- most highly controlled method of hypothesis testing
- goal: Isolation of a cause-and-effect relationship
- independent variables (IVs) are predicted to impact the dependent variables (DVs)
- manipulation of IVs, then measurement of DVs while controlling all other confounding variables
- random assignment of participants to different conditions (= different versions of IVs)
- e.g. treatment vs control group
- identical groups
- even tho people cannot be cloned we have statistical unbiased data
- only applicable to larger sample sizes
- how many people have long hair? sample size of 2. results: 100%, 50%, 0%
- with higher sample size the results gets closer to reality
- all same probably to be selected
- no prior knowledge about unobservable information necessary
Typical Session
- motivation, research question, hypothesis, instructions, recruitment, (ethics approval)
- participant check-in
- (informed consent)
- control: side-talk, mobile phones, computer use
- instructions distributed (read aloud)
- people know that the instructions are common knowledge
- people need to listen to it - cannot miss important details
- answer questions privately
- comprehension test, practice rounds maybe
- SAVE THE DATA
- post-experimental questionnaire
- participants paid and dismissed