Re: What is an experiment?

[Christopher D. Green]

Karl L. Wuensch wrote: I have always thought of an "experiment" in terms of what I believe to be its meaning in "everyday language" -- that is, to experiment is to try something new and see what happens.  This is, I believe, essentially the meaning of the Latin root "experiri," and is essentially the same as saying you manipulate one variable and observe any changes in other variables. Although "experiment" is often taken to involve manipulation of variables in psychology, the root means simply to "experience" -- there is no connotation of manipulation or even of variables. That is *not* to claim that "origin is essence" or some such. Words change their meaning over time and across languages. Still, a change in a word's meaning is not the same as a change in its etymological root's meaning. Regards,  -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone: 416-736-5115 ext. 66164 fax: 416-736-5814 http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ ============================ . --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]