Question 1

In counseling research, all independent variables consist of only two conditions-treatment and no treatment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

The independent variable is related to the effect of a research study, whereas the dependent variable is related to the cause of that research study.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

In experimental designs, the determination of the conditions of the independent variable is referred to as _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  experimental dissociation 
B)  experimental manipulation 
C)  experimental correlation 
D)  experimental affiliation 
A)  experimental dissociation 
B)  experimental manipulation 
C)  experimental correlation 
D)  experimental affiliation B

Question 4

The independent variable is restricted to psychological treatments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The conditions of the research variables are designed in a manner that eliminates all confounds in an experiment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following research designs is an example of an independent variable with two conditions?

Accepted Answer

A)  A control group with two age categories 
B)  A treatment group and a control group 
C)  A treatment group, a placebo treatment group, and a control group 
D)  A treatment group, a placebo control group, and a control group 
A)  A control group with two age categories 
B)  A treatment group and a control group 
C)  A treatment group, a placebo treatment group, and a control group 
D)  A treatment group, a placebo control group, and a control group

Question 7

Causality is the strongest claim that can be made about relations between constructs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following is a difference between independent variables and status variables?

Accepted Answer

A)  Independent variables eliminate the possibility of having Type II errors, whereas status variables eliminate the possibility of having Type I errors. 
B)  Status variables help establish causal relationships, whereas independent variables help detect associations. 
C)  Status variables cannot be manipulated, whereas independent variables can be manipulated. 
D)  Independent variables are used solely in nonexperimental designs, whereas status variables are used solely in experimental designs. 
A)  Independent variables eliminate the possibility of having Type II errors, whereas status variables eliminate the possibility of having Type I errors. 
B)  Status variables help establish causal relationships, whereas independent variables help detect associations. 
C)  Status variables cannot be manipulated, whereas independent variables can be manipulated. 
D)  Independent variables are used solely in nonexperimental designs, whereas status variables are used solely in experimental designs.

Question 9

If the independent variable of a research study is poorly designed, either the expected effect will not be found or the results will be ambiguous or meaningless.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Confusing interpretations of research studies can be made when the independent and status variables are not differentiated.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Status variables are those that a researcher can manipulate as well as assign to a participant.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

One of the goals of manipulation checks is to show that:

Accepted Answer

A)  there is high salience of the independent variable. 
B)  treatments coincide with all dependent variables equally. 
C)  conditions vary on the intended dimension. 
D)  the intended dimension does not differ across conditions. 
A)  there is high salience of the independent variable. 
B)  treatments coincide with all dependent variables equally. 
C)  conditions vary on the intended dimension. 
D)  the intended dimension does not differ across conditions.

Question 13

Which of the following is the most likely cause of a statistically nonsignificant result?

Accepted Answer

A)  Type I errors 
B)  Type II errors 
C)  Insensitive instruments 
D)  Presence of confounds 
A)  Type I errors 
B)  Type II errors 
C)  Insensitive instruments 
D)  Presence of confounds

Question 14

In the context of ecological validity, increase in generalizability results in a threat to _____, because one is less able to attribute differences to isolated differences in the independent variable.

Accepted Answer

A)  construct validity 
B)  statistical validity 
C)  internal validity 
D)  conclusion validity 
A)  construct validity 
B)  statistical validity 
C)  internal validity 
D)  conclusion validity

Question 15

Even though the analysis of status variables is often identical to that of independent variables, it is more difficult to establish causal inferences because _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  they are not inclined to interact with each other 
B)  they are more susceptible to threats to internal validity 
C)  they are harder to measure 
D)  they are not manipulated 
A)  they are not inclined to interact with each other 
B)  they are more susceptible to threats to internal validity 
C)  they are harder to measure 
D)  they are not manipulated

Question 16

Ecological validity is the idea that:

Accepted Answer

A)  stimuli should be representative of the universe of such stimuli as they exist in the natural world. 
B)  stimuli should not affect the conclusions obtained through statistical analyses. 
C)  stimuli should have a clear-cut causal relationship with each other. 
D)  stimuli should affect the hypothesized constructs they were intended to measure. 
A)  stimuli should be representative of the universe of such stimuli as they exist in the natural world. 
B)  stimuli should not affect the conclusions obtained through statistical analyses. 
C)  stimuli should have a clear-cut causal relationship with each other. 
D)  stimuli should affect the hypothesized constructs they were intended to measure.

Question 17

The difference between the conditions on the desired dimension of the independent variable should be _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  biased 
B)  reactive 
C)  transparent 
D)  salient 
A)  biased 
B)  reactive 
C)  transparent 
D)  salient

Question 18

Even when a researcher has carefully designed an independent variable, there is no assurance that the experimental manipulation will achieve its purpose.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Identify a true statement about the interpretation of statistically significant results of a research study.

Accepted Answer

A)  Failure to detect changes in conditions on the intended dimension result in a statistically significant difference on the dependent variable. 
B)  When causal attributions between the independent variable and dependent variable are established, statistical results are least significant. 
C)  Statistically successful results are obtained when manipulation checks detect the presence of multiple confounds. 
D)  Although manipulation checks can be used to rule out existing alternatives, such checks can also introduce confusion during statistical analyses. 
A)  Failure to detect changes in conditions on the intended dimension result in a statistically significant difference on the dependent variable. 
B)  When causal attributions between the independent variable and dependent variable are established, statistical results are least significant. 
C)  Statistically successful results are obtained when manipulation checks detect the presence of multiple confounds. 
D)  Although manipulation checks can be used to rule out existing alternatives, such checks can also introduce confusion during statistical analyses.

Question 20

In the context of research studies, gender identity is an example of a status variable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 18: The Independent Variable: the Drivers of the Study

In counseling research, all independent variables consist of only two conditions-treatment and no treatment.

The independent variable is related to the effect of a research study, whereas the dependent variable is related to the cause of that research study.

In experimental designs, the determination of the conditions of the independent variable is referred to as _____.

The independent variable is restricted to psychological treatments.

The conditions of the research variables are designed in a manner that eliminates all confounds in an experiment.

Which of the following research designs is an example of an independent variable with two conditions?

Causality is the strongest claim that can be made about relations between constructs.

Which of the following is a difference between independent variables and status variables?

If the independent variable of a research study is poorly designed, either the expected effect will not be found or the results will be ambiguous or meaningless.

Confusing interpretations of research studies can be made when the independent and status variables are not differentiated.

Status variables are those that a researcher can manipulate as well as assign to a participant.

One of the goals of manipulation checks is to show that:

Which of the following is the most likely cause of a statistically nonsignificant result?

In the context of ecological validity, increase in generalizability results in a threat to _____, because one is less able to attribute differences to isolated differences in the independent variable.

Even though the analysis of status variables is often identical to that of independent variables, it is more difficult to establish causal inferences because _____.

Ecological validity is the idea that:

The difference between the conditions on the desired dimension of the independent variable should be _____.

Even when a researcher has carefully designed an independent variable, there is no assurance that the experimental manipulation will achieve its purpose.

Identify a true statement about the interpretation of statistically significant results of a research study.

In the context of research studies, gender identity is an example of a status variable.

Philosophies of Science and Counseling: Why Science Matters to Counseling

Research Training: Joys and Challenges

Ethics in Counseling Research: Being and Doing Right

Professional Writing: a Critical Skill for Scientists and Practitioners

Identifying Interests and Operationalizing Topics: Forget That Perfect Study

Choosing Research Designs: Balancing Ideals and Realities

Validity Issues in Research: the Heart of It All

Population Issues: Who We Study Matters

Diverse Perspectives: Conceptual and Methodological Considerations

Scale Construction: a Most Fundamental Tool

True Experimental Designs: the Power of Between-Groups and Within-Subjects Designs

Quasi-Experimental and Longitudinal Designs: Examining Relationships in Applied Setting

Quantitative Descriptive Designs: Describing, Explaining, and Predicting Phenomenon

Analogue Research: Maximizing Experimental Control

Single-Subject Designs: Learning From the Richness of a Sample Size of 1

Qualitative Research: Complexities and Richness From Digging Deeper

Mixed Methods Designs: When Qualitative and Quantitative Designs Meet

The Dependent Variable: Skillfully Measuring Intended Outcomes

Counseling Outcome Research: Does Counseling Work

Process Research: the Hows and Whys That Make Counseling Work

Program Evaluation: Applying Science and Practice to Real Life

Bias: Error Variances From Investigators, Experimenters, and Participants

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