Research Methods: Experimental Designs (Topic 4)

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Questions and Answers

What is the main characteristic of a within-subjects design?

Each participant experiences multiple conditions. (correct)

Participants are randomly assigned to conditions.

Participants are selected to create equivalency.

Each participant experiences only one condition.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of a between-subjects design?

Dependability of treatment effects

Effects of repeated testing

Need for fewer participants

Equivalency is less assured (correct)

What do control groups help to determine in an experiment?

The effects of the independent variable

The need for random assignment

The dependability of treatment effects

The standard value of dependent variables (correct)

In a nonequivalent control group design, how are participants selected?

Nonequivalently from different populations Signup and view all the answers

What is a major advantage of a within-subjects design?

Lowers the number of participants needed Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main advantages of a between-subjects design?

Minimizes effects of testing Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes participants that are not exposed to the experimental manipulation?

Control group Signup and view all the answers

What defines an experimental condition in research design?

Participants are subjected to treatment conditions Signup and view all the answers

What is a major distinction between lab and field experiments?

Field research typically employs a real-life setting. Signup and view all the answers

Which advantage is unique to lab experiments?

Variables can be precisely measured. Signup and view all the answers

What is one disadvantage of conducting field experiments?

Variables are less precisely measured. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an advantage of lab experiments?

They allow for the control of other explanations of behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation associated with field experiments?

Participants may decline to participate. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the Solomon Four-Group design?

It involves four different groups for comparison. Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason for conducting a pretest in experiments?

To establish a baseline for comparison. Signup and view all the answers

Which method can be used to handle baseline differences in groups?

Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following research designs should be avoided due to its limitations?

One-group posttest only design. Signup and view all the answers

In a control experiment with control condition, what happens to participants in CONDITION II?

They undergo pretest but do not receive treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant drawback of the one-group pretest-posttest design?

It may be influenced by external factors instead of treatment effects. Signup and view all the answers

What does the analysis of difference scores aim to address in experimental designs?

Equivalence of treatment groups. Signup and view all the answers

Which option correctly identifies a comparison that can be made in the Solomon Four-Group design?

Effect of treatment vs. control across groups. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of within-subjects design?

Each participant serves in each treatment condition. Signup and view all the answers

What does causal inference allow researchers to do?

Make statements about cause-effect relationships. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a condition to infer causation?

Statistical significance Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the caveats to determining causality?

It can only be stated that cause-effect relationships have NOT been falsified. Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of experimental designs?

Manipulation and random assignment Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of random sampling in research?

To select a representative group from an entire population Signup and view all the answers

What does ANOVA primarily compare?

Two or more means simultaneously. Signup and view all the answers

What technique helps to avoid bias in participant assignment to experimental conditions?

Random assignment Signup and view all the answers

Which type of ANOVA employs only one independent variable?

One-factor ANOVA Signup and view all the answers

What can be expected when using correlational methods for inferring causal relationships?

Correlational methods can only indicate a linear relationship. Signup and view all the answers

In an experimental design, what is the significance of differences observed between groups after the introduction of the independent variable (IV)?

They may be due to chance fluctuations or the effect of the IV. Signup and view all the answers

What statistical procedure is an extension of the t-test?

ANOVA Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes random assignment in an experimental research design?

Ensuring every participant has a chance to be placed in different groups Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a control experiment?

One group receives treatment while another does not Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes random sampling?

Each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected Signup and view all the answers

Why is randomization important in experimental research?

It increases the level of control over the study's variables. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Experimental Research Designs

Experiments involve manipulating variables and require random assignment to groups.
High control over various elements of the study is characteristic of experimental designs.

Random Sampling and Random Assignment

Random sampling ensures every population member has an equal chance of being selected; rare in applied research.
Random assignment equalizes groups by giving each sample member an equal chance for group assignment, minimizing bias.

Types of Experimental Designs

Control experiments compare outcomes of an experimental group and a control group, assessing effect through pretest and posttest data.
Solomon Four-Group design allows comparison of different treatment and pretest effects; requires a larger participant pool.

Pretest Importance and Handling Differences

Pretests promote group equivalence, establish baseline, and evaluate testing effects.
Address baseline differences using difference scores, ANCOVA, or partial correlations.

Research Designs to Avoid

One-group designs with no control group or proper randomization are less reliable due to potential biases and lack of equivalent control.

Within-Subjects vs. Between-Subjects Designs

Within-subjects design allows each participant to experience all conditions, ensuring equivalence but risking testing effects and treatment dependability.
Between-subjects design minimizes testing effects as each participant experiences only one condition, yet it requires more participants.

Key Experimental Concepts

Control involves ruling out threats from extraneous variables, ensuring clarity on treatment effects.
Control group participants are not exposed to the treatment for comparison with experimental group participants.

Causal Inferences

Experimental designs enable causal inferences due to manipulation of variables.
Three conditions for causal inference: contiguity, temporal precedence, and constant conjunction must be met.
Causation assessment requires the use of manipulation; correlation alone does not imply causation.

Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)

ANOVA compares two or more means simultaneously and extends the t-test framework.
Simple ANOVA involves one independent variable, allowing for detailed examination of treatment effects.

Lab vs. Field Experiments

Lab experiments offer high control and precision but may lack realism; replicated conditions are a major advantage.
Field experiments provide realistic settings, generalizability of results, and insights into complex behavior, but measurement precision is often lower.

Experiment Design Considerations

Lab settings offer control advantages but may not accurately reflect natural environments; some phenomena may be difficult to study in labs.
Field experiments may face challenges with access and measurement but allow for exploration of behavior in real-life contexts.

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Description

Explore the key concepts of experimental research designs in this quiz. Understand how variable manipulation and random assignment play crucial roles in the methodology. Get ready to test your knowledge of experimental setups and their implications in research.