Identify the basic elements of an experiment. Discuss how using a control group in an experiment allows the researcher to make causal interpretations.

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Identify the basic elements of an experiment. Discuss how using a control group in an experiment allows the researcher to make causal interpretations.

Experimentation is a research method which enables psychologists to test for a hypothesis. This essay will define the basic elements of an experiment and to discuss how using a control group in an experiment allows researcher to make causal interpretations.

Psychological experiment is data collection which helps researcher to recognize the stimulus- response relationship. Experiment proceeds under experimental conditions following the statements of hypothesis. A hypothesis is a predicted relationship between variables and a tentative solution to researchers’ problems (Mcguigan, 1993). If the hypothesis is proved as true, a theory is established.

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The hypothesis is true if independent variable produces lawful changes in dependent variable (Mcguigan, 1993). Independent variable is a stimulus or circumstance presented in the experiment and is manipulated by experimenters. The response or participant’s behavior change which the experimenters measured is the dependent variable (Liebert, 1995). The stimulus-response relationship may influences by extraneous variable that operates in the experiment in addition to the independent variable, causing incorrectness of data. Since data collected indicates the true or false probability of hypothesis, extraneous variable must be eliminated or regulated by a control group. Independent variable is controlled when varied in a ...

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