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Flip to reveal answersWhat is the independent variable (IV)?
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All 10 Flashcards — Establishing cause and effect
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Question
What is the independent variable (IV)?
Answer
The one thing the researcher changes on purpose to see its effect.
Question
What is the dependent variable (DV)?
Answer
The thing the researcher measures to see the effect of the IV.
Question
How does an experiment show cause?
Answer
By changing the IV while holding everything else constant, so any change in the DV is due to the IV.
Question
What is a control group?
Answer
A group that does not get the IV, used as a comparison.
Question
What is random allocation?
Answer
Assigning participants to groups by chance, so the groups start out similar.
Question
Why does random allocation matter?
Answer
It spreads third variables evenly across groups, so they can't explain the result.
Question
What are extraneous variables?
Answer
Other factors that could affect the DV; they must be controlled (kept equal).
Question
What is internal validity?
Answer
Confidence that the IV — and nothing else — caused the change in the DV.
Question
Why can an experiment claim cause but a correlation can't?
Answer
The experiment controls other factors and uses random allocation, ruling out third variables and reverse causation.
Question
Which concept is this?
Answer
Causality — established through controlled experiments.
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Causality
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