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Lecture 5
Lecture 5
Class Activity
Experimental Research
Overview and Major Features
An independent variable (IV) is manipulated
A dependent variable(s) (DV) is measured
Many basic experiments consist of two levels of the independent
variable
experimental group
control group
Control over extraneous variables
holding constant
randomizing effects
A causal relationship between the independent and dependent
variables can be established
Basic Goal of Experimental Design
Manipulate possible values of the IV
Examples:
quality of memory -- accuracy of recall in a certain task
depression -- Beck Depression Inventory (survey) score
arousal -- galvanic skin response (conductivity of the surface
of the skin)
Operational Definitions: Examples
She:
1. Sells many cars
She is a good car
2. Points out + features
salesperson 3. Is nice
4. Sells only good cars
1. Environment/Number of stressors
a. Number negative Life events
b. Number of Examinations
2. Self-report
Stress Measurable Nervous mood
3. Behavior
a. number of fidgets/minute
b. Psychophysiological
responses elevated
Better
Performance
Worse
Low
Arousal High
Correlation Does Not Imply Causation
X Y
X Y
X Y
Directionality of Effect Problem
X Y
Class Higher
Attendance Grades
X Y
Class Higher
Attendance Grades
Directionality of Effect Problem
X Y
Aggressive Behavior Viewing Violent TV
X Y
Aggressive Behavior Viewing Violent TV
X Y
Z
Class Exercise
Identify the
third variable
+
Number of Crime
Churches Rate
Third Variable Problem
+
Class GPA
Attendance
Third Variable Problem
+
Ice Cream Number of
Consumed Drownings
Measurement Considerations
Variables should be measured accurately and consistently.
Accuracy
Validity
Bathroom scale gives correct weight
Consistency
Reliability
Bathroom scale gives same weight consistently
Evaluating Research: 3 Validities
Validity
How accurate is the information from our research?
Three validities
Construct validity
Internal validity
External validity
Construct Validity
Construct Validity
The degree to which the construct can be inferred from the operational
definition of that construct
Never one perfect operationalization
Anger
Condition
Internal and External Validity
Internal validity
The extent to which the observed effect is caused only by the
experimental treatment condition
The ability to draw conclusions about a causal relationship from our data
Experiments usually high in this
External validity
The extent to which the results can be applied to and across different
persons, settings and times
AKA generalizability
Experiments often low in this
Generalizing From the Lab Setting
Mundane realism
The extent to which an experiment is similar to real-life situations
Psychological realism
The extent to which an experiment triggers relevant psychological and
group processes
Key point
Lab experiments not automatically artificial
When an experiment lacks mundane realism it may be very realistic in
terms of psychological realism
Assess Internal & External Validity
Does lighting affect productivity?
Study 1:
Give people a production task in a laboratory. The
lab room is either bright or dim. Measure and
compare their productivity (how quickly and
accurately they perform the task).
Study 2:
Give employees in a well-lit office and those in a dim
office a production task. Measure and compare their
productivity (how quickly and accurately they
perform the task).
The Tradeoff
Real life situations
High external validity
Hard to rule out other explanations
Low internal validity
Lab settings
High internal validity
Often artificial and findings can’t be generalized
Low external validity
Class Exercise