experimental psychology

experimental psychology

Branch or type of psychology concerned with employing empirical principles and procedures in the study of psychological phenomena. The experimental psychologist seeks to carry out tests under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to examine or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law. The areas of study that rely most heavily on the experimental method include those of sensation and perception, learning and memory, motivation, and physiological psychology. Experimental approaches are also used in child psychology, clinical psychology, educational psychology, and social psychology.