Dear Bill and Tipsters, You are not behind the times, you are with the times. I make it a HUGE part of my methods course to only use the term "experiment" if Don McBurney's two criteria are met: manipulation of an independent variable and systematic attempts to control extraneous variables (usually with randon assignment). We examine a few studies in their original form and we discuss whether or not each one is a true experiment. We often find the term "experiment" in the study when it is not! I say to use the term "study", which is neutral, then to decide what kind of research method is involved.
By the way, Don uses the term quasi experiment to cover studies that only seem to have subject variables. I argue that a study is an experiment or not and that "quasi" is really a misnomer. However, if it is to be used, I argue that it can apply when the first of the two conditions is met. For example, if two groups are given different treatments, but the groups are not randomly allocated, I say that it is a quasi experiment. Why all the fuss? Because the big conclusion we always discuss is whether or not the study demonstrates a cause and effect relationship. Of course, even in the best of all possible Panglossian worlds, it is not possible to completely control all variables, but we conclude that cause and effect can be concluded if a best faith attempt has been made. Finally, we note that an experiment may be in the lab. or field. Stick with it, Bill! Sincerely, Stuart From: "Bill Scott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: We've got it all wrong Date sent: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 18:49:07 -0500 Send reply to: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I just today asked a student to change the word "experiment" in her > paper to the word "study" because she simply asked different groups to > respond to questionnaires. Around here, I reserve the label > "experiment" to mean a study that randomly assigns participants to > conditions. However I wonder if I am not with it in the way we > scientists think these days. I was looking at NASA research and found > that they seem to call any scientific activity an experiment. > > Here's an example: > http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/cf/exper.cfm?exp_index=848 > > I have a problem with students who show me published studies that are > very poorly designed but they want to believe them because the studies > are in print. When NASA calls non-experiments "experiments" I find > myself losing credibility. Am I behind the times? > > Bill Scott > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________ Stuart J. McKelvie, Ph.D., Phone: (819)822-9600 Department of Psychology, Extension 2402 Bishop's University, Fax: (819)822-9661 3 Route 108 East, Lennoxville, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quebec J1M 1Z7, Canada. Bishop's University Psychology Department Web Page: http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy ___________________________________________________ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
