10 - PSY101 - Experimental Methods

Modern Experimental Method: What is correlation and what does it tell us? Correlation: a statistical technique for describing the extent and direction of the relationship between pairs of scores on some measure. , does not indiact what causes what What can psychological experiments tell us? Experiments, which is psychology’s most powerful tool, assesses cause and effect through strictly controlled procedures and manipulations. Experiment: a careful and controlled study of cause and effect through manipulation of the conditions participants are exposed to. Internal Validity: the extent to which an experiment permits statements about cause and effect. External Validity: the extent to which an experiment applies to real-life behavior. STUDY CHART Methods Used in Psychological Research Observation: a research method in which events are observed and recorded as they occur; with out intervention. Naturalistic Observation: Observing behavior in everyday settings or in a laboratory; the observer attempts to be as inconspicuous as possible. Participant observation: Taking an active part in a social situation and observing the behavior of others in that situation. Interview: a research method in which clients or research participants are questioned about their life experiences and their ideas and feelings about them. Case history: a compilation of significant experiences in a person’s life. Questionnaire: a set of written questions that each participant answers in the same order. Survey: a research method in which a questionnaire is administered to a large number of people in a short period of time. Standardized test: a test that has been developed to assess human abilities, achievements, and traits. (such as personality characteristics) Physiological measures: methods for measuring any form of physiological functioning that is related to behavior. Correlation: a mathematical way of determining the relationship between two pairs of scores. Experiment: a careful and controlled study of cause and effect in which participants or subjects are exposed to differing conditions (independent variable) and any corresponding differences in behavior (dependent variable) are assessed; experiments may be conducted in a laboratory (controlled observation) or naturalistic settings. For more info on this topic visit http://psy101.MyUCCedu.com