Psychology Research Methods - Control of Variables

Control of variables
LO: To explain the control of variables in psychological research.

Do Now: Finish off your worksheet from previous lesson.

If you have completed the worksheet, answer the following questions:
Identify the IV and DV for the following statements:
1. Severe punishment causes anxiety. IV =, DV =?
2. There is a difference in the ability of grey and white rats in learning to run a
maze. IV =, DV =?
3. People are more likely to make a risky decision when they are in a group tha
when they are alone. IV =, DV =?
SPEC CHECK:
Scientific processes -
Variables: manipulation and control of variables, including independent, dependent,
extraneous, confounding; operationalisation of variables.

, Need for variables and control
• A defining feature of a lab experiment is the manipulation and con
of variables
• By having one thing differing between the conditions, it means tha
the difference must be due to the independent variable
• However, all other variables must be controlled to conclude that th
manipulation of the IV caused the difference