Causation in psychology refers to a scenario where one event or factor directly produces a change in another, rather than merely being associated with it. This distinction is crucial: researchers need to determine whether a variable genuinely influences behavior or mental processes, as opposed to just occurring alongside them.
Experimental designs are central here; by systematically manipulating variables, psychologists can assess whether changes actually result from their interventions. Identifying true causal factors is foundational for developing effective treatments, interventions, and techniques to modify behavior. For instance, research indicating that sleep deprivation leads to decreased memory performance provides clear evidence of a causal relationship between the amount of sleep and cognitive function.