Deck 6: Eliminating Rival Plausible Explanations: the Experiment

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT one of the three criteria you need to meet before we can say an event or person caused an effect?

A) ecological validity
B) elimination of rival plausible explanations
C) temporal precedence
D) association or relationship

Answer 1

A

Question 2

______ requires us to show that the thing we think is a cause occurred prior to any changes or differences that we think might have been produced by it.

A) Ecological validity
B) Elimination of rival plausible explanations
C) Temporal precedence
D) Association or relationship

Answer 2

C

Question 3

______ in research show that changes in the suggested cause co-varies in some reliable way with its alleged effect.

A) Ecological validity
B) Elimination of rival plausible explanations
C) Temporal precedence
D) Associations or relationships

Answer 3

D

Question 4

To ensure that the cause is responsible for changes in the dependent measure and not another related variable, artifact, nuisance variable, or other potential causal agent you need to engage in ______.

A) ecological validity
B) elimination of rival plausible explanations
C) temporal precedence
D) associations or relationships

Question 5

Jessica thinks her experiment was successful and the scent of the perfume she is wearing is the reason her participants have stayed to complete a second unrelated task. Which of the following is NOT necessary to see whether the perfume was the cause?

A) perspective taking
B) elimination of rival plausible explanations
C) temporal precedence
D) associations or relationships

Question 6

The ______ variable is the variable whose impact we are trying to assess, and the ______ variable is the variable we measure in order to see whether any effect has occurred.

A) independent; dependent
B) causing; dependent
C) dependent; independent
D) dependent; causing

Question 7

Jason is conducting research on how the consumption of foreign films impacts perceptions regarding immigration. In this scenario the perceptions of immigration is the ______.

A) independent variable
B) nuisance variable
C) related variable
D) dependent variable

Question 8

Selena is conducting a research study to see whether the use of Cornell notes increases exam scores in a research methods course. In this scenario Cornell notes are the ______.

A) independent variable
B) nuisance variable
C) related variable
D) dependent variable

Question 9

______ is the extent to which differences observed in the study can be unambiguously attributed to the experimental treatment itself, rather than to other factors.

A) Internal validity
B) External validity
C) Elimination of rival plausible explanations
D) Ecological validity

Question 10

In terms of internal validity in pretest/posttest designs, history refers to which of the following?

A) previous research studies
B) specific events occurring between the first and second measurements
C) participants who have previously completed the study
D) historical research context

Question 11

Jamie has been selected for a research study that involves a mock trial, prior to the actual study she takes a pretest about her familiarity with the court process. Afterward, she watches several shows about the law and reads articles about the role of the jury. What threat to internal validity might this cause?

A) regression toward the mean
B) maturation
C) testing
D) history

Question 12

Brittany is conducting a study in an elementary school. In the morning she collects data about how they feel about their teacher, she asks similar questions right before lunch and receives more negative responses. What threat to internal validity should she consider as a possible reason for this change?

A) regression toward the mean
B) maturation
C) testing
D) history

Question 13

______ are changes or improvements that result from practice or repetition of having taken similar tests/experiments.

A) Regression toward the mean
B) Pretest sensitization
C) Testing
D) Practice effects

Question 14

Regina completes a questionnaire about cervical cancer. Weeks later she takes a posttest with similar questions. Which threat to internal validity is likely impactful in this scenario.

A) regression toward the mean
B) pretest sensitization
C) testing
D) practice effects

Question 15

Shannon is a participant in a study on attitudes toward local politicians, she participated in a pretest and now is more attentive to information regarding local politics. What is this issue called?

A) regression toward the mean
B) pretest sensitization
C) testing
D) practice effects

Question 16

______ involves changes that are more apparent than real.

A) Regression toward the mean
B) Pretest sensitization
C) Testing
D) Practice effects

Question 17

The ______ group is treated identically to the ______ group in all respects except the ______ group doesn't receive the independent variable.

A) control; comparison; control
B) control; experimental; control
C) pretest; experimental; pretest
D) More information is needed

Question 18

______ occurs when two (or more) groups are equal or similar on average prior to the introduction of the independent variable.

A) Internal validity
B) Pretest equivalence
C) Statistical conclusion validity
D) Ecological validity

Question 19

______ bias threatens internal validity by making the source of the observed change more ambiguous.

A) Internal
B) Pretest
C) Statistical
D) Selection

Question 20

The ______ allows you to assume pretest equivalence.

A) matching
B) pretest equivalence
C) statistical conclusion
D) random assignment

Question 21

The ______ process intentionally creates equivalence.

A) matching
B) pretest equivalence
C) statistical conclusion
D) random assignment

Question 22

______ refers to the generalizability of results to other person's.

A) Internal validity
B) External validity
C) Statistical conclusion validity
D) Ecological validity

Question 23

Cory conducted a study asking teenagers about their views on romance. He wants to know how much his results are applicable to other teenagers. Cory is interested in how ______ his research is.

A) ecological
B) internally valid
C) generalizable
D) relatable

Question 24

______ can be considered a type of external validity.

A) Internal validity
B) Generalized validity
C) Statistical conclusion validity
D) Ecological validity

Question 25

The degree of verisimilitude (i.e., lifelikeness) of the research to the events and characteristics of real life is relevant to which type of validity.

A) internal validity
B) external validity
C) statistical conclusion validity
D) ecological validity

Question 26

All experiments must include the situation or intervention that does not need to exist in the real world.

Question 27

This variable whose impact we are trying to assess is known as the dependent variable.

Question 28

The first potential threat to internal validity is history.

Question 29

If we can assume our experimental and control groups were equal to begin with and if we use appropriate controls, high internal validity will result.

Question 30

The random assignment is achieved by letting "chance" be the sole determinant of which group.

Question 31

The matching process unintentionally creates equivalence.

Question 32

Cultural context is not necessary when interpreting meaning because human behavior occurs outside of cultural influence.

Question 33

Identify the key differences between internal and external validity and discuss how to achieve internal and external validity.

Question 34

Summarize and distinguish between the four threats to internal validity.

Question 35

Compare and contrast external validity and ecological validity.

Question 36

Summarize what it means to have statistical conclusion validity and discuss why it is important.

Question 37

Consider the process of isolating causes and discuss the role of causation in experimentation.

Question 38

Propose a research study and include information regarding the following study elements:
a. name the independent variable in this study
b. name the dependent variable in this study
c. Wwhat does it mean to say that the differences between groups are statistically significant?
d. evaluate the study's internal validity, identify what threat(s) to internal validity you believe might be present, and state how you might safeguard the study to control for those threats.
e. show that you understand the concept of external validity by identifying potential external validity concerns in this study
f. evaluate the study's ecological validity