Experimental Design: Glossary
Constant - The factors that do not change during the
experiment.
Control - The control is the group that serves as a standard
of comparison. It is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental
group, except for the variable being tested.
Dependent Variable - A dependent variable is a factor
that may change as a result of changes in the independent variable.
Hypothesis - A hypothesis is a tentative explanation
for a phenomenon, and is used as a basis for further investigation. It
is a specific statement of prediction and describes what you expect to
happen in a study.
Independent Variable - An independent variable is a factor
that is intentionally varied by the experimenter in order to see if it
affects the dependent variable.
Population - The group to which the results of an experiment
can be generalized.
Reliability: Reliability refers to the accuracy and consistency
of a measurement or test.
Randomization - Procedure to ensure that every member
of a target population has an equal chance of inclusion in a sample. Randomization
is necessary to deal with individual differences.
Replicate - Replicates are individuals or groups that
are exposed to the same conditions in an experiment, including the same
level of the independent variable. It is necessary to have replicates
to prove a relationship between independent and dependent variables.
Sampling - The sample is the portion of a population
examined in your study. If the population is divided into sub-groups then
it is important to have the correct relative ratio of the sub-groups in
the sample.
Theory - An explanation of existing data that can explain
present data as well as predict future data.
Treatment - A treatment is a factor that may affect the
outcome of an experiment.