Final answer:
The use of baseline groups and groups experiencing variable manipulation is characteristic of a controlled experiment in scientific research. It involves a comparison between an experimental group and a control group to isolate the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
The method of assessing the baseline performance of people with respect to a given behavior, and then identifying changes in behavior when a variable is manipulated, refers to the structure of a controlled experiment. In this type of scientific investigation, researchers often utilize two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group receives the manipulation of the variable being tested, while the control group does not, and exists as a benchmark for comparison.
By isolating the independent variable's effect, researchers can measure changes in the dependent variable and perform statistical analyses to assess any significant differences in outcomes between the groups. Proper experimental design is crucial for the reliability of data and to conclusively attribute any observed effects to the variable under consideration, rather than to confounding factors or chance.
In situations where it is not possible or ethical to manipulate variables, observational studies or surveys may be conducted instead. However, when feasible, a double-blind study design is often employed to further protect against experimenter bias and ensure the integrity of the results.