Single Blinded Experiment

Experimental Group

1. The group o which the independent variable is applied (this is the group that receives the treatment, etc.) 2. in an experiment, the group in which the independent variable is manipulated in order to gather data that will either support or refute the hypothesis 3. Examples: The rats are injected with a chemical before going in a maze. The group given a pill that has no effect to test a placebo.

Control Group

1. The group that is treated the same way as the experimental group BUT the Independent Variable is not applied (give a placebo). This group does not receive any treatment, drug, etc... Control group is used to judge effectiveness of the treatment by comparing results to the experimental group. 2.Subjects is an experiment who are not subjected to the independent variable and who may receive a placebo treatment 3. Example: In an experiment testing the effectiveness of a new medication, the control group would not receive the new medication that is being tested. The control group is given flavored water instead of a new performance enhancing sport drink.

Experiment

Definition: Procedure for testing a hypothesis. Why use an experiment over the other research methods? "cause and effects" Advantage: only research method that can prove "cause and effect" Disadvantage: confounding variable, may not be able to apply what you learn in a lab to the real world

Correlation Study

Definition: examining relationship between two or more variables Advantage: researcher can see whether variables are related. Disadvantage: "Correlation does not mean causation"

Case studies

Definition: intensive examination of a rare phenomenon that occurred. Disadvantage: researcher can examine rare occurrence; psychological treatment of rare disorder or brain surgery. Advantage: results can't be generalized to everyone

Naturalistic Observation

Definition: observing the subjects (people or animals) in a natural setting. Disadvantage: researcher may have to infer information based on observations, cannot control the environment Advantage: can observe the subject in natural setting

Surveys

Definition: obtaining information by asking a carefully selected group of individuals a fixed set of questions. Advantage: most practical way to gather data on attitudes, beliefs, and experience of a large number of people, and it's cheap. Disadvantage: subjects may lie, subjects who answer may not represent entire population

Double Blind Experiment

The subject nor the researcher is aware as to which group anyone is in. Third party is usually involved.

Single Blinded Experiment

The subjects do not know, but the researcher is aware as to which group everyone is in.

Statistical Significance

Whether the results are likely due to the Independent variable (IV) or merely due to chance. -chance is less than 5 in 100 (<.05) -resulting conclusion in not influenced by chance -results that are statistically are considered valid and reliable.

Interviews

asking questions face-to-face, can modify questions BUT watch out for researcher bias. (example: the person asking the questions frowns/smiles at the answers being given.)

Correlation

describing how 2 sets of Data (IV & DV) relate to each other (can be positive, negative, or no correlation)

Questionnaire

give questionnaire sheet to a group of people (less time than interviews)

Milgram experiment

obedience to authority figures was a series of social psychology experiments conducted by Yale University psychologist Stanley Milgram.