The experimental approach

1
The experimental approach

• In search of
• Cause and effect

2
The experiment

• Requirements of an experiment
• Advantages and disadvantages of experiments
• Settings of experiments

3
Requirements of an experiment

• Empirical observation of dependent variable(s)
• Must guard against potential errors
• Be humble accept that you may err.
• Identify the most likely places for error.
• Take steps to avoid or compensate for error.
• May infer internal processes
• Control of extraneous variables
• Manipulation of independent variable(s)

4
The experiment

• Requirements of an experiment
• Advantages and disadvantages of experiments
• Settings of experiments

5
Advantages and disadvantages of experiments

• Advantages
• Assess cause and effect
• Precise manipulation allows precise measurement
  of effect
• Generate hypotheses and solutions
• Disadvantages
• Artificiality and limited generalizability
• Requires time and effort

6
The experiment

• Requirements of an experiment
• Advantages and disadvantages of experiments
• Settings of experiments

7
Settings of experiments

• Field experimentation
• Limited control of extraneous variables
• Beware selection bias
• Follow Tunstalls (1977) recommendations
• Natural behavior
• Natural setting
• Natural treatment
• Laboratory experimentation