Question
What are the requirements for an experiment to be able to show that changes in one variable cause changes in another?
In order for an experiment to show that changes in one variable cause changes in another, the following requirements need to be met:
1. Controlled variables: Other factors that could potentially affect the outcome must be controlled or kept constant during the experiment.
2. Random assignment: Participants or subjects should be randomly assigned to different groups to eliminate potential biases.
3. Manipulation of independent variable: The variable that is believed to cause changes in another variable (independent variable) should be systematically manipulated by the researcher.
4. Measurement of dependent variable: The variable that is expected to be affected by the changes in the independent variable (dependent variable) should be measured accurately and reliably.
5. Replicability: The experiment should be able to be replicated by other researchers to ensure the findings are valid and reliable.
6. Sample size: An adequate sample size must be used to ensure the results are statistically significant and generalizable to a larger population.
By meeting these requirements, an experiment can provide evidence that changes in one variable cause changes in another.