Case Study on MARIJUANA

1. CASE STUDY

2. Summary of the case:
Pratab, a research scientist has done research on cause and effect relation.
He has done this research to see the effect of Marijuana on memory. For
research, he had selected four groups of male subject comparable in age and
educational level. When a subject arrived at laboratory, they were given an oral
dose of Marijuana in the form of Brown Cookie. But the dose level of Marijuana
varied depending on the group. After consuming the Brown Cookie, the subject
were engaged in series of task. One of the task was to memorize 10 unrelated
words. Each list contains 10 unrelated words. The subject were allowed 30
minutes to memorize the word list. One week later, the subject was brought back
to the laboratory and asked to recall as many words as possible from the list.

3. 1.What is experimental method in Psychology?
 Experimental method is the most Scientific Method to bring Psychology to the
level of an exact Science.
It is considered to be the most Scientific and Objective method for studying
behaviour.
An experiment is an investigation in which hypothesis is scientifically tested.
Generally experiments are conducted in order to test the strength of relationship
between variables.( i.e between independent and dependent variables)
In experimental method, independent variables(cause) is manipulated or altered
and dependent variable(effect) is measured and any extraneous variables are
controlled.
In this method, researcher tries to establish cause and effect relationship.

4.  Experimental method is only method that can establish “Cause and Effect
relationship”.

5. 2.What is Pratap’s Hypothesis? On what basis
Hypothesis are formulated?
 Hypothesis are the assumptions to be proved or disproved . It
is the formal question that is to answer. It is a predictive statement
capable of being tested by scientific method that relates an
independent variables to some dependent variables. In this case the
hypothesis of Pratap is that “Marijuana disputes memory”.
Hypothesis are formulated on the basis of cause and effect
relationship.

6. 3. What are independent and dependent variables in
this study? Explain with reasons.
An independent variable is a variable that stands alone and isn’t
change by the other variables with which we are trying to measure.
Whereas, dependent variables are the variables that dependent on
other variables or the variables which are affected by other variables
with which we are trying to measure. In Pratap’s research, Marijuana
is considered as independent variable and human memory is
considered as dependent variable. The reason behind Marijuana to
be considered as independent variable is that, Marijuana is not
affected by human mind ; while human memory is affected by
Marijuana when it is consumed. Marijuana shows it’s effect on
human mind. So Marijuana is independent variable and human mind
is dependent variable.

7. 4.What kind of studies cannot be done through
experimental method?
Experimental method is restricted in it’s application. Experimental
method does not study about different social issues and the
behaviour of crowds, children, abnormal person etc. For example:- if
one has to know about the language patterns of slum children,
experimental method cannot be applied at all. It cannot be applied to
different issues related to children, abnormal and social psychology.

8. Thankyou