Methods: Experiments
steven j. barnes
• Describe what an experiment is.
• Explain the difference between a between-subjects design and a
within-subjects design.
• Explain the experimenter expectancy effect.
• Explain what a confounded variable is.
• Explain what a quasi-experiment is and why a psychologist might use
such a design.
Learning Goals
Experiments are the method used by scientists to find out what
causes what.
Experiments
Experiments are the method used by scientists to find out what
causes what.
The experimenter designs two or more conditions under which
the subject will be tested.
Experiments
For example, if I wanted to investigate if cats prefer to eat birds
vs. mice, I could take a group of cats and randomly assign them
to one of two conditions: the mouse-eating group and the
bird-eating group. Then I would count how many mice and
birds were eaten by each group, respectively.
Experiments
Between-Subjects vs. Within-Subjects
Between-Subjects Design: A different group of subjects is
tested under each condition (e.g., experimental vs. control
group).
Experiments
Between-Subjects vs. Within-Subjects
Between-Subjects Design: A different group of subjects is
tested under each condition (e.g., experimental vs. control
group).
Example: If I wanted to investigate the effects of an
antidepressant medication, I would randomly assign one group
of depressed participants to receive a drug and a second group
to receive a placebo.
Experiments
Between-Subjects vs. Within-Subjects
Within-Subjects Design: The same group of subjects is tested
under each condition.
Experiments
Between-Subjects vs. Within-Subjects
Within-Subjects Design: The same group of subjects is tested
under each condition.
Example: If I wanted to investigate the effects of study location
on exam performance, I would get a group of students to study
in the library and then take an exam. Then, I would get the
same group of students to study at home and take a different
exam. I would have to counterbalance the participants.
Experiments
Confounded Variables
Experimenter Expectancy Effect: Effects on subjects due to the
beliefs or expectations of experimenters.
Experiments
Confounded Variables
Experimenter Expectancy Effect: Effects on subjects due to the
beliefs or expectations of experimenters.
An experimental setup in which the experimenter does not
know which subjects are receiving which treatment, and the
participants do not know which group they are in, is called a
double-blind design. Both the subjects and experimenters
are kept blind about which group each subject is in, until the
experiment is over.
Experiments
Confounded Variables
An example: On day 1, an experimenter gives a group of subjects a list
of words to memorize and then tests their retention on day 2. On day
3, the same group of subjects is given a memory-enhancing drug while
studying the same word list as on day 1. Their retention for that word
list is tested on day 4. Their memory is better when studying under the
influence of the drug!
What is the independent variable?
What is the dependent variable?
What is the confounded variable?
Experiments
Confounded Variables
An example: On day 1, an experimenter gives a group of subjects a list
of words to memorize and then tests their retention on day 2. On day
3, the same group of subjects is given a memory-enhancing drug while
studying the same word list as on day 1. Their retention for that word
list is tested on day 4. Their memory is better when studying under the
influence of the drug!
What is the independent variable? drug vs. no drug
What is the dependent variable? memory
What is the confounded variable? practice effects
Experiments
Experiments vs. Non-Experiments
There are several sorts of non-experimental studies. We
covered some of these in a previous lecture: descriptive/
correlational methods.
Experiments
Experiments vs. Non-Experiments
One sort of non-experimental study, that often appears to be
an experimental study are so-called quasiexperiments.
Experiments
Experiments vs. Non-Experiments
One sort of non-experimental study, that often appears to be
an experimental study are so-called quasiexperiments.
It is not always possible for a psychologist to use the
experimental method to answer questions of interest.
Experiments
Quasiexperiments
One sort of non-experimental study, that often appears to be
an experimental study are so-called quasiexperiments.
It is not always possible for a psychologist to use the
experimental method to answer questions of interest.
For example, what are the effects of alcoholism on the brain?
Experiments
Quasiexperiments
Example of a quasiexperiment: A team of researchers compared 100
detoxified male alcoholics from an alcoholism treatment unit with
100 male nondrinkers from various sources (Acker et al., 1984). The
alcoholics performed more poorly on various tests of perceptual,
motor, and cognitive ability, and their brain scans revealed extensive
brain damage.
Experiments
Quasiexperiments
Example of a quasiexperiment: A team of researchers compared 100
detoxified male alcoholics from an alcoholism treatment unit with
100 male nondrinkers from various sources (Acker et al., 1984). The
alcoholics performed more poorly on various tests of perceptual,
motor, and cognitive ability, and their brain scans revealed extensive
brain damage.
Besides the alcohol, what other explanations might account for this
difference?
Experiments
Quasiexperiments
Example of a quasiexperiment: A team of researchers compared 100
detoxified male alcoholics from an alcoholism treatment unit with
100 male nondrinkers from various sources (Acker et al., 1984). The
alcoholics performed more poorly on various tests of perceptual,
motor, and cognitive ability, and their brain scans revealed extensive
brain damage.
Besides the alcohol, what other explanations might account for this
difference?
Alcoholics tend to be more prone to accidental head injuries, are more
likely to use other drugs, and are more likely to have poor diets, etc.
Experiments