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Behavior measure
- Direct observations of behaviors.
- Consider rate, reaction time, and duration of behavior.
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Ceiling effect
Failure of a measure to detect a difference because it was too easy.
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Confederate
A person posing as a participant in an experiment who is actually part of the experiment.
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Demand characteristics
Cues that inform the subject how he or she is expected to behave.
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Double-blind experiment
A procedure wherein both the experimenter and the participant are unaware of whether the participant is in the experimental (treatment_ or the control condition.
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Electroencephalogram
- EEG
- A measure of the electrical activity of the brain.
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Electromyogram
- EMG
- A measure of the electrical activity of muscles, including muscle tension.
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Expectancy-effects (experimenter bias)
Any intentional or unintentional influence that the experimenter exerts on subjects to confirm the hypothesis under investigation.
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Filler items
Items included in a questionnaire measure to help disguise the true purpose of the measure.
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Floor effect
Failure of a measure to detect a difference because it was too difficult.
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Functional MRI
- Magnetic resonance imaging uses a magnet to obtain scans of structures of the brain
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides information on the amount of activity in different brain structures.
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Galvanic skin response
- GSR
- The electrical conductance of the skin, which changes when sweating occurs.
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Manipulation check
A measure used to determine whether the manipulation of the independent variable has had its intended effect on a subject.
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Manipulation strength
A strong manipulation maximizes the differences between the two groups and increases the chances that the independent variable will have a statistically significant effect on the dependent variable.
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MRI
- Provides an image of a individual's brain structure
- Allows scientists to compare the brain structure of individuals with a particular condition (e.g., a cognitive impairment, schizophrenia, or attention deficit hyperactive disorder)
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Physiological measure
- Recordings of responses of the body
- Examples:
- Galvanic skin response (GSR)
- Electromyogram (EMG)
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
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Pilot study
- A small-scale study conducted prior to conducting an actual experiment
- Designed to test and refine procedures
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Placebo group
In drug research, a group given an inert substance to assess the psychological effect of receiving a treatment.
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Self-report
- Can be used to measure attitudes, liking for someone, judgements about someone's personality characteristics, intended behaviors, emotional states, attributions about why someone performed well or poorly on a task, confidence in one's judgements, and many other aspects of human thought and behavior.
- Rating scales with descriptive anchors (endpoints) are most commonly used.
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Sensitivity
The ability of a measure to detect differences between groups.
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Single-blind experiment
The participant is unaware of whether a placebo or the actual drug is being administered.
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Staged manipulation
- Event manipulation
- Staging events during the experiment in order to manipulate the independent variable successfully.
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Straightforward manipulation
- Manipulating variables with instructions and stimulus representations.
- Stimuli may be presented verbally, in written form, via videotape, or with a computer.
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Distinguish between straightforward and staged manipulation of an independent variable.
- Straightforward Manipulation:
- Changes in conditions that the participant is exposed to
- For visual stimulation, stories, for audio
- Staged manipulation:
- Create particular effect on participant prior to testing them
- -Ex: Millgram Experiment
- •Person being shocked was a confederate
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Describe the three types of dependent variables: self-report, behavioral, and physiological.
- Self-report:
- Can be used to measure attitudes, liking for someone, judgements about someone's personality characteristics, intended behaviors, emotional states, attributions about why someone performed well or poorly on a task, confidence in one's judgements, and many other aspects of human thought and behavior.
- Rating scales with descriptive anchors (endpoints) are most commonly used.
- Behavioral:
- Direct observations of behaviors.
- Consider rate, reaction time, and duration of behavior.
- Physiological:
- Recordings of responses of the body
- Examples:
- Galvanic skin response (GSR)
- Electromyogram (EMG)
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
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Discuss sensitivity of a dependent variable, contrasting floor effects and ceiling effects.
- Sensitivity:
- The ability of a measure to detect differences between groups.
- Floor effects:
- A task is so difficult that hardly anyone can perform well.
- Ceiling effects:
- The independent variable appears to have o effect on the dependent measure only because participants quickly reach the maximum performance level.
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Describe ways to control participant expectations and experimenter expectations.
- Participant expectations:
- Limit demand characteristics (Cues that inform the subject how he or she is expected to behave)
- Create a placebo group (In drug research, a group given an inert substance to assess the psychological effect of receiving a treatment.)
- Experimenter expectations:
- Experimenters should be well trained and should practice behaving consistently with all participants.
- Single-blind experiment (The participant is unaware of whether a placebo or the actual drug is being administered.)
- Double-blind experiment (A procedure wherein both the experimenter and the participant are unaware of whether the participant is in the experimental (treatment_ or the control condition.)
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List the reasons for conducting pilot studies.
- Reveals whether:
- Participants understand the instructions
- The total experimental setting seems plausible
- Any confusing questions are being asked
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