1. ) How is an experiment performed, and what are its major components? 2.) What research methods do psychologists use, and for what purposes?
3.) How does psychology differ from false expectations of behavior?
4.) How dependable is psychological information in popular media?

Explanation:

How exactly do researchers investigate the human mind and behavior? While there are a number of different research techniques, the experimental method allows researchers to look at cause-and-effect relationships.

In the experimental method, researchers identify and define key variables, formulate a hypothesis, manipulate the variables and collect data on the results. Extraneous variables are carefully controlled to minimize a potential impact on the outcome of the experiment.1

Experimental Method in Psychology

The experimental method involves manipulating one variable to determine if changes in one variable cause changes in another variable. This method relies on controlled methods, random assignment and the manipulation of variables to test a hypothesis.

Types of Experiments

There are a few different types of experiments that researchers might choose to use. The type of experiment chosen might depend on a variety of factors including the participants, the hypothesis and the resources available to the researchers.

Lab Experiments

Lab experiments are very common in psychology because they allow experimenters more control over the variables. These experiments can also be easier for other researchers to replicate. The problem, of course, is that what takes place in a lab is not always identical to what takes place in the real world.

Field Experiments

Sometimes researchers might opt to conduct their experiments in the field. For example, let's imagine that a social psychologist is interested in researching prosocial behavior. The experimenter might have a person pretend to faint and observe to see how long it takes onlookers to respond.

Ad

STUDENT RESOURCES STUDY GUIDES AND TIPS

How the Experimental Method Works in Psychology

By Kendra Cherry Fact checked by Amanda Tust Updated on May 06, 2020

Female college student conducting scientific experiment in science laboratory classroom

Caiaimage/Sam Edwards / Getty Images

How exactly do researchers investigate the human mind and behavior? While there are a number of different research techniques, the experimental method allows researchers to look at cause-and-effect relationships.

In the experimental method, researchers identify and define key variables, formulate a hypothesis, manipulate the variables and collect data on the results. Extraneous variables are carefully controlled to minimize a potential impact on the outcome of the experiment.1

Experimental Method in Psychology

The experimental method involves manipulating one variable to determine if changes in one variable cause changes in another variable. This method relies on controlled methods, random assignment and the manipulation of variables to test a hypothesis.

Types of Experiments

There are a few different types of experiments that researchers might choose to use. The type of experiment chosen might depend on a variety of factors including the participants, the hypothesis and the resources available to the researchers.

Lab Experiments

Lab experiments are very common in psychology because they allow experimenters more control over the variables. These experiments can also be easier for other researchers to replicate. The problem, of course, is that what takes place in a lab is not always identical to what takes place in the real world.

Field Experiments

Sometimes researchers might opt to conduct their experiments in the field. For example, let's imagine that a social psychologist is interested in researching prosocial behavior. The experimenter might have a person pretend to faint and observe to see how long it takes onlookers to respond.

This type of experiment can be a great way to see behavior in action in realistic settings. However, it makes it more difficult for the researchers to control the variables and can introduce confounding variables that might influence the results.

The Basics of Prosocial Behavior

Quasi-Experiments

While lab experiments represent what are known as true experiments, researchers can also utilize a type known as a quasi-experiment. Field experiments can be either quasi-experiments or true experiments.

Quasi-experiments are often referred to as natural experiments because the researchers do not have true control over the independent variable.

Instead, the treatment level is determined by the natural conditions of the situation. A researcher looking at personality differences and birth order, for example, is not able to manipulate the independent variable in the situation. Treatment levels cannot be randomly assigned because the participants naturally fall into pre-existing groups based on their birth order in their families.

So why would a researcher choose to use a quasi-experiment? This is a good choice in situations where scientists and interested in studying phenomena in natural, real-world settings. It is also a good choice in situations where researchers cannot ethically manipulate the independent variable in question.

used all of these answers in my edgenu unit 2 project and got 100%.

Explanation:

1. An experiment has a numerous amount of factors and steps that go into it. To begin, The scientists have a research question and begin observing all the variables. Then, the scientists come up with a testable hypothesis; an educated guess/assumption. After finding this hypothesis they have to conduct background research, they will want to know what other researchers have already found, and what questions remain unresolved. After that, they have to figure out what kind of experiment would be best suited for this research along with what variables go into the experiment. On top of that, they will have to figure out what the operational definition will be in this experiment, the statement of procedures the researcher is going to use in order to measure a specific variable. The researcher now has to select the participants for the study, in this experiment they are going to use random selection since it is easy and they’re selected randomly. After the participants are selected, they are placed into two groups the control group, which is the group that stays the same. And the experimental group, which is the group being tested. In this experiment it will be random assignment, much like random selection, they are randomly sorted into the groups. Once the groups are sorted, The control group will be the dependent variable, staying the same throughout the experiment, and the experimental group will be the independent variable, the ones being tested. Obviously, for both groups, there will be confounding variables, factors other than the independent variable that will cause a result.

2. There are several research methods, if the researcher wants a descriptive research method they can choose between, a case study; which is a process or record of research in which detailed consideration is given to the development of a particular person, group, or situation over a period of time. A survey, which is a research tool used to gather personal information about participants. Can be information concerning thoughts, beliefs, background, or feelings. Naturalistic observation, which is a research tool in which a subject is observed in its natural habitat without any manipulation by the observer. Longitudinal research, which is Gathering data on the same subjects more than once. Or cross-sectional research, which gathers data to compare across groups and is conducted and analyzed at one time. On the other hand, there is also statistical research, which is a set of methods.

3. Pseudopsychologies are unfounded systems that are frequently confused with valid psychology. Unlike psychology, pseudopsychologies change little over time because followers seek evidence that appears to confirm their beliefs and avoid evidence that contradicts their beliefs. Belief in pseudopsychologies is based in part on uncritical acceptance, confirmation bias, and the Barnum effect.

4. Information in media should be approached with skepticism and caution, the information’s accuracy varies greatly in the media.