Psychological research systematically studies human experiences and behaviors, with applications ranging across educational, occupational, and clinical settings. This field was formalized by Wilhelm Wundt, who established the first psychology laboratory. Due to the potential for participant harm, all proposed studies undergo rigorous review by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), ensuring risks are justified and that subjects provide informed consent after understanding the research; this ethical framework was significantly shaped by influential studies like the Milgram experiment. Researchers employ diverse methodologies, predominantly experimental designs, where an independent variable is manipulated to observe its effects on a dependent variable. Meticulously controlling for confounding variables is crucial to ensure the validity and reliability of findings, often leading to experiments being conducted under strictly regulated laboratory conditions.