True Experiments

About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about true experiments, focusing in particular on: (i) outlining a number of different ways in which a researcher might investigate how someone responds to music; (ii) three criteria that must be met before considering a relationship to be causal; (iii) two key parameters for manipulating an independent variable when testing for a causal relationship as varying it across multiple levels and randomly allocating each level to each participant; (iv) an example field experiment aimed at improving student learning success, highlighting the important areas of focus to ensure that it is done using the best scientific practices; (v) a comparison between an example field experiment and a laboratory experiment, contrasting the differences and giving examples of how a researcher might perform the same experiment in a laboratory setting.

Glossary:

True Experiment – The purpose of a true experiment in psychology is to explain behaviour by isolating cause and effect relationships between variables.

Causal Relationships – A relationship where change in one variable results directly in change in another.

Field Experiment – A study that is conducted outside of a laboratory, in a 'real-world' setting. Participants are exposed to one of two or more levels of an independent variable being studied, with their reactions observed by an observer(s).

About the lecturer

Dr Peter Allen is a senior lecturer in the School of Psychological Science at the University of Bristol. Dr Allen’s research interests are in evidence-based learning and teaching in higher education, with a focus on statistical literacy; specifically on understanding the barriers that psychology students can face when learning research methods and statistics. A goal of this research is to derive strategies that can help students become better researchers and scientific thinkers. Some of Dr Allen’s recent publications include 'Training Structural Awareness with StatHand' (2022) and 'Research Performance of Academic Psychologists in the United Kingdom' (2022).