Deck 5: Designing Social Experiments

Question 1

In the cookie example, what is the independent variable?

A) The temperature of the oven
B) The size of the cookie
C) Who eats cookies baked with sugar or with sweetener
D) none of these (a, b, c)

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The definition of random assignment is

A) subjects are selected at random to participate in the experiment.
B) once selected, subjects are placed at random into one of the treatment groups.
C) both a and b
D) neither a nor b

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The classical experiment design has

A) one group of subjects.
B) no pretest on the dependent variable.
C) a random assignment and a pretest and posttest on the dependent variable
D) all of these (a, b, c)

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Compared to the posttest-only control group design, what's missing in the static group design?

A) an experimental group
B) a pretest on the dependent variable
C) random assignment
D) both a and c

Question 5

The one-shot experimental design has

A) no pretest on the dependent variable.
B) no posttest on the dependent variable.
C) only one group.
D) only a and c

Question 6

Interviewer effect mostly occurs in surveys.

Question 7

The "one-shot" research design has only one group and no pretest.

Question 8

Too few response categories on a questionnaire produces coverage error.

Question 9

A focus group is a structured interview including several people.

Question 10

Survey methods of data collection include ethnography and observation.

Question 11

When developing a survey, pretests can be avoided by careful attention to all details.

Question 12

An unstructured interview is a "conversation" used to obtain general or diffuse information about a topic.

Question 13

"Response set" occurs only when respondents select "strongly disagree" to questions.

Question 14

A probe is a follow-up question used to clarify responses in structured interviews.

Question 15

Neither anonymity nor confidentiality can be assured in personal interviews.

Question 16

Compared to observational analysis, data from surveys have higher reliability but lower validity.

Question 17

A sociogram is better than descriptive notes for dense interactions and fast-paced behaviors, particularly when presented in a paper or a presentation.

Question 18

Indicators are variables, such as those provided by survey questions.

Question 19

A cover letter accompanies or precedes a mail questionnaire.

Question 20

Researchers must choose their site and select subjects when developing their observational study.

Question 21

Random selection is for identifying causal relationships between variables.

Question 22

Ethnographic research produces rich data but data are weaker in reliability.

Question 23

Mail questionnaires were used in the "open adoption" study.

Question 24

Reliability refers to whether a variable measures what it is intended to measure.

Question 25

Announced observational studies usually do not need to meet Belmont Report criteria.