PSYCH101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Confounding, Random Assignment, Agonist

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH101
• Professor: Paul Wehr

Document Summary

Psychology long answer test 2: identify and explain the three criteria for establishing cause-and-effect relationships between variables. Discuss the ability to satisfy these criteria when using correlational and experimental designs. Covariation: cause and effect must coincide together. Correlational studies: investigate the relationship between 2 variables. Study of naturally occurring groups has several issues affecting satisfying criteria. Can establish covariation (cause and effect coinciding together) Cannot establish temporal precedence; for e. x, individuals may be aggressive even before watching violent tv. Cannot eliminate confounds (since they are naturally occurring groups, person and situation confounds come into play: members of same race, religion, yearly income, region, similarity of daily schedules, etc. Experimental design: investigates effects of independent variable on dependant variable by manipulation of iv and observing dependent. Does not study naturally occurring groups, but uses random assignment to assign to either control or treatment variable group.