Experimental Design and Variables Quiz

Dependent variables are those that are measured and may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Control groups help establish a baseline to compare the effects of the independent variable, isolating its impact.

A placebo is a substance or treatment with no therapeutic effect, often used in control groups to isolate the psychological effects of a treatment.

Categorical variables represent categories and cannot be measured in numerical terms; for example, gender.

Continuous variables can take any numerical value within a range; for example, temperature is a continuous variable.

Control variables are factors kept constant to prevent them from influencing the results, allowing the researcher to isolate the effects of the independent variable.

Independent variables are manipulated or changed by the researcher to observe its effects on the dependent variable.

The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher, while the dependent variable is what is being measured or observed.

Statistically significant results indicate that the observed effects are unlikely to have occurred by chance.

Randomization helps distribute potential biases evenly across groups, increasing the validity of comparisons.

Observational research involves passive observation of subjects without intervention, allowing natural behavior to be studied.

Blinding, or masking, helps prevent bias by ensuring that participants or researchers are unaware of which condition they are in.

Confounding variables are additional factors that may unintentionally affect the dependent variable, leading to inaccurate results.