Sb 10 Control Of Variables

Front 1

What are the two categories of experiments the reading talks about?

Back 1

-Group experiments
-Individual experiments

Front 2

To see what effect a certain variable has on another ...

Back 2

control of all relevant variables is necessary.

Front 3

What does control of variables permit?

Back 3

Keeping irrelevant variables from influencing the data being studied.

Front 4

What is the essence of the experimental method?

Back 4

The control of conditions of observation.

Front 5

What does greater precision of the experimental observation require?

Back 5

Controls

Front 6

What does the experimental method attempt to do?

Back 6

Control extraneous conditions in observation

Front 7

What is the attempt to hold some variables constant while allowing others to vary called?

Back 7

Control

Front 8

What does good psychological experimentation involve?

Back 8

Careful design that includes controls.

Front 9

Why is the experimental method preferable to other research methods in psychology?

Back 9

-It can be used to study problems
-It affords greater precision and control

Front 10

What are important characteristics of the experimental method?

Back 10

-Observations
-Control and systematic manipulation of the conditions

Front 11

What is one of the major difficulties of research in natural settings?

Back 11

Other variables may obscure the effect of the independent variables.

Front 12

In psychology, the distinction between the experimental method and other methods lies in what?

Back 12

The control of variables

Front 13

What happens when one has poor control of the variables that control a person's behavior?

Back 13

S/he is ineffective in controlling the person.

Front 14

What are the two groups of subjects called in a group experiment?

Back 14

-Experimental group
-Control group

Front 15

Experimental group

Back 15

Presented the independent variable

Front 16

Control group

Back 16

Subjected to the same conditions as the experimental group, but not presented with the independent variable

Front 17

What can the experimental group and the control group be compared to determine?

Back 17

The effects of the independent variable

Front 18

Why is a control group necessary?

Back 18

In order to have a base from which to judge.

Front 19

If the hypothesis is that brand Y toothpaste can reduce the incidence of cavities and if other variables are methods of brushing and diets, what variables should you keep constant in your group?

Back 19

Brushing and diet

Front 20

In psychology, the distinction between the experimental method and other methods lies chiefly in the degree to which the variables are ...

Back 20

controlled.

Front 21

Individual organism research

Back 21

Approach does not use large groups of subjects in statistical analysis.

Front 22

What does Sidman/individual organism research contend about statistics with large numbers of subjects?

Back 22

-statistics have been used to tease effects from data
-statistics have been used to cover up lack of experimental controls

Front 23

What do you have to do to show the procedure you have introduced has an effect?

Back 23

You must show that the variable you manipulated influences the rate or responding.

Front 24

Baseline

Back 24

-aka operant level
-control condition

Front 25

How is individual organism research recorded?

Back 25

By cumulative record

Front 26

Cumulative record

Back 26

A graph in which events (usually responses)are cumulated and plotted as a function of time.

Front 27

Rate

Back 27

the amount of something per unit of time

Front 28

T
B
A
H
I
X

Back 28

Time
Bottom of sheet
Abscissa
Horizontal
Independent variable
X axis

Front 29

O
Y
V
D
B
S

Back 29

Ordinate (is its technical name)
Y axis
Vertical
Dependent variale
Behavior
Side of paper

Front 30

Why is the condition reversed in phase 3?

Back 30

In order to show that time itself could not have caused what is taking place.

Front 31

Why are group methods frequently not useful for clinical practice?

Back 31

Because in clinical work you are treating a patient, not all patients.

Front 32

What are the two major approaches to scientific investigation?

Back 32

-Statistical techniques
-Control techniques

Front 33

Statistical

Back 33

Predictive approach in which scientist attempts to determine the interaction of variables by using statistical techniques, such as analysis of variance

Front 34

Control

Back 34

Uses two groups and controls all variables except for the independent variable.