manipulation was successful
- report results from manipulation check
Elements of experimental designs:
- Manipulation: the researcher manipulates one variable by changing its value to create a set of two or
more conditions: groups, treatments → independent variable
→ creating different levels of independent variable
→ assessing effectiveness by manipulation check
→ keeping external variables constant
→ individual differences can’ be manipulated
- Measurement: a second variable is measured for a group of participants to obtain a set of scored in
each treatment condition. Scoring on behavior etc… → dependent variable
- Comparison: the scores in one treatment condition are compared with the scores in another treatment condition.
Consistent differences between treatments are evidence that the manipulation has caused changes in the scores
- Control: All the variables besides the independent variable are controlled to be sure that they do not influence the
two variables being examined
…. Milgram experiment … NOT A TRUE EXPERIMENT
→ Manipulation: NO → the researcher didn’t create groups
→ Measurement: YES → how far people would go
→ Comparison: NO
→ Control: YES-NO → they used a script, it was recorded, blabla.. a lot of things were controlled
Mundane vs. Experimental realism
→ Mundane realism: The extent to which the experimental situation is similar to situations people are likely to
encounter outside of the lab ( Milgram study: in our daily life it is normal to obey to higher personas, but for example, it is
not normal to receive shock)
→ Experimental realism: The extent to which participants experience the experimental situation as intended ( Milgram’s
study: high: people are very involved and obeying, people are really behaving as intended)
Methods of knowing and acquiring knowledge → methods that people use to discover answers:
- Method of tenacity: information is accepted as a true because it has always been believed or because
superstition supports it
- method of intuition: information is accepted on the basis of a hunch or “gut feeling”
- Method of authority: a person relies on information or answers from an expert in the subject area
- Method of faith: variant of method of authority in which people have unquestioning trust in authority figure and
accept information from the authority without doubt
- rational method: rationalism- seeks answers by the use of logical reasoning
- empirical method: empiricism - uses observation or direct sensory experience to obtain knowledge
, CHAPTER ONE - the scientific model
Scientific method - approach to acquiring knowledge that involves formulating specific questions and then systematically
finding answers that can be empirically tested.
Step 1 → often based on everyday events or curiosity
→ relatively small set of specific observations from the basis for forming a general statement about a
larger set of possible observations
Step 2 → Form a hypothesis
→ identify the factors, or variables, that are associated with your observation
→ variables are characteristics or conditions that change or have different values for different individuals
→ formulate a hypothesis, or a possible explanation, for your observation
Step 3 → Define and measure variable
→ how to manipulate IV and DV → divide in levels, groups
Manipulation check : check whether your manipulation was perceived as intended
HOW?
- ask a question to measure the success of your manipulation
- test if your manipulation was successful
- report results from manipulation check
