Experimental Control

First of all, what is experimental control?

Experimental control is when the independent variable is what causes the change in the dependent variable and not any other confounding variables.  It is achieved when a predictable change in behavior can be reliably produced by manipulating the independent variable and measuring the effects on the dependent variable.

Remind me... What is the independent and dependent variable again?

Dependent variable:  Looking for effects on the dependent variable that might be caused by the change in the independent variable

Independent variable:  Variable that the experiment manipulates.  THIS IS WHAT YOU CHANGE!

So, why is experimental control so important?

Experimental control is a necessary component of ABA because it is the highest level of scientific understanding.  

Resources:  Cooper J.O, Heron T.E, Heward W.L. Applied behavior analysis (2nd ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson; 2007.