Experimental Research
Experimental Research and The Key Components of
A Successful Experiment
Ehsan Jamil
Seneca College
Laura Cavanagh
February 4, 2013
Abstract
This paper explores the experimental research method and specifically the experiment conducted by Professor Smith, a Psychology professor who has a hypothesis that Vitamin E improves memory, to determine the flaws in her experiment. In the process, the paper also clearly explains the various key factors which determine the outcome and accuracy of the method of experimental research, such as dependent variables, independent variables, experimental groups, and control groups. This paper examines the factors that render Professor Smith’s experiment as flawed, and finally attempts to redesign an experiment to successfully test the effects of
Vitamin E on memory.
Experimental Research and The Key Components of
A Successful Experiment
Experimental research is the scientific method used by psychologists to answer some important cause and effect questions about behaviour and other phenomena of interest.
Experimental research investigates the relationship between variables by intentionally causing a change in one variable in a situation, and then studying the effects of that change on other aspects of the situation ( Feldman & Dinardo, 2012 ). The independent variable in experimental research is manipulated by the researcher and is the variable whose effects the researcher attempts to investigate. The dependent variable in experimental research is the response or effect acquired as a result of the independent variable. Participants in experimental research are always divided into two groups, an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group is the group participating in an experiment which receives a treatment in order to assess the effects of the independent variable on that group, while the control group receives no treatment. The experimental group’s
A Successful Experiment
Ehsan Jamil
Seneca College
Laura Cavanagh
February 4, 2013
Abstract
This paper explores the experimental research method and specifically the experiment conducted by Professor Smith, a Psychology professor who has a hypothesis that Vitamin E improves memory, to determine the flaws in her experiment. In the process, the paper also clearly explains the various key factors which determine the outcome and accuracy of the method of experimental research, such as dependent variables, independent variables, experimental groups, and control groups. This paper examines the factors that render Professor Smith’s experiment as flawed, and finally attempts to redesign an experiment to successfully test the effects of
Vitamin E on memory.
Experimental Research and The Key Components of
A Successful Experiment
Experimental research is the scientific method used by psychologists to answer some important cause and effect questions about behaviour and other phenomena of interest.
Experimental research investigates the relationship between variables by intentionally causing a change in one variable in a situation, and then studying the effects of that change on other aspects of the situation ( Feldman & Dinardo, 2012 ). The independent variable in experimental research is manipulated by the researcher and is the variable whose effects the researcher attempts to investigate. The dependent variable in experimental research is the response or effect acquired as a result of the independent variable. Participants in experimental research are always divided into two groups, an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group is the group participating in an experiment which receives a treatment in order to assess the effects of the independent variable on that group, while the control group receives no treatment. The experimental group’s