Question 1

Which of the following is LEAST suited to providing clear evidence about a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables?

Accepted Answer

A)  Classical experimental design. 
B)  Solomon four-group design. 
C)  Posttest-only control group design. 
D)  One-shot case study. 
A)  Classical experimental design. 
B)  Solomon four-group design. 
C)  Posttest-only control group design. 
D)  One-shot case study. D

Question 2

The problem of external validity refers to the generalizability of results.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Suppose a case management program is established to reduce rehospitalization rates in a hospital and that those rates drop dramatically once the new program is established.We can conclude that:

Accepted Answer

A)  research has demonstrated an effective approach to practice. 
B)  causality cannot be inferred because time order was not established. 
C)  another event occurring during the time of the study might explain away the change. 
D)  the absence of covariation threatens the internal validity of any causal inferences. 
A)  research has demonstrated an effective approach to practice. 
B)  causality cannot be inferred because time order was not established. 
C)  another event occurring during the time of the study might explain away the change. 
D)  the absence of covariation threatens the internal validity of any causal inferences. C

Question 4

The Solomon four-group design:

Accepted Answer

A)  combines the classical experimental design with the posttest-only control group design. 
B)  combines the classical experimental design with the pretest-only control group design. 
C)  combines the classical experimental design with the static-group comparison design. 
D)  combines the static-group comparison design with the one-group pretest-posttest design. 
A)  combines the classical experimental design with the posttest-only control group design. 
B)  combines the classical experimental design with the pretest-only control group design. 
C)  combines the classical experimental design with the static-group comparison design. 
D)  combines the static-group comparison design with the one-group pretest-posttest design.

Question 5

Attrition effects are automatically controlled when participants are assigned randomly to experimental and control groups.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The one-group pretest-posttest design controls for passage of time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Random assignment to experimental and control groups controls for research reactivity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

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)  there is statistical regression to the mean. 
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)  there is statistical regression to the mean.

Question 9

Which of the following statement best describes the criteria for inferring or causality?

Accepted Answer

A)  A relationship must exist between variables. 
B)  One variable must precede the other in time. 
C)  A third variable did not cause the changes observed in the first two variables. 
D)  A relationship must exist between two variables, with the cause preceding the effect in time, and the relationship cannot be explained away by the influence of a third variable. 
A)  A relationship must exist between variables. 
B)  One variable must precede the other in time. 
C)  A third variable did not cause the changes observed in the first two variables. 
D)  A relationship must exist between two variables, with the cause preceding the effect in time, and the relationship cannot be explained away by the influence of a third variable.

Question 10

The classical experiment with random assignment of participants controls for measurement bias.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The 55-mph speed limit was introduced in the U.S.in 1973.Shortly thereafter the number of auto accidents declined.We can conclude that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the reduced speed limit caused the decline in auto accidents. 
B)  the reduced speed limit may have caused the decline in the number of auto accidents. 
C)  the reduced speed limit and the number of auto accidents are causally related. 
D)  the reduced speed limit had nothing to do with the decline in auto accidents. 
A)  the reduced speed limit caused the decline in auto accidents. 
B)  the reduced speed limit may have caused the decline in the number of auto accidents. 
C)  the reduced speed limit and the number of auto accidents are causally related. 
D)  the reduced speed limit had nothing to do with the decline in auto accidents.

Question 12

Briefly describe how a study would be particularly vulnerable to the threat of statistical regression.

Accepted Answer

A study would be particularly vulnerable

Question 13

Pre-experimental designs

Accepted Answer

A)  are insufficienor drawing causal inferences. 
B)  control for most sources of internal invalidity. 
C)  control for most sources of external invalidity. 
D)  are excellenor drawing causal inferences. 
A)  are insufficienor drawing causal inferences. 
B)  control for most sources of internal invalidity. 
C)  control for most sources of external invalidity. 
D)  are excellenor drawing causal inferences.

Question 14

Assume that you have developed a study technique that you believe will result in students scoring higher on research methods exams.You test your study technique with the design diagrammed below.
$$\begin{array} { l } 
\mathrm { R } = \text { random assignment } \
0 = \text { observation } \
\mathrm { X } = \text { stimulus } \
\begin{array} { l l l l } 
\mathrm { R } & 01 & \mathrm {| X } & 02 \
\mathrm { R } & 03 & & 04
\end{array} \
\end{array}$$ Using the diagrammed design,what predictions will you make?

Accepted Answer

A)  02 should be greater than 01. 
B)  02 should be less than 04. 
C)  04 should be greater than 03. 
D)  04 should be less than 01. 
A)  02 should be greater than 01. 
B)  02 should be less than 04. 
C)  04 should be greater than 03. 
D)  04 should be less than 01.

Question 15

Explain what is meant by internal and external validity.

Accepted Answer

Internal validity refers to the extent t

Question 16

A friend of yours,a senior,took the Graduate Record Exam in September and scored in the 99th percentile.In February your friend took the same exam over again.This time your friend scored in the 84th percentile.As a research methodology student,you told your friend that his/her lowered score was probably due to:

Accepted Answer

A)  testing. 
B)  history. 
C)  statistical regression. 
D)  demoralization. 
E)  compensation rivalry. 
A)  testing. 
B)  history. 
C)  statistical regression. 
D)  demoralization. 
E)  compensation rivalry.

Question 17

A school social worker administered a self-esteem test to a group of 9th graders in September.During the school year the students received intensive social work intervention designed to improve their self-esteem.In May the self-esteem test was given again and the self-esteem scores improved.Which of the following statements is true about this study?

Accepted Answer

A)  It s results show that the intervention was effective in improving self esteem. 
B)  It only controls for testing effects and statistical regression. 
C)  It only controls for history and maturation. 
D)  It does not permit any conclusive causal inferences to be made. 
A)  It s results show that the intervention was effective in improving self esteem. 
B)  It only controls for testing effects and statistical regression. 
C)  It only controls for history and maturation. 
D)  It does not permit any conclusive causal inferences to be made.

Question 18

The problem of an interaction between the testing and the experimental stimulus is handled by

Accepted Answer

A)  the Solomon four-group design. 
B)  the one-shot case study. 
C)  the classical experimental design 
D)  the static-group comparison. 
E)  a and b only are correct. 
A)  the Solomon four-group design. 
B)  the one-shot case study. 
C)  the classical experimental design 
D)  the static-group comparison. 
E)  a and b only are correct.

Question 19

Discuss how attrition can affect the validity of an experiment and describe steps to minimize attrition.

Accepted Answer

Attrition, or the loss of participants f

Question 20

A study evaluates the effectiveness of a child abuse prevention program by comparing the rate of child abuse among parents who chose to participate in the program to the rate of parents who declined participation.This design fails to control for:

Accepted Answer

A)  selection biases 
B)  correlation. 
C)  testing effects. 
D)  instrumentation changes 
A)  selection biases 
B)  correlation. 
C)  testing effects. 
D)  instrumentation changes

Exam 11: Causal Inference and Experimental Designs

Which of the following is LEAST suited to providing clear evidence about a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables?

The problem of external validity refers to the generalizability of results.

Suppose a case management program is established to reduce rehospitalization rates in a hospital and that those rates drop dramatically once the new program is established.We can conclude that:

The Solomon four-group design:

Attrition effects are automatically controlled when participants are assigned randomly to experimental and control groups.

The one-group pretest-posttest design controls for passage of time.

Random assignment to experimental and control groups controls for research reactivity.

An instrumentation effect occurs when:

Which of the following statement best describes the criteria for inferring or causality?

The classical experiment with random assignment of participants controls for measurement bias.

The 55-mph speed limit was introduced in the U.S.in 1973.Shortly thereafter the number of auto accidents declined.We can conclude that:

Briefly describe how a study would be particularly vulnerable to the threat of statistical regression.

Pre-experimental designs

Explain what is meant by internal and external validity.

The problem of an interaction between the testing and the experimental stimulus is handled by

Discuss how attrition can affect the validity of an experiment and describe steps to minimize attrition.

A study evaluates the effectiveness of a child abuse prevention program by comparing the rate of child abuse among parents who chose to participate in the program to the rate of parents who declined participation.This design fails to control for:

Why Study Research

Evidence-Based Practice

Philosophy and Theory in Social Work Research

Comparing Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods of Inquiry

The Ethics and Politics of Social Work Research

Culturally Competent Research

Problem Formulation

Conceptualization in Quantitative and Qualitative Inquiry

Measurement

Constructing Measurement Instruments

Quasi-Experimental Designs

Single-Case Evaluation Designs

Program Evaluation

Sampling

Survey Research

Analyzing Existing Data: Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

Qualitative Research: General Principles

Qualitative Research: Specific Methods

Qualitative Data Analysis

Quantitative Data Analysis

Inferential Data Analysis

Inferential Data Analysis

Writing Research Proposals and Reports

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