Pol soc 360_01_experiments

1. POL / SOC 360-01
Spring 2015

4.  True experiments have these features:
 #1: Presence ofTwo Distinct Groups
▪ Control Group
▪ Experimental Group
 #2:Variation in IV Before Change in DV
 #3: Random Assignment

6.  #1: Establishment ofTwo Groups
 #2: RandomAssignment of Individuals
 #3: Administration of Experimental
Treatment
 #4: Pre and Post-Measures of DV
 #5: Researcher-Controlled Environment

7. Bunch of
People Measure DV
Measure DVRandom
Assignment
Random
Assignment
(PRE-TEST)
Introduce IV
Stimulus
“Placebo”
Measure DV
Treatment
Group
Control GroupControl Group
Measure DV
Treatment Group
(POST-TEST)

9.  Helps to control for effects that might create
a spurious relationship
 Is random assignment always the answer?
 Matching as potential solution?
 What are the problems with this?

11.  Research procedure demonstrates a true
cause-and-effect relationship NOT created
by spuriousness
 History
 Maturation
 Selection Bias
 Regression Artifacts
 Experimental Mortality

13.  Extent to which results of study can be
generalized across populations, times, and
settings
 Gerber and Green: “When evaluating the
external validity of political experiments, it is
common to ask whether the stimulus used in
the study resembles the stimulus of interest in
the political world…”

14.  Representativeness of the Sample
 ReactiveArrangements

16.  Similar to classical experiment
 Two Groups,TwoVariables
 Random Assignment
 Experimental Group – Stimulus
 Control Group – “Placebo”
 Difference: No Pre-Test

18.  Multiple levels of IV and/or DV are created
 Useful Design:
 IV can assume several values
 Researcher wants to vary IV
 Example: Mail Questionnaires

24. Jared Diamond

25. Jeopardy! has been used to
understand betting strategies
in two-person games.

28.  Researcher examines one or few cases of
given phenomenon in detail
 Employ several data collection methods:
 Personal Interviews
 Document Analysis
 Direct and Indirect Observation

29. SMALL-N DESIGNS
 Exploratory or Descriptive
Purposes
 Case Study /
Comparative Analysis
 Focus Group
CROSS-SECTIONAL DESIGNS
 Measurements of IV and
DV taken at same time
 Example: Survey Research

31.  Time-Series Designs
 Measure variables at different time points
 What are the advantages of these designs?
 Age, Period, and Cohort Effects

32.  Also known as time series designs
 Characterized by measuring variables at
different points in time
 Advantages of Longitudinal Designs
 Age, Period, Cohort Effects

34. FORMAL MODELING
 Simplified and abstract
representation of reality
 Expressed in mathematical
or similar format showing
how parts make whole
 Example:Turnout Equation
R = PB – C + D
SIMULATION
 Representation of system
in order to study behavior
over time
 Examples:
 Computer Programs
 Board Games
 Role-Playing
 Example: Prisoners’
Dilemma