Experimental Control and Validity Issues PDF

Experimental Control and Validity Issues Answers 1. What is the primary concern of experimental control in research? A. Ruling out threats to research validity B. Maximizing participant enjoyment C. Increasing the sample size D. Enhancing data collection methods Answer: Ruling out th...

Experimental Control and Validity Issues Answers 1. What is the primary concern of experimental control in research? A. Ruling out threats to research validity B. Maximizing participant enjoyment C. Increasing the sample size D. Enhancing data collection methods Answer: Ruling out threats to research validity (A) Research validity is crucial, and experimental control focuses on ruling out potential threats to it. 2. Which strategy controls for both known and unknown effects? A. Random assignment to groups B. Using nuisance variables C. Statistical control D. Matching participants Answer: Random assignment to groups (A) Random assignment to groups is effective in controlling a variety of influences on research outcomes. 3. What is an extraneous variable? A. The same as the dependent variable B. A variable that is the main focus of the experiment C. An independent variable manipulated by the researcher D. A variable that can affect the results if not controlled Answer: A variable that can affect the results if not controlled (D) Extraneous variables are those that are not of primary interest but can confound results if not managed. 4. What does using subjects as their own control refer to? A. Having one group receive multiple treatment types B. Statistically controlling for participant differences C. Allowing each participant to experience every experimental condition D. Incorporating random assignment in each condition Answer: Allowing each participant to experience every experimental condition (C) This approach minimizes variability by allowing each individual to act as their own control. 5. What are order effects? A. Influences from external social factors B. Results affected by the time of day tests are conducted C. Changes in performance based on the sequence of conditions D. Variations in results due to different experimenters Answer: Changes in performance based on the sequence of conditions (C) Order effects occur when the position of a condition impacts participant performance. 6. Which of the following is NOT a method of achieving experimental control? A. Random assignment B. Using large sample sizes C. Instrumentation of response D. Subject as own control Answer: Using large sample sizes (B) While a large sample size can improve reliability, it is not a direct method for experimental control. 7. What is one potential problem when using subjects as their own control? A. Practice effects B. Enhanced control over extraneous variables C. Elimination of chance effects D. Increased variability in results Answer: Practice effects (A) Practice effects can bias results when participants repeatedly experience conditions. 8. What does statistical control involve in the context of experimental research? A. Statistically adjusting for differences among participants B. Matching participants based on specific traits C. Ensuring all participants experience the same conditions D. Randomly assigning participants to groups Answer: Statistically adjusting for differences among participants (A) Statistical control aims to account for participant variability and confounding variables in analyses. 9. What is indicated by greater degrees of control in an experiment? A. Lower ethical standards B. Increased levels of internal validity C. Decreased reliability of results D. Higher chances of participant bias Answer: Increased levels of internal validity (B) Greater control in experimentation leads to enhanced internal validity. 10. Which term describes the influence the experimenter's expectations may have on the outcome of a study? A. Participant bias B. Experimenter expectancy C. Random variation D. Researcher influence Answer: Experimenter expectancy (B) Experimenter expectancy refers to the biases introduced by the expectations of the researcher. 11. What type of situation does an experiment commonly represent? A. A controlled laboratory setup B. A competitive environment C. A solitary task for the researcher D. A social interaction among participants Answer: A social interaction among participants (D) Experiments often involve social interactions that can influence outcomes. 12. Why can experimenter effects be strongest in certain studies? A. The experimenter has no role in the study B. The experimenter’s background is unrelated to the research topic C. There is a lack of participant involvement D. The experimenter's role influences the experimental task Answer: The experimenter's role influences the experimental task (D) When the experimenter's background relates to the study, it may strongly affect participant responses. 13. How does an experimenter typically participate in the research process? A. As a neutral observer B. As an unbiased entity C. As a facilitator with no personal interest D. As an active influencer with expectations Answer: As an active influencer with expectations (D) Experimenters often have vested interests that may influence their behavior during the study. 14. What distinguishes experimenter expectancy from intentional bias? A. Expectancy is associated with fraud B. Expectancy must be intentional to affect results C. Expectancy is unrelated to researcher interests D. Expectancy is always unconscious Answer: Expectancy is always unconscious (D) Experimenter expectancy involves subconscious communication of expectations, unlike intentional bias. 15. What may potentially affect participant responses in a smoking study? A. The time of day the experiment is conducted B. The nature of the experimental task C. The experimenter's appearance as a non-smoker D. The experimenter's casual demeanor Answer: The experimenter's appearance as a non-smoker (C) Participants' responses can be influenced by whether the experimenter appears to smoke. 16. Which of the following topics may have experimenter effects arising from the experimenter's place of employment? A. Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques B. Drug efficacy studies C. Judgments of organizational commitment D. Basic physiological measurements Answer: Judgments of organizational commitment (C) If an experimenter is employed by an organization, it can influence the outcomes related to that organization. 17. What is one suggestion for reducing experimenter bias in a study? A. Increasing the number of participants B. Involving more than one experimenter C. Using longer instructions for participants D. Allowing participants to choose their own tasks Answer: Involving more than one experimenter (B) Involving more than one experimenter can help minimize individual biases. 18. Which of the following is an example of a systematic error in research? A. Double-blind procedures B. Recording data incorrectly C. Participant misunderstanding instructions D. Using multiple experimenters Answer: Recording data incorrectly (B) Recording data incorrectly represents a systematic error in data analysis. 19. What is a characteristic of double-blind procedures? A. Neither the experimenter nor the participants know the expected outcomes B. Participants are informed about the expected outcomes C. Only the experimenter knows the hypothesis D. Both the experimenter and participants know the expected outcomes Answer: Neither the experimenter nor the participants know the expected outcomes (A) Double-blind procedures keep both parties unaware of the expected outcomes, reducing bias. 20. Why might expectancy effects occur in research? A. Nonverbal communications from the experimenter B. Participants are consciously trying to influence results C. Participants are indifferent to the research D. Experimenter instructions are overly complex Answer: Nonverbal communications from the experimenter (A) Nonverbal communications can lead to expectancy effects by influencing participants without intent. 21. What strategy can be employed to standardize experimenter behavior? A. Reducing the number of participants B. Standardizing instructions and procedures C. Randomizing the order of participant tasks D. Allowing participants to ask clarifying questions Answer: Standardizing instructions and procedures (B) Standardizing instructions and procedures helps to ensure uniformity in experimenter interactions. 22. What is one expected outcome of intelligent conflict resolution strategies? A. Avoiding all forms of negotiations B. Defusing the conflict C. Only focusing on one resolution strategy D. Exacerbating the conflict Answer: Defusing the conflict (B) Intelligent conflict resolution strategies aim to defuse rather than exacerbate conflicts. 23. In a conflict resolution study, participants are tasked with rating strategies from 1 to 10. This rating indicates what aspect of the strategies? A. The time taken to implement them B. The likelihood of failure C. Their desirability for resolution D. The complexity of the strategies Answer: Their desirability for resolution (C) Participants rate the desirability of each proposed strategy for resolving conflicts. 24. What type of errors can result from obvious efforts to influence participants? A. Random errors in data collection B. Non-participant observations C. Experimenter bias D. The Hawthorne effect Answer: Experimenter bias (C) Obvious efforts to influence participants can lead to unintended experimenter bias. 25. Which procedure involves presenting the order of conditions randomly with each condition shown once before any is repeated? A. Counterbalancing B. Matching C. Block Randomization D. Statistical Control Answer: Block Randomization (C) Block randomization controls for both order and sequencing effects. 26. What is a moderator variable? A. A control variable that remains constant throughout the experiment B. A variable that has no effect on the outcome of the study C. A variable that is manipulated to observe its effect D. A variable that influences the relationship between the independent and dependent variables Answer: A variable that influences the relationship between the independent and dependent variables (D) A moderator variable influences the relationship between the IV and DV. 27. In matching procedures, what is primarily aimed to be controlled? A. Instrumentation reliability B. Known effects related to measured variables C. Random assignment of participants D. External validity Answer: Known effects related to measured variables (B) Matching controls for only known effects by creating equivalent groups. 28. Which of the following is NOT a component of instrumentation of response? A. Objective measurement B. Valid scoring systems C. Subjective evaluation D. Sensitive and reliable tools Answer: Subjective evaluation (C) Instrumentation emphasizes objective, sensitive, reliable, and valid measures. 29. How does statistical control increase the efficiency of an experiment? A. By using subjective measures of outcomes B. By increasing the sample size to enhance statistical power C. By ensuring random assignment is mandatory D. By eliminating all variables except for the IV Answer: By increasing the sample size to enhance statistical power (B) Increasing sample size boosts the statistical power of a design. 30. What does counterbalancing specifically address in an experiment? A. Selection bias in sample groups B. The problem of matching participants C. Order effects in the presentation of conditions D. Instrumentation reliability Answer: Order effects in the presentation of conditions (C) Counterbalancing is used to control for order effects in a study. 31. What is the primary purpose of matching in experimental design? A. To eliminate all confounding variables B. To create equivalent groups in the absence of random assignment C. To randomize the order of conditions D. To manipulate the IV more effectively Answer: To create equivalent groups in the absence of random assignment (B) Matching aims to create equivalent groups when random assignment is not possible. 32. Which process accurately represents the reverse order of conditions in counterbalancing? A. ABC CBA B. BAC ACB C. ACBD BCAD D. ABCD DCBA Answer: ABC CBA (A) The reverse order in counterbalancing is illustrated as ABC CBA.