Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The process of isolating causes involves identifying and separating the specific factors that contribute to a particular outcome or event. This can be done through experimentation, where researchers manipulate variables to determine their effect on the outcome of interest.

Causation plays a crucial role in experimentation as it allows researchers to establish a direct relationship between the manipulated variables and the observed outcomes. By isolating causes, researchers can determine which factors are responsible for producing a certain effect, and can therefore make more accurate predictions and explanations about the phenomena they are studying.

In experimental design, causation is often established through the use of control groups, random assignment, and careful manipulation of variables. By controlling for extraneous factors and systematically varying the independent variables, researchers can confidently attribute any observed changes in the dependent variable to the manipulated causes.

Overall, the process of isolating causes and establishing causation in experimentation is essential for advancing scientific knowledge and understanding the relationships between different variables. It allows researchers to make informed conclusions about the factors that influence specific outcomes, and provides a foundation for developing effective interventions and solutions in various fields of study.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Statistical conclusion validity refers to the degree to which the conclusions drawn from a statistical analysis are accurate and reliable. It is important because it ensures that the results of a study are not due to chance or random variability, but rather reflect true differences or relationships in the population being studied. This is crucial for making informed decisions and drawing accurate conclusions based on research findings. Without statistical conclusion validity, there is a risk of drawing incorrect conclusions or making faulty decisions, which can have serious implications in various fields such as healthcare, education, and business. Therefore, ensuring statistical conclusion validity is essential for producing trustworthy and credible research results.

Question 4

______ 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.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

______ can be considered a type of external validity.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

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?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

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 ______.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

______ involves changes that are more apparent than real.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

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?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

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.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

The first potential threat to internal validity is history.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

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.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

The matching process unintentionally creates equivalence.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The ______ allows you to assume pretest equivalence.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

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.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 6: Eliminating Rival Plausible Explanations: the Experiment

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

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

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

______ 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.

______ can be considered a type of external validity.

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?

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 ______.

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

______ involves changes that are more apparent than real.

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

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?

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.

The first potential threat to internal validity is history.

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.

The matching process unintentionally creates equivalence.

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

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

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

The ______ allows you to assume pretest equivalence.

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.