1. Experimental method
By Mr Daniel Hansson

2. What is an experiment?
A method to investigate cause and effect, i.e. what causes certain behaviours

3. Features of an experiment
Aim
Independent and dependent variable
Sample
Procedure
Findings and conclusion

4. Aim
Aim: The purpose of the experiment. The psychological phenomenon that is investigated

5. Independent and dependent variables
Independent variable: Variable which experimenter manipulates and which is assumed to have a direct affect on the dependent variable. The independent variable can consist of several conditions, groups or levels.
Dependent variable: Variable that measures the effect of the independent variable

6. Question: Independent and Dependent variables
For the pepsi/coke experiment, what was the independent and dependent variable?

7. Sample
Sample: The group of subjects in the study selected from a larger target population. The sample should be representative of the target population.
Target population: A group of people with similar characteristics.

8. Questions, sample and target population
Describe the characteristics of the sample in the pepsi/coke experiment (e.g. how many participants, average age, how many girls/boys)
What was the target population of the pepsi/coke experiment?

9. Procedure, findings and conclusion
Procedure: How the experiment was conducted (treatment of participants, instructions etcetera)
Findings: The results of the study
Conclusions: The conclusions that can be drawn from the study

10. Questions, procedure and findings/conclusion
Outline the procedure of the pepsi/coke experiment
What were the findings?
What conclusion can you draw from the experiment?
Online or in a textbook, find an experiment that supports the theory you choose the previous class