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

People are given a personality test and then separated into those who tend to be introverted and those who tend to be extroverted. In this study the independent variable is a _______ variable.

Accepted Answer

A)  subject 
B)  manipulated 
C)  task 
D)  controlled

Question 3

___________ validity occurs when a proper statistical analysis has been completed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ___________ validity occurs when a proper statistical...

Question 4

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 5

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 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 6

Some subjects try to solve a difficult maze while sitting in a 2x3 ft room. Others try to solve the same maze while sitting in a 10x12 ft room. The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of crowding on maze performance The larger room has natural light because of its two windows. The 2x3 ft room has no windows, so natural light is simulated with a special type of fluorescent light. Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  the independent variable is the type of maze being used 
B)  whether or not windows are present is an uncontrolled extraneous variable 
C)  assuming random assignment is used, this study clearly has internal validity 
D)  the main variable is a subject variable

Question 7

A threat to internal validity that results from some unexpected event is referred to as __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A threat to internal validity that results...

Question 8

Describe and explain the difference in the kinds of conclusions that can be drawn from studies using manipulated independent variables and studies using subject variables.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe and explain the difference in the...

Question 9

After averaging 20 points per game for her college basketball team over the first 15 games, Amanda scores 37 points one night. Because of _______, she will almost certainly score _______ points in the next game.

Accepted Answer

A)  a fatigue effect; fewer 
B)  a history effect; more 
C)  regression to the mean; more 
D)  regression to the mean; fewer

Question 10

Decisions made about how to define the dependent variable most clearly affect the ________ validity of a study.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

In a study evaluating the effects of X on Y, X is the ________, while Y is the ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a study evaluating the effects of...

Question 12

________ validity is concerned with the extent to which results generalize beyond the particular experiment being conducted.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ validity is concerned with the extent...

Question 13

In a study comparing productivity in two factories, one in an urban setting and one in a rural setting, a city wide strike may affect life for subjects in the first group but not those in the second. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  selection interacting with history 
B)  attrition 
C)  a simple selection effect 
D)  selection interacting with instrumentation

Question 14

A "freshman year" program finds that first year students are more relaxed at the end of their first semester than they were at the beginning. The Dean is excited, but the researcher suspects the change may be due to

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

The major threat to internal validity that occurs in studies that last for a significant period of time (e.g., five years) is

Accepted Answer

A)  regression 
B)  maturation 
C)  attrition 
D)  selection

Question 16

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 17

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 18

After taking the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, those scoring in the top 25% are assigned to group A and those scoring in the bottom 25% are assigned to group B. Participants in both groups are then given a series of problems to solve in a small (8x8) windowless room. Which of the following is true about anxiety in this study?

Accepted Answer

A)  it is a task variable 
B)  it is an instructional variable 
C)  it is a subject variable 
D)  it is a dependent variable

Question 19

The internal validity of a study is high when

Accepted Answer

A)  the results generalize to other situations 
B)  the results apply to other groups of people 
C)  potential confounds are properly controlled 
D)  external validity is also high (they go together)

Question 20

What is meant by a "control" group and what is its purpose? Describe how Damisch, Stoberock, and Mussweiler (2010) used a control group in their study of lucky golf balls; explain their method, results and conclusions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is meant by a "control" group...

Exam 5: Introduction to Experimental Research