C h a p t e r introduction to Scientific Research

Explanation
Determination of
the cause or causes of
a given phenomenon
Prediction
The ability to anticipate
the occurrence of
an event
Control
(1) A comparison
group, (2) elimination
of the influence of
extraneous variables,
or (3) manipulation of
antecedent conditions
to produce a change in
mental processes and
behavior
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by allowing or not allowing a person to become frustrated. Control, then, refers to
the manipulation of conditions that produce a phenomenon, not of the phenom-
enon itself.
At this point, it seems appropriate to provide some additional insight into
the concept of control. So far, control has been discussed in two slightly differ-
ent ways. In the discussion of the characteristics of scientific research, control
was referred to in terms of holding constant or eliminating the influence of
extraneous variables in an experiment. In the present discussion, control refers
to the antecedent conditions determining a behavior. An experimental psychol-
ogist and a historian of psychology, Edwin Boring (1886–1968) noted (1954)
that the word 
control
has three meanings. First, control refers to a check or ver-
ification in terms of a standard of comparison (such as use of a placebo with
a control group in a medical experiment). Second, it refers to a restraint—
keeping conditions constant or eliminating the influence of extraneous condi-
tions from the experiment. Third, control refers to manipulating conditions to
produce an exact change or a specific attitude or behavior. The second and third
meanings identified by Boring are those used in this book so far. Because all of
these meanings will be used at various times, it would be to your advantage to
memorize them.