Statistics Dictionary
To see a definition, select a term from the dropdown text box below. The statistics
dictionary will display the definition, plus links to related web pages.
Select term:
Experiment
An experiment is a controlled
study in which the researcher attempts to understand
cause-and-effect relationships. The study is "controlled" in
the sense that the researcher controls (1) how subjects are
assigned to groups and (2) which treatments each group
receives.
In the analysis phase, the researcher compares group scores on
some
dependent variable
.
Based on the analysis, the researcher draws a conclusion about
whether the treatment
(
independent variable
) had a causal effect on the
dependent variable.
