Overview
Causation in psychology is a fundamental concept that helps researchers understand how different factors influence behavior and mental processes. By distinguishing between correlation and causation, psychologists can design experiments that effectively isolate variables and determine causal relation...
Key Terms
Example: Smoking causes lung cancer.
Example: Ice cream sales and temperature are correlated.
Example: Diet can be a confounding variable in studies on exercise and weight loss.
Example: In a study on sleep, the amount of sleep is the independent variable.
Example: In a study on sleep, the test scores after sleep are the dependent variable.
Example: Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups.
Related Topics
Experimental Psychology
Focuses on the scientific study of behavior and mental processes through controlled experiments.
intermediateStatistical Methods in Psychology
Covers statistical techniques used to analyze psychological data and draw conclusions.
intermediateBehavioral Psychology
Explores the connection between behavior and psychological processes, emphasizing observable actions.
intermediateKey Concepts
Correlation vs. CausationExperimental DesignConfounding VariablesStatistical Significance