Concepts in Experimental
Psychology
Faculty: Abigaile R. Capay, MS RPsy
PSYC 106 Lesson 2
Overview:
The Nature of Experiments
Advantages of Experiments
Why Experiments are Conducted
VARIABLES
Independent Variable (IV)
Dependent Variable (DV)
Control or Extraneous Variables (EV)
What is an EXPERIMENT?
An EXPERIMENT occurs when the environment is
systematically manipulated so that the causal effect of this
manipulation on some behavior can be observed
Other aspects of the environment are held constant, so as
to not influence the outcome of the experiment
Advantages of Experiments
1. Better control of extraneous variation
2. Provide causal explanation of the phenomenon being studied
3. More economical (compared to naturalistic observation)
Why Conduct Experiments?
Experiments are performed to test theories and to provide a database for
explanations of behavior
CRITICAL Experiments – try to pit against each other 2 theories that make
different predictions
WHAT IF Experiments – some researchers conduct an experiment in the
absence of a compelling theory just to see what happens
To repeat or REPLICATE a previous finding
Get to know the VARIABLES
VARIABLE – any condition in a scientific investigation that may
change in quality or quantity
Effective selection and manipulation of variables make the
difference between a good experiment and a poor one
IV – Independent Variable
DV – Dependent Variable
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (IV)
Independent Variables (IVs) are those MANIPULATED by the
experimenter
E.g. brightness of a light, loudness of a tone, temperature of a room
IVs can be controlled in terms of quality and quantity
When a change in a level or amount of an IV causes a change in
behavior, we say that the behavior is under control of the IV
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (IV)
Any condition proposed to possible effect another variable
CONTROLLED and MANIPULATED (to have different values) by
the experimenter
The variable that is treated (aka Treatment conditions) in a study in
order to see what effect differences in it will have on the DV
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (IV)
2 Types:
1. Organismic – any physiological or psychological characteristic of an
organism
- Being male or female
2. Environmental – any characteristic of the environment which may
affect its organisms
- Teaching with visual aid vs. without visual aid
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (IV)
NULL Results – failure of an IV to control behavior
It has several explanations:
The IV was not important / effective (true null results)
Ineffective manipulation of the IV
Attributed to the DV or EVs
DEPENDENT VARIABLE (DV)
The dependent variable (DV) – a variable that measures the effect of
the IV
A behavior proposed to be affected by the IV
Effects of manipulation of the IV is measured through the DV
DEPENDENT VARIABLE (DV)
STABILITY – one criterion of a good DV
Replication of experiments (using same subjects, same levels of
IVs) the DV should yield the same score as it did previously
DEPENDENT VARIABLE (DV)
Values of a Dependent Variable
It should be a Continuous Variable
A variable that may assume any fraction of a value (should at least
be interval or ratio scale)
DEPENDENT VARIABLE (DV)
Measures of the DV
1. Accuracy – refers to the number of correct (or error) responses,
frequency of successes (or error)
2. Frequency – refers to a number of times a response is made
without considering its accuracy
3. Rate – frequency over time (a number of times a subject blinks
within 1 minute)
4. Speed – duration of a response
DEPENDENT VARIABLE (DV)
Measures of the DV
5. Latency – length of reaction time, amount of time it takes before a
response if given
6. Intensity – refers to the magnitude of the response
7. Ability – measured through written or practical tests
DEPENDENT VARIABLE (DV)
Validity & Reliability of the Dependent Variable
VALIDITY – characteristic of the DV that measures what it is supposed to
measure
-ensured by defining the DV in a precise & clear manner
RELIABILITY – extent to which the same observations are obtained in
repeated studies
Pre-test
2 Parallel Tests (different tests, same sample)
Split-half tests (same test, different sample)
Inter-scorer reliability test
EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES (EVs)
aka CONTROL VARIABLES
An EV is a potential IV that is held constant during an experiment
because it is controlled by the experimenter
EVs can interfere with the result of an IV if you do not control them
E.g. time of day, temperature, mood of participant etc.
Holding a variable constant (standardized) is the most direct
experimental technique for controlling EVs
IN SUMMARY
Independent Variable (IV) is MANIPULATED
Dependent Variable (DV) is observed or MEASURED
Extraneous / Control Variables (EVs) are held CONSTANT
