Scientific Method Basics

Which of the following is a key benefit of using the scientific method in research?

Following data collection, what is the next step a scientist should take according to the scientific method?

Eric wants to test if Mega-Study energy drink enhances test performance. What is the most appropriate next step for him after forming his hypothesis?

Why is relying solely on anecdotal evidence insufficient for drawing scientific conclusions regarding the effectiveness of Mega-Study energy drink?

In Eric's experiment, what would be the independent variable if he is testing the effect of Mega-Study energy drinks on test scores?

What is the dependent variable in Eric's experiment testing the impact of Mega-Study energy drink?

Why is Eric's initial approach of only using his own experience with Mega-Study energy drink unconvincing from a scientific standpoint?

What is the primary purpose of a control group in an experiment?

In general, which group in an experiment does not receive the experimental treatment or manipulation of the independent variable?

Which experimental design ensures the greatest similarity between experimental groups?

What is a significant problem associated with within-participants experimental designs?

What must between-participants designs consider to ensure the results of the experiment are reliable?

To test the effects of a new studying method, participants complete a pre-test, are taught the method, then complete a post-test. Which of the following is NOT a potential problem?

If Eric selected all of his experimental group participants from a psychology class and all of his control subjects from a biology class, what is a possible issue?

Which of the following experiments would be least vulnerable to practice effects?

What is the best approach to minimizing any confounding variables influencing Eric's results?

What is the potential problem with using very strict criteria to select participants, such as only blonde-haired, Dutch females with a 93% high school average or higher?

What is a sample in the context of research?

If the desired population for Eric's experiment is all undergraduate students, which sampling technique is most appropriate?

Why is random assignment of participants to experimental groups an important step in experimental design?

What is the placebo effect?

In Eric's study, what might lead to participant bias?

How do scientists design experiments, given that participants may have participant bias?

What is the purpose of implementing blinding in experimental design?

If an experimenter unintentionally treated the study group better than the control group, what is this most likely an example of?

How can one reduce experimenter bias in a study?

What is minimized in a double-blind experiment?

If an experiment is conducted 'blind', what do the participants NOT know?

What are the first four steps of the scientific method Eric completed in his energy drink experiment?

Darren wants to know if eating Hawaiian pizza before a program selection due date correlates with if the applicant applies for that program. Eating Hawaiian pizza: selected program is the:

Anvita wants to determine the effect of a drink, Vova-Vola, on hyperactivity. Which of the following would produce the best results?

Why does experimenter bias threaten quality research?

Which of the following survey questions may sway the participant?

Which of the following is NOT a check in place to address or control limitations of scientific research?

A measure is considered valid when it:

Researchers wish to conduct a double-blind experiment to determine the effectiveness of a weight loss drug. Which of the following would improve the integrity of the experiment?

Why is it important for research to be constantly revised?

What is a key difference between a sample and a population?

If you wish to run a study to see how undergraduate university students feel about their level of physical activity, and have only students currently attending classes, what is the correct sampling? (All undergraduate student body)

Why is it important to select all participants from the experimental group from the same place?

Why is skepticism considered an important trait for scientists?

In a study examining the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance, what would be an appropriate hypothesis?

What is the primary issue with relying solely on anecdotal evidence to support a hypothesis?

Which action exemplifies manipulating an independent variable in an experiment?

Why is it essential to have minimal differences between the experimental and control groups, aside from the independent variable?

What challenge do researchers face when using a within-participants design?

What is the primary concern when using strict selection criteria for participants in a study?

How does random assignment help to ensure the validity of experimental results?

Why is it important to address the placebo effect in experimental design?

How might participant expectations influence the outcome of an experiment?

What is the primary goal of blinding participants in an experiment?

How do double-blind experiments minimize both experimenter bias and participant bias?

In a study examining the impact of a new teaching method, what constitutes a potential confounding variable?

A researcher finds a strong correlation between ice cream sales and crime rates. What is the most appropriate conclusion?

What is the primary distinction between a sample and a population in research?

If a researcher wants to study the effects of a new drug on all adults over 65 in a city, but can only recruit participants from a local community center, what type of sampling is this?

Why is it important to use random sampling when selecting participants for a study?

What is the purpose of a control group receiving a placebo in a drug trial?

In an experiment where participants know they are being observed, what potential bias might affect the results?

Why would a scientist choose to conduct an experiment in a double-blind manner?

What is the main reason that anecdotal evidence is considered unconvincing in science?

In the context of experimental design, what is a 'treatment group'?

What is the primary benefit of using a between-participants design in an experiment?

Why is it important to structure experiments in a way that minimizes the number of confounding variables?

In Eric's experiment on the impact of energy drinks, what would be the next step in the scientific method after he collects the data?

Why is it important to include an equal number of participants in the control group?

Anvita wants to do a double-blind experiment on a new weight loss drug. What is meant by double-blind?

What is most likely to happen if a scientist is not skeptical when examining research?

What effect may practice effects have on a within-participants design?

What are the main limitations of strict selection criteria?

What is a suitable strategy for an experimenter to use to minimize subject bias?

In a biological experiment, different amounts of enzyme are added to cell cultures. What is the independent variable?

An independent variable:

Compared to a sample, a population

Which of the following is NOT required for a strong experiment?

What is 'experimenter bias'?

Which of the following is required for random sampling?