Question 1

Among the requirements for the classical experimental design is a posttest measurement of the:

Accepted Answer

A) dependent variable for both the experimental and control groups. 
B) independent variable for both the experimental and control groups. 
C) independent variable for the control group only. 
D) dependent variable for the experimental group only. 
E) independent variable for the experimental group only. 
A) dependent variable for both the experimental and control groups. 
B) independent variable for both the experimental and control groups. 
C) independent variable for the control group only. 
D) dependent variable for the experimental group only. 
E) independent variable for the experimental group only. A

Question 2

The classical experimental design:

Accepted Answer

A) helps guard against the sources of internal and external validity. 
B) helps guard against the sources of internal invalidity. 
C) helps guard against the sources of external invalidity. 
D) cannot guard against the sources of either internal or external invalidity. 
E) what it helps guard against depends upon the particular experiment. 
A) helps guard against the sources of internal and external validity. 
B) helps guard against the sources of internal invalidity. 
C) helps guard against the sources of external invalidity. 
D) cannot guard against the sources of either internal or external invalidity. 
E) what it helps guard against depends upon the particular experiment. B

Question 3

The double-blind experiment attempts to guard against experimenter bias.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Identify and explain two advantages and two disadvantages of Web-based experiments. What kinds of topics are Web-based experiments best used for?

Accepted Answer

Two advantages of Web-based experiments

Question 5

Many university-based social science researchers use students in their classes as research subjects when they conduct experiments. How does this affect the generalizability of the results of the research?

Accepted Answer

A) College students are representative of the population as a whole, so using this sample increases the generalizability of the results. 
B) It depends on the size of the college student sample. 
C) College students aren't representative of the population as a whole, so using this sample decreases the generalizability of the results. 
D) Using college students as a sample affects the replicability of the results. 
E) Using college students as a sample has no effect on the generalizability of the results. 
A) College students are representative of the population as a whole, so using this sample increases the generalizability of the results. 
B) It depends on the size of the college student sample. 
C) College students aren't representative of the population as a whole, so using this sample decreases the generalizability of the results. 
D) Using college students as a sample affects the replicability of the results. 
E) Using college students as a sample has no effect on the generalizability of the results.

Question 6

The Solomon four-group design utilizes how many control groups?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 
B) 2 
C) 3 
D) 4 
E) 0 
A) 1 
B) 2 
C) 3 
D) 4 
E) 0

Question 7

An instrumentation effect occurs when:

Accepted Answer

A) the instrument employed for the pretest has an effect that shows up on the posttest. 
B) the measurement instrument is changed from the pretest to the posttest. 
C) there is a change on the dependent variable from the pretest score to the posttest score. 
D) the stimulus is changed from the pretest to the posttest. 
E) there is a change on the independent variable from the pretest score to the posttest score. 
A) the instrument employed for the pretest has an effect that shows up on the posttest. 
B) the measurement instrument is changed from the pretest to the posttest. 
C) there is a change on the dependent variable from the pretest score to the posttest score. 
D) the stimulus is changed from the pretest to the posttest. 
E) there is a change on the independent variable from the pretest score to the posttest score.

Question 8

Maria conducted an experiment to determine whether showing college students a video about the origins of racial prejudice decreases their level of prejudice. She gave the experimental group a pretest to measure their level of prejudice, showed them the film, and then gave them a posttest to again measure their level of prejudice. The control group saw a wildlife film and took the pretest and posttest. The results of the study showed that watching the video about the origins of racial prejudice decreased the prejudice of the experimental group compared to the control group. What might be a source of external invalidity for Maria's study?

Accepted Answer

A) The pretest might have sensitized the students to their prejudice, so they changed their answers for the posttest. 
B) An event might have occurred during the course of the experiment that affected the experimental group's views of racial prejudice. 
C) Statistical regression may have affected the experimental group. 
D) There may have been selection biases that affected the control group. 
E) The pretest might have sensitized the experimental group members to their bias, so they were more impacted by the film. 
A) The pretest might have sensitized the students to their prejudice, so they changed their answers for the posttest. 
B) An event might have occurred during the course of the experiment that affected the experimental group's views of racial prejudice. 
C) Statistical regression may have affected the experimental group. 
D) There may have been selection biases that affected the control group. 
E) The pretest might have sensitized the experimental group members to their bias, so they were more impacted by the film.

Question 9

In a natural experiment, the researcher does NOT manipulate the independent variable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The use of an experimental group allows the researcher to control for the effects of the experiment itself.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which of the following would constitute a "natural" experiment?

Accepted Answer

A) Conducting a survey of city park workers regarding their job satisfaction 
B) Doing a comparative analysis of families that choose to stay and those that choose to move out of a racially changing neighborhood 
C) Evaluating a drug courts program on drug user relapses 
D) Presenting half of a classroom with a documentary on discrimination, then measuring student opinions on race 
E) Soliciting teenagers at a mall to view a pickup commercial and discuss their impressions 
A) Conducting a survey of city park workers regarding their job satisfaction 
B) Doing a comparative analysis of families that choose to stay and those that choose to move out of a racially changing neighborhood 
C) Evaluating a drug courts program on drug user relapses 
D) Presenting half of a classroom with a documentary on discrimination, then measuring student opinions on race 
E) Soliciting teenagers at a mall to view a pickup commercial and discuss their impressions

Question 12

The question of internal invalidity refers to:

Accepted Answer

A) the comparison of the results obtained for the experimental group with those obtained for the control group. 
B) whether the experimental stimulus really affected the dependent variable. 
C) the determination of the proper time to do the posttest. 
D) the determination of the proper time to do the pretest. 
E) generalizability. 
A) the comparison of the results obtained for the experimental group with those obtained for the control group. 
B) whether the experimental stimulus really affected the dependent variable. 
C) the determination of the proper time to do the posttest. 
D) the determination of the proper time to do the pretest. 
E) generalizability.

Question 13

For the most part, preexperimental designs are simplified forms of the traditional experiment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Typically, research on the World Wide Web involves representative samples.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

In Professor John's three-week experiment, the control group has realized that the experimental group is being exposed to lavish lunches as part of the experiment, while they are stuck with plain microwaved meals. In protest, they have decided to stop full participation. Which form of internal invalidity does Professor John have to worry about?

Accepted Answer

A) Maturation 
B) Demoralization 
C) Selection biases 
D) Experimental mortality 
E) Statistical regression 
A) Maturation 
B) Demoralization 
C) Selection biases 
D) Experimental mortality 
E) Statistical regression

Question 16

The experimental and control groups should be comparable on:

Accepted Answer

A) variables that are likely to be related to the independent variable under study. 
B) variables that are likely to be related to the dependent variable under study. 
C) age, education, and ethnicity. 
D) all demographic variables. 
E) variables that are unlikely to be related to the independent variable under study. 
A) variables that are likely to be related to the independent variable under study. 
B) variables that are likely to be related to the dependent variable under study. 
C) age, education, and ethnicity. 
D) all demographic variables. 
E) variables that are unlikely to be related to the independent variable under study.

Question 17

Researchers tend to use probability sampling to recruit subjects for the experimental and control groups.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

In order to ensure that experimental and control groups are similar before the experiment begins, social scientists do all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A) pair subjects who are identical on relevant variables and assign one to the control group and one to the experimental group. 
B) create groups that are equivalent in terms of their averages on some relevant variables. 
C) randomly assign subjects to the experimental and control groups. 
D) create groups that match subjects on relevant variables. 
E) put all subjects who are similar on relevant variables in the same group. 
A) pair subjects who are identical on relevant variables and assign one to the control group and one to the experimental group. 
B) create groups that are equivalent in terms of their averages on some relevant variables. 
C) randomly assign subjects to the experimental and control groups. 
D) create groups that match subjects on relevant variables. 
E) put all subjects who are similar on relevant variables in the same group.

Question 19

The effectiveness of randomization in experimentation is affected by the number of subjects involved.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The double-blind experiment is one in which:

Accepted Answer

A) the experimenters do not know which is the experimental group and which is the control group. 
B) the experimental group subjects do not know that they are in the experimental group, and the control group subjects know that they are in the control group. 
C) neither the subjects in the experimental or control groups nor the experimenters know which are the experimental and control groups. 
D) the control group subjects do not know that they are in the control group, and the experimental group subjects know that they are in the experimental group. 
E) the experimental and control groups are given placebos. 
A) the experimenters do not know which is the experimental group and which is the control group. 
B) the experimental group subjects do not know that they are in the experimental group, and the control group subjects know that they are in the control group. 
C) neither the subjects in the experimental or control groups nor the experimenters know which are the experimental and control groups. 
D) the control group subjects do not know that they are in the control group, and the experimental group subjects know that they are in the experimental group. 
E) the experimental and control groups are given placebos.

Among the requirements for the classical experimental design is a posttest measurement of the:

The classical experimental design:

The double-blind experiment attempts to guard against experimenter bias.

Identify and explain two advantages and two disadvantages of Web-based experiments. What kinds of topics are Web-based experiments best used for?

Many university-based social science researchers use students in their classes as research subjects when they conduct experiments. How does this affect the generalizability of the results of the research?

The Solomon four-group design utilizes how many control groups?

An instrumentation effect occurs when:

In a natural experiment, the researcher does NOT manipulate the independent variable.

The use of an experimental group allows the researcher to control for the effects of the experiment itself.

Which of the following would constitute a "natural" experiment?

The question of internal invalidity refers to:

For the most part, preexperimental designs are simplified forms of the traditional experiment.

Typically, research on the World Wide Web involves representative samples.

The experimental and control groups should be comparable on:

Researchers tend to use probability sampling to recruit subjects for the experimental and control groups.

In order to ensure that experimental and control groups are similar before the experiment begins, social scientists do all of the following EXCEPT:

The effectiveness of randomization in experimentation is affected by the number of subjects involved.

The double-blind experiment is one in which:

Human Inquiry and Science

Paradigms, Theory, and Social Research

The Ethics and Politics of Social Research

Research Design

Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement

Indexes, Scales, and Typologies

The Logic of Sampling

Survey Research

Qualitative Field Research

Unobtrusive Research

Evaluation Research

Qualitative Data Analysis

Quantitative Data Analysis

The Logic of Multivariate Analysis

Statistical Analyses

Reading and Writing Social Research

Filters

Exam 8: Experiments

Among the requirements for the classical experimental design is a posttest measurement of the:

The classical experimental design:

The double-blind experiment attempts to guard against experimenter bias.

Identify and explain two advantages and two disadvantages of Web-based experiments. What kinds of topics are Web-based experiments best used for?

Many university-based social science researchers use students in their classes as research subjects when they conduct experiments. How does this affect the generalizability of the results of the research?

The Solomon four-group design utilizes how many control groups?

An instrumentation effect occurs when:

In a natural experiment, the researcher does NOT manipulate the independent variable.

The use of an experimental group allows the researcher to control for the effects of the experiment itself.

Which of the following would constitute a "natural" experiment?

The question of internal invalidity refers to:

For the most part, preexperimental designs are simplified forms of the traditional experiment.

Typically, research on the World Wide Web involves representative samples.

The experimental and control groups should be comparable on:

Researchers tend to use probability sampling to recruit subjects for the experimental and control groups.

In order to ensure that experimental and control groups are similar before the experiment begins, social scientists do all of the following EXCEPT:

The effectiveness of randomization in experimentation is affected by the number of subjects involved.

The double-blind experiment is one in which:

Human Inquiry and Science

Paradigms, Theory, and Social Research

The Ethics and Politics of Social Research

Research Design

Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement

Indexes, Scales, and Typologies

The Logic of Sampling

Survey Research

Qualitative Field Research

Unobtrusive Research

Evaluation Research

Qualitative Data Analysis

Quantitative Data Analysis

The Logic of Multivariate Analysis

Statistical Analyses

Reading and Writing Social Research

Filters