Educational Psychology

The prime method of inquiry in science is the experiment. The key features are control overvariables, careful measurement, and establishing cause and effect relationships. An experiment is an investigation in which ahypothesis is scientifically tested. In an experiment, an independent variable (the cause) is manipulated and the dependent variable (the effect) is measured; any extraneous variables are controlled. An advantage is that experiments should be objective. The views and opinions of the researcher should not affect the results of a study. This is good as it makes the data more valid, and less bias.