Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary concern of experimental control in research?
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?
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?
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?
What does using subjects as their own control refer to?
What are order effects?
What are order effects?
Which of the following is NOT a method of achieving experimental control?
Which of the following is NOT a method of achieving experimental control?
What is one potential problem when using subjects as their own control?
What is one potential problem when using subjects as their own control?
What does statistical control involve in the context of experimental research?
What does statistical control involve in the context of experimental research?
What is indicated by greater degrees of control in an experiment?
What is indicated by greater degrees of control in an experiment?
Which term describes the influence the experimenter's expectations may have on the outcome of a study?
Which term describes the influence the experimenter's expectations may have on the outcome of a study?
What type of situation does an experiment commonly represent?
What type of situation does an experiment commonly represent?
Why can experimenter effects be strongest in certain studies?
Why can experimenter effects be strongest in certain studies?
How does an experimenter typically participate in the research process?
How does an experimenter typically participate in the research process?
What distinguishes experimenter expectancy from intentional bias?
What distinguishes experimenter expectancy from intentional bias?
What may potentially affect participant responses in a smoking study?
What may potentially affect participant responses in a smoking study?
Which of the following topics may have experimenter effects arising from the experimenter's place of employment?
Which of the following topics may have experimenter effects arising from the experimenter's place of employment?
What is one suggestion for reducing experimenter bias in a study?
What is one suggestion for reducing experimenter bias in a study?
Which of the following is an example of a systematic error in research?
Which of the following is an example of a systematic error in research?
What is a characteristic of double-blind procedures?
What is a characteristic of double-blind procedures?
Why might expectancy effects occur in research?
Why might expectancy effects occur in research?
What strategy can be employed to standardize experimenter behavior?
What strategy can be employed to standardize experimenter behavior?
What is one expected outcome of intelligent conflict resolution strategies?
What is one expected outcome of intelligent conflict resolution strategies?
In a conflict resolution study, participants are tasked with rating strategies from 1 to 10. This rating indicates what aspect of the strategies?
In a conflict resolution study, participants are tasked with rating strategies from 1 to 10. This rating indicates what aspect of the strategies?
What type of errors can result from obvious efforts to influence participants?
What type of errors can result from obvious efforts to influence participants?
Which procedure involves presenting the order of conditions randomly with each condition shown once before any is repeated?
Which procedure involves presenting the order of conditions randomly with each condition shown once before any is repeated?
What is a moderator variable?
What is a moderator variable?
In matching procedures, what is primarily aimed to be controlled?
In matching procedures, what is primarily aimed to be controlled?
Which of the following is NOT a component of instrumentation of response?
Which of the following is NOT a component of instrumentation of response?
How does statistical control increase the efficiency of an experiment?
How does statistical control increase the efficiency of an experiment?
What does counterbalancing specifically address in an experiment?
What does counterbalancing specifically address in an experiment?
What is the primary purpose of matching in experimental design?
What is the primary purpose of matching in experimental design?
Which process accurately represents the reverse order of conditions in counterbalancing?
Which process accurately represents the reverse order of conditions in counterbalancing?
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.
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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.
