Manipulation Checks in Experimental Research


	Psychology Home

	Statistics and Research Methods Workshops Home



	Statistics Workshops

	Research Methods Workshops

	Videos




	Introduction

	Laboratory Experiments

	Clinical Trials

	Summary

	Workshop Quiz

Introduction				1 of 13		next >


	True experiments have two defining features: The IV is under the direct control of the investigator. The study includes some attempt to control extraneous factors, usually through random assignment to groups or study conditions.
It is this strict control in experiments that allows us to draw conclusions about how the IV influences the behavior of interest in the study. The investigator "controls" the IV through an experimental manipulation. Thus, a key factor in the success of any experiment is the successful manipulation of the IV.