Research Lesson

This is a method of research where an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable).

• Experiments
• Case Study
• Survey
• Observational
• Correlational

The behavior or mental process that is measured in an experiment (the effect)

• dependent variable
• independent variable
• random sample

Research design in which neither the experimenter nor the participants know who is in the experimental group and who is in control group.

• single blind study
• case study
• double blind study

Research design in which participants don't know whether they are in experimental or control group, but the researcher does.

• double blind

• naturalistic observation

• single blind

A psychological or physical treatment given to the control group that resembles the treatment given to the experimental group, but that contains no active ingredient. 

• independent variable
• placebo
• dependent variable

A phenomenon that occurs when a researcher's expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results. 

• placebo

• case study

• experimenter bias

The extent to which an instrument measure what it is supposed to measure.

• reliability
• validity
• standardized

Each time a study is repeated, the results are consistent.

• validity

• reliability

• sample