Definition
Experimentation is a method used in scientific research where the independent variable is systematically manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable. This process is central to identifying cause-and-effect relationships. In behavior analysis, experimentation involves changing environmental conditions (independent variables) to see how they influence behavior (dependent variable), while controlling for other factors that might affect the outcome.
Example
A behavior analyst wants to determine if providing tokens for task completion (the independent variable) increases a student’s productivity (the dependent variable). The analyst manipulates the use of tokens in a structured experiment by introducing, removing, and reintroducing the token system while measuring changes in the student’s task completion rate. The results show whether the manipulation of the token system causes changes in productivity, demonstrating cause and effect through experimentation.