Chanel Holt Psych 427 WK 3 Research Issues

Confounding variable: This is a third unmeasured variable usually in a nonexperimental

method that potentially influences the cause-and-effect relationship between the first two
variables. An example would be testing memorization. If a group of people were asked to read a
list of words and then later asked to recite that same list, a confounding variable would be the
age of the participants. These Variables can affect the validity of a study, therefore when
assessing extraneous variables, we have to measure exactly how much they really affect the first
two variables.

Correlation coefficient: ranges from -1.00(weak) to +1.00(strong) and measures the association
between two variables but does not equal causation. For example, there is a more
positive(stronger) correlation between people’s height and weight, as those who are taller tend
to weigh more. Another example this time of a negative correlation, is you won’t see much if not
any hot cocoa being sold during the super-hot Louisiana summer days.

Dependent variable: can be defined as the outcome of an experiment that has changed and is
measured. For example, when studying the impact of poor sleep on grades, the dependent
variable would be the student’s grades because their grades DEPEND on their ability to prioritize
sleep.

Experimental method: This is the way scientists test hypotheses by manipulating, studying, and
observing relationships between variables. It involves manipulating the independent variable
and then observing and measuring the response given by the dependent variable.

External validity: is the measure or extent to which you can apply results to other situations.
The situations involve Population or Ecological external validity, meaning findings could be
generalized to a population and/or environment. This gives results real-world meaning. For
example, if an experiment was carried out in a controlled setting like a laboratory and then also
done in a natural setting with both yielding the same results, the ecological validity would be
considered high.

Field experiment: As opposed to a Laboratory experiment a Field Experiment takes place in a

real-world setting where the independent variable is manipulated, and the dependent variable is
observed. Rather than an artificial environment being created in a lab, researchers can study
participants in their most natural state for better external validity. An example of a Field
experiment would be the 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment where a group of college students
was split into two groups of prisoners and guards in a Mock Prison. The experiment was set to
last two weeks but was cut short after just six days because those roleplaying as guards were
hostile to those roleplaying as prisoners. Even though it was just a field experiment, the
participants felt as though it was real and ‘prisoners’ started showing signs of depression
whereas the ‘guards’ were taking things too far with their new sense of power.

Bartels, J. (2019). Revisiting the Stanford prison experiment, again: Examining demand
characteristics in the guard orientation. The Journal of Social Psychology, 159(6), 780–790.
doi-10.1080/00224545.2019.1596058
Chanel Holt Psych 427 WK 3 Research Issues

Independent variable: is the condition that gets controlled by the researcher in hopes of
affecting the dependent variable. In other words, when manipulating the independent variable,
its causes an effect on the dependent variable that can be measured by researchers. An example
would be testing whether someone can write faster with their left or right hand. In this small
observation, the independent variable would be which hand the participant is using.

Negative linear relationship: appears when one variable increases as the other decreases
therefore the variables have an inverse relationship as opposed to a positive correlation having a
direct relationship. An example of a negative correlation is as you climb a mountain the higher
and higher you get the lower the temperature gets.

Operational definition: is a precise definition of what the environment is and how the variables
of the experiment will be observed and measured. This is so others can know exactly what the
researcher is doing and whether it is valid or not. For example, an operational definition of
aggression, as related to The Milgram experiment, would be amount of times someone will
press a button to administer a shock to someone else.

Random selection vs random assignment: when study participants are selected randomly
from a population to be a part of a study, that is random selection. For example, jury duty.
whereas random assignment is when participants are randomly sorted into different groups,
such as control or treatment groups, for example: drug trials.