Experimental Design Principles
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Experimental Design Principles

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Questions and Answers

Among the requirements for the classical experimental design is a posttest measurement of the:

  • Dependent variable for both the experimental and control groups (correct)
  • Dependent variable for the experimental group only
  • Independent variable for both the experimental and control groups
  • Independent variable for the experimental group only
  • Independent variable for the control group only

    • The Solomon four-group design utilizes how many control groups?

  • 4
  • 0
  • 1
  • 3
  • 2 (correct)

    • In order to ensure that experimental and control groups are similar before the experiment begins, social scientists do all of the following EXCEPT:

  • Pair subjects who are identical on relevant variables and assign one to the control group and one to the experimental group
  • Create groups that match subjects on relevant variables
  • Put all subjects who are similar on relevant variables in the same group (correct)
  • Randomly assign subjects to the experimental and control groups
  • Create groups that are equivalent in terms of their averages on some relevant variables

    • The double-blind experiment is one in which:

    <p>Neither the subjects in the experimental or control groups nor the experimenters know which are the experimental and control groups</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A friend of yours, a senior, took the Graduate Record Exam in September and scored in the 99th percentile. In February, your friend took the same exam over again. This time your friend scored in the 90th percentile. As a research methods student, you told your friend that his/her lowered score was most likely due to:

    <p>Statistical regression</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following experimental designs has the least explanatory power compared with the others?

    <p>One-shot case study</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An instrumentation effect occurs when:

    <p>The measurement instrument is changed from the pretest to the posttest</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The experimental and control groups should be comparable on:

    <p>Variables that are likely to be related to the dependent variable under study</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The classical experimental design:

    <p>Helps guard against the sources of internal invalidity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Experiments are especially appropriate for research projects involving all of the following EXCEPT:

    <p>Descriptive research</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Without randomly assigning subjects, a researcher administers the experimental stimulus to the experimental group and then measures the dependent variable in both the experimental and control groups. This design is known as the:

    <p>Static-group comparison</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The question of internal invalidity refers to:

    <p>Whether the experimental stimulus really affected the dependent variable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following would constitute a 'natural' experiment?

    <p>Doing a comparative analysis of families that choose to stay and those that choose to move out of a racially changing neighborhood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the biggest weakness of the use of laboratory experiments in social research?

    <p>The laboratory setting is artificial, so social processes may not work the same outside it</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Many university-based social science researchers use students in their classes as research subjects when they conduct experiments. How does this affect the generalizability of the results of the research?

    <p>College students aren't representative of the population as a whole, so using this sample decreases the generalizability of the results</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In Professor John's three-week experiment, the control group has realized that the experimental group is being exposed to lavish lunches as part of the experiment, while they are stuck with plain microwaved meals. In protest, they have decided to stop full participation. Which form of internal invalidity does Professor John have to worry about?

    <p>Demoralization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Preexperimental designs:

    <p>Are the weakest experimental designs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Solomon four-group design:

    <p>Combines the classical experimental design with the posttest-only control group design</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The difference between the experimental and control group should be:

    <p>That the experimental group receives the independent variable and the control group does not</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An experiment examines the effect of the:

    <p>Independent variable on the dependent variable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    You were asked to participate in an experiment to test the effectiveness of review sessions on exam grades. As a research methods student, you concluded that you had been assigned to the control group because you simply took the scheduled exams. Since you were in the control group you simply gave up and quit studying. This exemplifies:

    <p>Demoralization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Kyo is looking to perform a quick research study to determine the effects of a documentary about domestic violence on people's perceptions of violence. His experiment consists of administering a brief survey to a group, having them watch a movie, then surveying them as they leave to determine if any change occurred. What kind of design is Kyo utilizing?

    <p>One-group pretest-posttest</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Jimmy's experiment requires him to tell subjects that they will be working in pairs to solve a problem when in reality he does not care about problem-solving. Jimmy is really observing the nonverbal communication between two people who do not know each other. Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning Jimmy's research?

    <p>Jimmy must tell the subjects that he plans to observe their nonverbal communications</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Maria conducted an experiment to determine whether showing college students a video about the origins of racial prejudice decreases their level of prejudice. She gave the experimental group a pretest to measure their level of prejudice, showed them the film, and then gave them a posttest to again measure their level of prejudice. The control group saw a wildlife film and took the pretest and posttest. The results of the study showed that watching the video about the origins of racial prejudice decreased the prejudice of the experimental group compared to the control group. What might be a source of external invalidity for Maria's study?

    <p>The pretest might have sensitized the experimental group members to their bias, so they were more impacted by the film</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a type of preexperimental research design?

    <p>Classical experimental design</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a natural experiment, the researcher does NOT manipulate the independent variable.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The use of an experimental group allows the researcher to control for the effects of the experiment itself.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    It has been suggested that within a large enough experiment and with truly randomized assignment to experimental and control groups, a pretest is unnecessary.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The effectiveness of randomization in experimentation is affected by the number of subjects involved.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    For the most part, preexperimental designs are simplified forms of the traditional experiment.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Researchers tend to use probability sampling to recruit subjects for the experimental and control groups.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The double-blind experiment attempts to guard against experimenter bias.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Because experiments focus on determining causation, they are better suited to descriptive purposes rather than explanatory purposes.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A fully representative sample is not as essential in experimental research, because we are measuring effects on the individual, not the individual themselves.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Typically, research on the World Wide Web involves representative samples.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Experimental Design Fundamentals

    • Classical experimental design requires posttest measurement of the dependent variable for both experimental and control groups.
    • Solomon four-group design employs two control groups, increasing robustness in experimental conditions.
    • Ensuring similarity in experimental and control groups typically involves paired subjects or random assignment; grouping similar subjects together is not standard practice.

    Double-Blind Procedures and Effects

    • In a double-blind experiment, neither subjects nor experimenters know group assignments, minimizing bias.
    • A lowered score after retaking the Graduate Record Exam suggests statistical regression, illustrating natural variations in performance.
    • Laboratory experiments face limitations due to their artificial settings, potentially impacting social processes.

    Internal Validity and Experimental Limitations

    • Internal invalidity concerns whether the experimental stimulus truly influenced the dependent variable.
    • Demoralization occurs when control group members drop participation due to perceived inequalities.
    • Preexperimental designs are considered the weakest and lack rigor in establishing causal inferences.

    Natural Experiments and Observational Studies

    • "Natural" experiments involve real-world comparisons, like analyzing families' choices in changing neighborhoods, without researcher manipulation of variables.
    • The false assignment of control subjects affects generalizability; college students often do not represent wider populations.

    Research Design Considerations

    • The Solomon four-group design integrates elements of both classical and posttest-only control group designs for enhanced credibility.
    • Measurement issue—instrumentation effects arise from changes in measuring tools between pretests and posttests.
    • Researchers generally utilize non-probability sampling methods for subject recruitment in experiments.

    Ethical Considerations and Participant Awareness

    • Deceptive practices in research must balance potential harm against the value of findings; subjects should be aware if observations are being conducted.
    • Watching films about sensitive topics can desensitize or change participants’ attitudes, thus affecting study outcomes.

    Representativeness and Sampling methods

    • Pretests may sensitize respondents, altering their responses in subsequent evaluations, leading to biased results.
    • Probability sampling is not always employed in experimental subjects, which can limit generalizability.
    • Randomization in experiments effectively controls for confounding variables, particularly in larger samples.

    Conclusion on Experimental Research

    • Experiments are generally structured to ascertain causal relationships rather than descriptively analyze phenomena.
    • Significant findings from experiments are easier to replicate when participant samples are appropriately randomized and sufficiently large.

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    Description

    This quiz covers fundamental concepts in experimental design, including classical and Solomon four-group design methodologies. It also explores double-blind procedures, internal validity, and the inherent limitations of laboratory experiments. Test your understanding of how to minimize bias and assess the validity of experimental outcomes.

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