 Experiment  an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe their effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable)  by random assignment of participants the experiment controls other relevant factors

 Experimental Condition  the condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable  Control Condition  the condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental treatment  serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment

 assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance  minimizes pre- existing differences between those assigned to the different groups

 Independent Variable  the experimental factor that is manipulated  the variable whose effect is being studied  Dependent Variable  the experimental factor that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable  in psychology it is usually a behavior or mental process

 Placebo  an inert substance or condition that may be administered instead of a presumed active agent, such as a drug, to see if it triggers the effects believed to characterize the active agent  Double-blind Procedure  both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo  commonly used in drug- evaluation studies

Researchers wanted to prove that eating hot peppers will increase a person's ability to remember items on a long grocery list. Forty-five males and forty-five females were used in this experiment. Half of these people (Group A) were given hot peppers while studying the list. The other half (Group B) was given nothing while studying the list.   The dependent variable refers to  a. the amount of pickles eaten b. the amount of hot peppers eaten  c. the numbers of items remembered on the list d. the fact that Group A did better than Group B   Which of the following is the control group?  a. Group Ab. Group B c. Bothd. Neither   Which of the following is the experimental group?  a. Group Ab. Group B c. Bothd. Neither   Which of the following is the independent variable  a. the researcherb. the hot peppers  c. the subjectsd. how much was remembered from the grocery list

 No coercion  Informed consent  Limited deception  Debriefing  Confidentiality

 Necessity  Protect heath and safety  Treat humanely