Question 1

The presence of a control group enables researchers to evaluate threats to internal validity. However, one threat that is most likely to still influence results to an unknown degree, even when a control group is used, is

Accepted Answer

A) history 
B) maturation 
C) instrumentation 
D) testing

Question 2

When a confound exists,

Accepted Answer

A) some uncontrolled factor covaries with the independent variable 
B) it cannot be determined whether the confounding variable or the independent 1()variable is causing the results to occur 
C) there will be at least two different ways of interpreting the results 
D) all of the above

Question 3

During the course of an experimental that lasts over a period of time, normal developmental changes may occur that can affect the results of the study independent of the treatment program being evaluated. This threat to internal validity is called

Accepted Answer

A) history 
B) regression 
C) testing 
D) maturation

Question 4

In study described in the previous item, confidence in program effectiveness would be highest if a control group, which also started with a pretest score of 80, had a posttest score of

Accepted Answer

A) 80 
B) 70 
C) 90 
D) 75

Question 5

Which of the following is true about external validity?

Accepted Answer

A) researchers consider it less important, in the long run, than internal validity 
B) it can only accumulate over time, with lots of research 
C) both alternatives a. and b. are true 
D) none of the above

Question 6

Conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn in studies involving

Accepted Answer

A) instructional variables 
B) task variables 
C) situational variables 
D) all of the above

Question 7

A researcher wants to know if children prefer cereal that has colors in it. Preschoolers compare plain-colored Wheatios with multicolored Rice Chrunchios. The children preferred the latter. What can be concluded?

Accepted Answer

A) children prefer colored cereal 
B) whether the cereal is composed of wheat or rice is the independent variable 
C) cereal type is confounded with cereal color 
D) cereal color is the dependent variable

Question 8

Those who argue that psychologists know a great deal about college sophomores but very little about other groups are criticizing the ______ validity of psychological research.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

For any experiment investigating the effect of X on Y,

Accepted Answer

A) X is the independent variable 
B) Y is the dependent variable 
C) both alternatives a. and b. 
D) none of the above

Question 10

Conclusions about cause and effect cannot be drawn in studies involving

Accepted Answer

A) manipulated variables 
B) task variables 
C) situational variables 
D) subject

Question 11

What do all experiments have in common?

Accepted Answer

A) there are at least two different ways in which participants are treated 
B) at least one independent variable will be an instructional variable 
C) there must be at least two dependent measures 
D) there must be a control group

Question 12

Rats learning a maze are tested after varying degrees of food deprivation. Some run the maze after 4 hours without food, others after 8 hours, and others after 12 hours deprivation. In this study,

Accepted Answer

A) food deprivation is the manipulated independent variable 
B) the rats are a subject variable 
C) the independent variable is a task variable 
D) food deprivation is the dependent variable

Question 13

In his famous 1938 text, the so-called "Columbia bible," R. S. Woodworth

Accepted Answer

A) argued that experimental and correlational studies were not fundamentally different 
B) distinguished between independent and dependent variables in experiments 
C) dismissed correlational research as not scientific 
D) showed a preference for correlational over experimental research

Question 14

Because of the _______ phenomenon, any extreme score on a pretest is almost certain to be followed by a less extreme score on the posttest.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

Another term for "uncontrolled extraneous variable" is

Accepted Answer

A) confounding variable 
B) independent variable 
C) dependent variable 
D) subject variable

Question 16

After taking a special computerized introductory sociology course, students do twice as well on the posttest as they did on the pretest. The researcher suspects the pretest alerted students to what was to come, however. This threat to internal validity is called

Accepted Answer

A) instrumentation 
B) testing 
C) regression to the mean 
D) selection

Question 17

In the Bobo study by Bandura, Ross, and Ross (1963), the manipulated independent variable was

Accepted Answer

A) the type of modeling experience given to children 
B) whether the children exposed to the models were male or female 
C) the frustration experienced by the children when told the attractive toys were being reserved for others 
D) whether the Bobo doll was adult-sized or child-sized

Question 18

A researcher tests four different groups of participants. Each group is given a different dosage of caffeine, and reaction time is measured for each subject. Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A) dosage level is the dependent variable 
B) reaction time is an independent variable 
C) the independent variable has four levels 
D) the independent variable is a subject variable

Question 19

To see if the time of day has an effect on helping behavior, experimenters ask passersby for directions in New York's Central Park, either at 8:00 am or 8:00 pm. Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A) this is an example of field research that lacks an independent variable 
B) this is a study with two independent variables (the times) 
C) this is an example of a field experiment 
D) the independent variable is an instructional variable

Question 20

Sometimes, pretest and posttest measures are records taken by observers who improve their skills with practice. In this case, pretest-posttest changes could be due to program effectiveness or to the threat to internal validity called

Accepted Answer

A) instrumentation 
B) testing 
C) attrition 
D) maturation

Exam 5: Introduction to Experimental Research