PSYC 217 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Electrodermal Activity, Operational Definition, Electromyography
Document Summary
The emphasis for this chapter is on designing studies to hypotheses, seeking ethical approval, and collecting data. Straightforward manipulations: operational definitions that involve manipulating the independent variable using instructions or other stimulus materials in a simple way. Much memory research relies on straightforward manipulations. They are also used to operationally define many independent variables in all areas of behavioural research. They vary the materials, difficulties, characteristics of peoples, questions, etc. when running these studies. If the study mimics real life, it has high mundane realism. Staged manipulations: operational definitions that involve creating a situation in which the independent variable is manipulated; participants then experience the situation and their responses are recorded. Deception is often used to conceal the fact that the situation is a ruse. They can be elaborate or simply take the form of a cover story deception is an ethical concern that resides with this manipulation. They sometimes employ a confederate (another researcher/someone to act as a participant)
