The Psychology class where Komal was almost late but we all ended

up sitting together anyway! 😁💞

● *Correlation vs. Causation
● Just because two things are related does not mean that one causes another!
○ Do not ever forget this
○ 3 possible explanations
● Only possible through experimental design

● Experiments need…
○ Random assignment of participants to:
■ Experiment group - receives manipulation
■ Control group - does not receive manipulation
■ The *independent variable* is manipulative; the thing that the
research question would be about, the thing that is manipulated in
order to get an answer (does (IV) cause …), thing that can be
changed
■ The *dependent variable* is measured; the result measured
through an experiment using the independent variable, it is
measured as it is so it’s the thing that does not change
■ Operational definitions for items measured

● Examples
● Do psychology students do better on exams taken on coloured paper?
○ Control group IV- white paper
○ Experimental group IV- coloured paper
○ Control group DV- exam results
○ Experimental group DV- exam results

● Will doing yoga weekly increase positive mental attitude?

○ Control group IV- read about positive attitude
○ Experimental group IV- doing yoga twice a week
○ Control group DV- attitude
○ Experimental group DV- attitude

● Experimentation Pitfalls
● Placebo effect - improvement because you expect improvement
○ Subjects must be blind
○ What is double-blind?
● Nocebo effect - harm resulting from the expectation of harm
○ Voodoo
 ○ Headaches
Finishing chapter 2 and starting chapter 3 after APA workshop