Experimental Control and Validity Issues (Topic 5)
32 Questions
1 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary concern of experimental control in research?

  • Ruling out threats to research validity (correct)
  • Maximizing participant enjoyment
  • Increasing the sample size
  • Enhancing data collection methods
  • Which strategy controls for both known and unknown effects?

  • Random assignment to groups (correct)
  • Using nuisance variables
  • Statistical control
  • Matching participants
  • What is an extraneous variable?

  • The same as the dependent variable
  • A variable that is the main focus of the experiment
  • An independent variable manipulated by the researcher
  • A variable that can affect the results if not controlled (correct)
  • What does using subjects as their own control refer to?

    <p>Allowing each participant to experience every experimental condition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are order effects?

    <p>Changes in performance based on the sequence of conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a method of achieving experimental control?

    <p>Using large sample sizes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one potential problem when using subjects as their own control?

    <p>Practice effects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does statistical control involve in the context of experimental research?

    <p>Statistically adjusting for differences among participants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is indicated by greater degrees of control in an experiment?

    <p>Increased levels of internal validity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term describes the influence the experimenter's expectations may have on the outcome of a study?

    <p>Experimenter expectancy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of situation does an experiment commonly represent?

    <p>A social interaction among participants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why can experimenter effects be strongest in certain studies?

    <p>The experimenter's role influences the experimental task</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does an experimenter typically participate in the research process?

    <p>As an active influencer with expectations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes experimenter expectancy from intentional bias?

    <p>Expectancy is always unconscious</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What may potentially affect participant responses in a smoking study?

    <p>The experimenter's appearance as a non-smoker</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following topics may have experimenter effects arising from the experimenter's place of employment?

    <p>Judgments of organizational commitment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one suggestion for reducing experimenter bias in a study?

    <p>Involving more than one experimenter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a systematic error in research?

    <p>Recording data incorrectly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of double-blind procedures?

    <p>Neither the experimenter nor the participants know the expected outcomes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might expectancy effects occur in research?

    <p>Nonverbal communications from the experimenter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What strategy can be employed to standardize experimenter behavior?

    <p>Standardizing instructions and procedures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one expected outcome of intelligent conflict resolution strategies?

    <p>Defusing the conflict</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a conflict resolution study, participants are tasked with rating strategies from 1 to 10. This rating indicates what aspect of the strategies?

    <p>Their desirability for resolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of errors can result from obvious efforts to influence participants?

    <p>Experimenter bias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which procedure involves presenting the order of conditions randomly with each condition shown once before any is repeated?

    <p>Block Randomization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a moderator variable?

    <p>A variable that influences the relationship between the independent and dependent variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In matching procedures, what is primarily aimed to be controlled?

    <p>Known effects related to measured variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a component of instrumentation of response?

    <p>Subjective evaluation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does statistical control increase the efficiency of an experiment?

    <p>By increasing the sample size to enhance statistical power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does counterbalancing specifically address in an experiment?

    <p>Order effects in the presentation of conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of matching in experimental design?

    <p>To create equivalent groups in the absence of random assignment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process accurately represents the reverse order of conditions in counterbalancing?

    <p>ABC CBA</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Experimental Control

    • Central to research is the issue of validity, addressing potential threats to its integrity.
    • Control refers to strategies used to eliminate or mitigate threats to research validity.

    Threats to Validity

    • Identifying threats is vital for ensuring robust experimental outcomes.
    • Common threats include extraneous variables which can confound results.

    Extraneous Variables

    • These are variables not directly under investigation that can affect dependent variables, complicating results.

    Strategies for Control

    • Random Assignment: Ensures no systematic differences between groups, controlling for both known and unknown effects.
    • Subject as Own Control: Participants experience all conditions, reducing variability related to individual differences.
    • Instrumentation: Employ objective, standardized, and reliable measurement tools for assessment.
    • Matching: Participants matched on relevant characteristics to ensure equivalent groups when random assignment isn't feasible.
    • Building Nuisance Variables: Incorporate potential nuisance variables into the design to account for their effects.
    • Statistical Control: Utilize statistical techniques like ANCOVA, increase sample size, or the number of trials to enhance analysis power.

    Types of Design Control

    • Block Randomization: The random order of conditions with each condition presented once before repetition, controlling for order and sequence effects.
    • Counterbalancing: Conditions presented in different orders to control for order effects, can be full (complete) or partial (incomplete).

    Potential Issues with Subject Controls

    • Practice Effects: Skills may improve over time due to repeated exposure to tasks.
    • Order Effects: Performance alteration due to the sequence in which conditions are presented.
    • Sequence Effects: Interactions among conditions can influence outcomes.

    Experimenter Effects

    • Interactions between experimenter and participants can skew results due to role expectations.
    • Researchers may unconsciously influence participant responses through nonverbal cues or social behaviors.

    Experimenter Expectancy

    • Researchers' expectations surrounding outcomes may unintentionally bias results, distinct from intentional manipulation.
    • Examples include perceived biases based on the researcher's background, such as being a member of the organization under study.

    Reducing Experimenter Bias

    • Include multiple experimenters in study design to reduce individual biases.
    • Standardize experimenter interactions with participants through consistent procedures and an unchanged environment.
    • Implement double-blind protocols to prevent both participants and experimenters from knowing the expected outcomes, minimizing bias.

    Conclusion

    • Enhanced control mechanisms lead to improved internal validity of research studies, resulting in more reliable and credible outcomes.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Experimental Control PDF

    Description

    This quiz focuses on the importance of experimental control in research, specifically addressing issues of validity and threats to it. Explore strategies to mitigate extraneous variables and ensure robust experimental outcomes through various control techniques.

    More Like This

    Experimental Control Methods
    24 questions

    Experimental Control Methods

    AccessiblePrehistoricArt avatar
    AccessiblePrehistoricArt
    Experimental Control in Psychology
    32 questions
    Psychology Quasi-Experimental Designs
    15 questions
    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Browser