Week 5: Experiment Logic · Designing Comparable Conditions
Opening Questions
- What is the fairest baseline for our comparison?
- Are our conditions different only in the variable we intend to study?
- What alternative explanations could account for the results?
Learning Goal
Design fair comparison conditions that isolate the intended design variable, establish an appropriate baseline, and minimize alternative explanations.
Lecture Materials
Unlocks when Week 4 class ends
Sep. 25, 4:00 PM (KST)
In-class Activity
Unlocks when Week 4 class ends
Sep. 25, 4:00 PM (KST)
Homework
- FC Watch ‘Stimuli Development: Making Testable Design Stimuli.’ DueOct. 09
- Homework Translate the submitted Comparison Design Canvas into a working manuscript draft.
- Include the baseline rationale, A/B or A/B/C condition descriptions, what changes, what remains controlled, why the comparison can answer the RQ, and possible confounds.
- Integrate the comparison table as a paper table or figure with a caption.
- This is a working manuscript update, not a final polished section.
- Homework Translate the submitted Comparison Design Canvas into the Section 3.2 working draft. View Homework 4 Due2026.10.09
Key Takeaways
Available after class
Unlocks Oct. 2, 4:00 PM (KST), when this class ends.
Related Readings
- No required academic reading
- Instructor-provided examples of fair and unfair design comparisons