Which term refers to the basic strategy of science involving careful comparisons of the dependent variable under two or more conditions with only one factor differing?

• A. Analytical
• B. Replication
• C. Empiricism
• D. Experimentation

Answer: (D)

Experimentation is the basic strategy of science that involves manipulating one factor and comparing the dependent variable across two or more conditions. By changing only one variable while keeping everything else constant, we can attribute any difference in the outcome to that specific factor, which helps establish a cause-and-effect relationship rather than just a correlation. This controlled comparison across conditions is what gives experimentation its power to reveal how a variable influences the dependent measure. Others terms describe different ideas: analytical focuses on breaking a system into parts, replication is about repeating studies to check consistency, and empiricism emphasizes knowledge gained through observation and experience. The element of deliberate manipulation with controlled conditions is what makes experimentation the best fit for identifying causal effects.