Experimental Design 101
This term refers to the variable that the researcher manipulates in an experiment.
What is the independent variable (IV)?
This type of study is the only research method that can establish a cause-and-effect relationship.
What is an experiment (a true experiment)?
This term refers to turning an abstract concept, like "generosity" or "memory," into something that can be concretely measured in a study.
What is operationalization?
This ethical principle requires participants to be told about a study and agree to take part before it begins.
What is informed consent?
This theory holds that specific brain areas are responsible for specific functions or behaviours.
What is localisation of function?
This experimental design uses the same participants in every condition, so each participant acts as their own control.
What is a repeated measures design?
This is the term for an uncontrolled variable that changes alongside the IV, making it unclear which one caused the effect.
What is a confounding variable?
This term refers to whether a measure actually captures what it claims to measure.
What is validity?
This ethical principle requires participants to be able to leave a study at any point without penalty.
What is the right to withdraw?
This brain imaging technique detects changes in oxygenated blood flow to show real-time brain activity.
What is fMRI?
This term describes any variable other than the IV that could affect the DV if it isn't controlled.
What is an extraneous (or confounding) variable?
This type of causality describes a simple, one-direction relationship: A causes B, full stop.
What is linear causality?
This term refers to the consistency of a measure — would you get the same result if you repeated it?
What is reliability?
This set of three principles — using alternatives where possible, minimizing the number of animals used, and minimizing pain/distress — guides responsible animal research.
What are the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement)?
This term describes the brain's ability to reorganize itself structurally and functionally in response to learning or experience.
What is neuroplasticity?
This technique involves assigning participants to conditions using a random method (e.g. drawing lots or a random number generator), helping ensure that participant variables are spread evenly across groups in an independent measures design.
What is random allocation?
This type of causality describes a loop, where the effect feeds back and strengthens the original cause.
What is cyclical causality?
This term refers to research that relies on people reporting their own thoughts or feelings, usually through a questionnaire or interview, rather than a more objective test.
What is self-report?
This term describes protecting a participant's identity, often by using initials or a fake name instead of their real one.
What is anonymity/confidentiality?
This chemical messenger plays a key role in memory and has an excitatory function. To test its function, researchers often use scopolamine.
What is acetylcholine?
This type of experiment uses a pre-existing, naturally occurring independent variable — such as age, gender, or a diagnosed condition — meaning participants cannot be randomly allocated to conditions.
What is a quasi-experiment?
Loud noise triggers a stress response, which releases cortisol, which then disrupts sleep. This step-by-step sequence is an example of this type of causality.
What is domino causality?
This technique uses multiple data sources, methods, theories or researchers to study the same topic. This helps make study results more valid and credible.
What is an triangulation?
This term describes weighing the potential scientific benefit of a study against the potential harm or risk to participants.
What is a cost-benefit analysis?
The process in which the presynaptic neuron reabsorbs the neurotransmitter that it previously released into the synapse.
What is re-uptake?