Detailed Overview of Experiments Covered by AP Psychology

Understanding the Structure of Psychological Experiments

Variables Involved

• Independent Variable (IV): The variable manipulated by the experimenter to examine its impact on the dependent variable. It's the cause in the cause-and-effect relationship.

• Dependent Variable (DV): The outcome or effect that is measured in the experiment. It's expected to change in response to manipulation of the independent variable.

• Confounding Variable: External factors other than the IV that might affect the DV. Effective experiments control for these to ensure that any changes in the DV can be attributed to the IV.

Group Designations

• Experimental Group: Participants who are exposed to the independent variable. This group receives the treatment or condition being tested.

• Control Group: Participants who are not exposed to the independent variable. This group serves as a baseline to compare the effects of the IV.

Bias and Controls

• Subject Bias: Also known as participant bias, this occurs when participants act differently because they are aware of being in an experiment. This can affect the results.

• Researcher Bias: Occurs when the experimenter's expectations influence the outcome of the study through either the way the data are collected or interpreted.

• Double-Blind Technique: A method used to prevent both the participants and the researchers conducting the experiment from knowing who is in the control group and who is in the experimental group, to avoid bias.

• Placebo: An inert substance or treatment given to the control group to mimic the experience of the experimental group. It helps control for the placebo effect, where participants experience changes simply because they believe they are receiving a treatment.

Examples of Key Psychological Experiments

• Little Albert Experiment (John B. Watson): Demonstrated classical conditioning in humans by conditioning a baby (Albert) to fear a white rat by pairing the presence of the rat with a loud, frightening noise. This experiment highlighted the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior.

• Bobo Doll Experiment (Albert Bandura): This study on observational learning showed that children imitate aggressive behavior observed in adults. Bandura's experiment underscored the importance of social models in the learning process.

• Milgram's Obedience Study: Explored the extent to which people would follow orders from an authority figure, even when the orders involved harming another person. The findings revealed that a significant number of participants were willing to administer what they believed were painful electric shocks to others when instructed by an authority figure.

• Stanford Prison Experiment (Philip Zimbardo): Aimed to investigate the psychological effects of perceived power by simulating a prison environment with participants randomly assigned to the roles of guards or prisoners. The experiment was terminated early due to the extreme and unethical behaviors that emerged, highlighting the profound impact of situational factors on behavior.

• Asch's Conformity Experiment: Investigated the degree to which individual judgment is influenced by a majority group. Asch found that participants were willing to conform to a group's incorrect judgment on the length of lines, even when the correct answer was obvious, indicating the powerful influence of social pressure.

• Pavlov's Classical Conditioning: Involved conditioning dogs to salivate in response to the sound of a bell, which previously had no effect on their salivation. This experiment laid the groundwork for understanding how associative learning occurs.

• Harlow's Monkey Studies: Explored the importance of caregiving and companionship in social and cognitive development. Harlow's work with rhesus monkeys demonstrated that the need for affection created a stronger bond than the need for food.

These experiments, among others, serve as foundational studies within various domains of psychology, illustrating key concepts, theories, and psychological phenomena explored in the AP Psychology curriculum. Each experiment provides insights into human behavior, cognition, and emotion, contributing to our understanding of the complex nature of psychological processes.