Deck 10: Experimental Designs

Question 1

What serves as the control in single subject research?

A)Matched participants serve as the control
B)The target behavior serves as the control
C)The comparison condition serves as the control
D)Each participant serves as his or her own control

Answer 1

D

Question 2

An experiment is conducted in a middle school.Students in the experiment group receive special tutoring in math while students in the control group participate in a regular math class.On the math achievement test at the end of the year,the students in the special tutoring group score higher on math skills than the students in the regular math class.A parent complains about the ethics of this experiment.What ethical issue would the parent likely raise?

A)The math skills test is inadequate.
B)The students in the regular math class are disadvantaged because they did not have tutor.
C)The experiment did not receive approval from school officials.
D)The random assignment of students to groups was unethical.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Define what is meant by a threat to internal validity.

Answer 3

A threat to internal validity is a problem in drawing correct about the cause-and-effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables.In an experiment,internal validity is concerned with whether relationship between the presumed treatment variable and the outcome reflects a causal relationship.

Question 4

In an experiment,the researcher randomly assigns students who have been caught smoking inside the high school to three different classes of a health class in which the teacher will address the issues of adolescent smoking.One advantage of this experimental procedure is

A)any variability in student characteristics will be equated among the classes.
B)the students who are caught smoking will be required to take a health class.
C)variables,such as the type of adolescent smoker,will be controlled in the study.
D)the students will be randomly assigned to the three classes and equally distributed.

Question 5

You read a journal article in which the researcher compares two existing third grade classrooms,one using a new behavioral management approach and the other using the usual approach.The researcher did not randomly assign the approach.What type of design is this study?

A)Quasi-experimental design
B)Dual group design
C)Experimental design
D)Within-group design

Question 6

Which of the following is the best indicator of higher quality in an experiment?

A)The researcher reported that the effect of the intervention was strong and was statistically significant.
B)The researcher selects measures and instruments based on availability to collect data for the experiment.
C)All participants receive the intervention,even the control group on a "wait list" after the experiment concludes.
D)The researcher determines the number individuals to be in each group based their need for the intervention.

Question 7

The following are procedures undertaken before an experimental study begins EXCEPT

A)testing students on a pretest over the material.
B)matching students to both the control and experimental groups.
C)selecting a group of homogeneous students on select characteristics.
D)statistically controlling for covariates that may influence the outcome.

Question 8

Define what is meant by a threat to external validity.

Question 9

In a single subject design,what is the best strategy for demonstrating external validity?

A)Ensuring random assignment to the intervention
B)Replicating across multiple participants and studies
C)Measuring the baseline behavior
D)Using statistical techniques to evaluate intervention effect

Question 10

You are conducting an experiment with several school districts to identify if district goal setting as a treatment influences the outcome of high student achievement in the districts.Your experimental unit of analysis would be

A)an organization.
B)the school districts.
C)schools in the school districts.
D)students in the school districts.

Question 11

Why are groups compared in an experiment?

A)Because they differ in important characteristics
B)To isolate whether the treatment affects the outcome
C)To identify if the groups statistically differ
D)To eliminate whether groups have different experiences

Question 12

A researcher finds out in an experimental study that a special program on binge drinking lowers the use of alcohol in the residential dormitories of a small college in the Midwest.Excited about the results,the investigator draws conclusions in the research report for use of this program in a nearby university.What potential threat to validity exists in this experiment?

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

Question 13

Which one of the following is a characteristic of an experiment?

A)Participants self-assign into the intervention or control
B)Allow a deep understanding of the participants' experiences
C)Allow researchers to compare groups
D)Have no threats to validity

Question 14

A researcher is examining obesity in elementary school students by selecting a group of students who are medically obese and another group at a healthy weight.The independent variable will be fruit and vegetable intake over the past two years.What is the best description of the design of this study?

A)Experimental
B)Causal-comparative
C)Quasi-experimental
D)Two-group single subject

Question 15

Which one of the following is a characteristic of causal comparative research?

A)The researcher is manipulating the treatment condition.
B)The researcher can establish probable cause and effect.
C)The researcher cannot apply it practically in educational settings.
D)The researcher can determine an association between groups and the outcome.