PNB 3RM3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Parietal Lobe, Confounding, Intelligence Quotient

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
• Course: PNB 3RM3
• Professor: Ali Hashemi

Document Summary

Different than correlational research or descriptive research. Looks at causal relationships: does x cause / affect y, x = independent variable, y = dependent variable. 3 main features (1) manipulation of the independent variable (2)all other variables are held constant (3) random assignment to groups. Have to have all three features in order for it to be an experiment. Look at col notes for these answers. Researcher systematically changes the level of the iv across conditions. Can be more or less of the iv across conditions. Can be presence or absence of iv across conditions. Extraneous variables: variables other than the iv and dv. The only variable that should change is the iv. Confounding variable: when an extraneous variable changes with the iv. Extraneous variables should be held constant (i. e. , controlled) When extraneous variables are not held constant, they can become a threat to internal validity.