Variables in psychology

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

• Experimental condition
• Control condition
• Independent variable
• Dependent variable

An experiment is performed to see if background music improves learning.  Two groups study the same material, one while listening to music and another without music. The independent variable is

• learning
• size of group
• material studied
• presence of music

Dependent Variable

• Variable in an experiment that represents the measurable response or behavior of the subjects in the experiment.

• Variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the experimenter.

Population

• The entire group of people or animals in which the researcher is interested.

• A sample that has characteristics that are similar to those in the population.

• Subjects in an experiment who are not subjected to the independent variable and may receive a placebo treatment.

• Study in which the subject do not know if they are in the experimental or the control group.

Representative Sample

• A sample that has characteristics that are similar to those in the population.

• Subjects in an experiment who are not subjected to the independent variable and may receive a placebo treatment.

• The entire group of people or animals in which the researcher is interested.

• Study in which the subject do not know if they are in the experimental or the control group.

Placebo Effect

• A real response, positive or negative, to an action or substance based solely on expectations, not on the actual properties of the action or substance.

• The group to which the researchers manipulate the independent variable.

• A measure of the relationship between two variables.

• The observation of human or animal behavior in its natural setting.

In a double-blind procedure, who is unaware of the experimental group assignment?

• The experimenter

• The participants

• Both the experimenter nor the participants are aware of the assignment

• Both the experimenter and participants are unaware of the assignment

In an experiment the ___ variable is manipulated by the researcher.

• independent
• dependent
• confounding
• operational

In an experiment to test the effects of hunger on aggressive behavior, aggressive behavior would be the

• placebo
• control
• dependent variable
• independent variable

Placebo Effect

• A real response, positive or negative, to an action or substance based solely on expectations, not on the actual properties of the action or substance.

• The group to which the researchers manipulate the independent variable.

• A measure of the relationship between two variables.

• The observation of human or animal behavior in its natural setting.