Page 9 - Mind Map_Methods of Enquiry in Psychology

3. The observation method is - labour intensive
- - time consuming
- - susceptible to the observer’s bias.

Module 5

 A BRIEF ABOUT EXPERIMENT

1. Experiments are generally conducted to establish cause-effect relationship
between two sets of events or variables in a controlled setting.

2. It is a carefully regulated procedure in which changes are made in one factor and
its effect is studied on another factor, while keeping other related factors constant.
3. In the experiment, the CAUSE – the event being changed or manipulated.

The EFFECT – the behaviour that changes because of the manipulation.

 THE CONCEPT OF VARIABLE

1. Any stimulus or event that varies, i.e it takes on different values (or changes) and
can be measured is called as a variable.
2. An object by itself is not a variable, instead its attributes are.
3. For instance, Example 1, the pen that you use for writing is NOT a variable, but
the varieties of pens available in different shapes, sizes and colour.
4. Example 2, young people dyeing their hair in different colours are not variable but
the colour of hair becomes variable.
5. Example 3, Intelligence is a variable as there exists people with varying levels of
intelligence – high, moderate, low).

 TYPES OF VARIABLES

1. Independent variable –
 That variable which is manipulated or altered or its strength is varied by the
researcher in the experiment.
 It is the effect of this change in the variable which the researcher wants to
observe or note in the study.
 Example – If the researcher wants to see the effect of rewards on change in
behaviour patterns. Here, the independent variable is the presence or absence
of the rewards.

2. Dependent variable –