An experimental design is a procedure for ensuring that:
A) the change in the dependent variable may be solely attributed to the change in the independent variable
B) the change in the independent variable may be solely attributed to the change in the complex variable
C) the change in the dependent variable may be solely attributed to the change in the extraneous variable
D) any and all effects on all experimental values are measured
E) the manipulation made on the complex variable is measured accurately

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An experimental design is a procedure for ensuring that the change in the dependent variable may be solely attributed to the change in the independent variable. This is the fundamental principle of experimental design, and all other considerations are secondary to this objective. The design should control for extraneous variables and random error to ensure that any observed effects are not due to these factors. The manipulation of the independent variable must be accurately measured and controlled to establish a causal relationship with the dependent variable.

An Experimental Design Is a Procedure for Ensuring That