PSYC 1001 Lecture 2: Ch. 2 PSYCH 1001F (new).docx

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1001
• Professor: John Logan

Document Summary

Variables any measurable conditions, events, characteristics, or behaviour controlled or observed in study. Operational definitions describes actions or operations that will be used to measure or control a variable. Advantages of the scientific approach: clarity and precision without ambiguous interpretations; specify exactly what they are talking about enhances communication about important ideas, relative intolerance of error; when errors found, more studies conducted to find out why. Research methods consist of various approaches to the observation, measurement, manipulation, and control of variables in empirical studies strategies for conducting studies. Experiment research method which investigator manipulates a variable in controlled conditions and observes if change occurs in second variable as a result. (cause and effect relationship) Purpose of experiement to find out whether changes in one variable (x) cause changes in another variable (y). Independent variable (variable x) condition/event that experimenter varies in order to see its impact on another variable. Dependent variable (variable y) variable affected by manipulation of ind variable.