Ssci Ch 8 Quiz
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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:
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Compensation
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Maturation
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Experimental mortality
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Demoralization
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The testing effect
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The SSCI CH 8 Quiz assesses understanding of experimental designs and their implications in research settings. It covers topics like control groups, internal validity, and various experimental setups, helping students evaluate research methods critically.
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- 2.
The classical experimental design:
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Helps guard against the sources of external invalidity
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Cannot guard against the sources of either internal or external invalidity
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What it helps guard against depends upon the particular experiment
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Helps guard against the sources of internal invalidity
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Helps guard against the sources of internal and external validity
Correct Answer
A. Helps guard against the sources of internal invalidityExplanation
The classical experimental design helps guard against the sources of internal invalidity. Internal invalidity refers to factors within the experiment that can affect the results and make them unreliable or inaccurate. The classical experimental design includes features such as random assignment, control groups, and manipulation of independent variables, which help minimize the impact of confounding variables and ensure that any observed effects are truly caused by the independent variable. By controlling for internal invalidity, the classical experimental design increases the internal validity of the study, making the results more trustworthy and reliable.Rate this question:
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- 3.
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:
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Posttest-only control group design
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Static-group design
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One-shot case study
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Classical experimental design
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One-group pretest-posttest design
Correct Answer
A. Static-group designExplanation
The static-group design is the correct answer because in this design, the researcher administers the experimental stimulus to the experimental group and measures the dependent variable in both the experimental and control groups. However, unlike other designs, the subjects are not randomly assigned to groups. This design is useful for comparing the effects of the experimental stimulus on the experimental group compared to the control group, but it lacks randomization, which may introduce bias into the results.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Experiments are especially appropriate for research projects involving all of the following EXCEPT:
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Small-group interaction
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Hypothesis testing
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Descriptive research
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Explanatory research
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The testing of relatively limited and well-defined concepts and propositions
Correct Answer
A. Descriptive researchExplanation
Experiments are not particularly suitable for descriptive research. Descriptive research aims to observe and describe the characteristics of a particular phenomenon or population, without manipulating variables or testing hypotheses. Experiments, on the other hand, involve manipulating variables and testing specific hypotheses to establish cause-and-effect relationships. Therefore, experiments are not appropriate for descriptive research as they do not focus on describing phenomena but rather on testing hypotheses and establishing causal relationships.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Which of the following experimental designs have the least explanatory power compared to the others?
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Solomon four-group design
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One-shot case study
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Posttest-only control group design
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Classical experimental design
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All experimental designs have equal explanatory power
Correct Answer
A. One-shot case studyExplanation
The one-shot case study has the least explanatory power compared to the other experimental designs. This is because it only involves a single group being observed after a treatment or intervention, without any control group or pretest. Therefore, it is difficult to establish a cause-and-effect relationship or draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the treatment. In contrast, the other designs mentioned involve control groups, pretests, or more rigorous methods, allowing for stronger inferences and explanations of the observed outcomes.Rate this question:
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- 6.
The Solomon four-group design:
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Combines the static-group comparison design with the one-group pretest-posttest design
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Combines the classical experimental design with the posttest-only control group design
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Combines the classical experimental design with the static-group comparison design
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Combines the classical experimental design with the pretest-only control group design
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None of these choices are correct
Correct Answer
A. Combines the classical experimental design with the posttest-only control group designExplanation
The Solomon four-group design combines the classical experimental design with the posttest-only control group design. This means that the experiment includes both a control group and an experimental group, and the dependent variable is measured after the manipulation or treatment has occurred. This design allows researchers to compare the effects of the treatment on the experimental group with the control group, while also taking into account any potential pre-existing differences between the groups.Rate this question:
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- 7.
The experimental and control groups should be comparable on:
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Age, education, and ethnicity
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Variables that are likely to be related to the dependent variable under study
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All of these choices
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All demographic variables
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Variables that are likely to be related to the independent variable under study
Correct Answer
A. Variables that are likely to be related to the dependent variable under studyExplanation
In experimental research, it is important for the experimental and control groups to be comparable on variables that are likely to be related to the dependent variable under study. This ensures that any differences observed between the groups can be attributed to the independent variable and not to other factors. By controlling for these variables, researchers can minimize confounding effects and increase the internal validity of the study. Therefore, the answer "variables that are likely to be related to the dependent variable under study" is correct.Rate this question:
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- 8.
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?
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Selection biases
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Statistical regression
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Experimental mortality
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Maturation
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Demoralization
Correct Answer
A. DemoralizationExplanation
Professor John has to worry about demoralization as a form of internal invalidity. The control group's realization that the experimental group is receiving lavish lunches while they are stuck with plain microwaved meals may lead to feelings of frustration, dissatisfaction, and demoralization. This could potentially affect their motivation and willingness to fully participate in the experiment, thereby introducing bias and invalidating the results.Rate this question:
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- 9.
The question of internal validity refers to:
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The determination of the proper time to do the post-test
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The determination of the proper time to do the pretest
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Whether the experimental stimulus really affected the dependent variable
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The comparison of the results obtained for the experimental group with those obtained for the control group
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Generalizability
Correct Answer
A. Whether the experimental stimulus really affected the dependent variableExplanation
The question of internal validity refers to whether the experimental stimulus really affected the dependent variable. Internal validity is concerned with establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between the independent variable (experimental stimulus) and the dependent variable. It involves controlling for confounding variables and ensuring that any observed effects can be attributed to the experimental manipulation rather than other factors. In other words, internal validity is about determining whether the experimental stimulus had a genuine impact on the outcome measure being studied.Rate this question:
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- 10.
An instrumentation effect occurs when:
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There is a change on the dependent variable from the pretest score to the posttest score
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All of these choices indicate an instrumentation effect
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The instrument employed for the pretest has an effect that shows up on the posttest
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The measurement instrument is changed from the pretest to the posttest
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The stimulus is changed from the pretest to the posttest
Correct Answer
A. The measurement instrument is changed from the pretest to the posttestExplanation
An instrumentation effect occurs when the measurement instrument is changed from the pretest to the posttest. This means that any differences observed between the pretest and posttest scores may be due to the change in the instrument used to measure the dependent variable, rather than any actual changes in the participants or the stimulus. This can introduce bias and affect the validity of the results.Rate this question:
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- 11.
The difference between the experimental and control group should be:
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The experimental group receives the independent variable and the control group does not
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The control group receives the dependent variable and the experimental group does not
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The experimental group receives the dependent variable and the control group does not
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The control group receives the independent variable and the experimental group does not
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Nothing since both receive the independent variable
Correct Answer
A. The experimental group receives the independent variable and the control group does notExplanation
The correct answer is that the experimental group receives the independent variable and the control group does not. In an experiment, the independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher. The purpose of having a control group is to provide a baseline for comparison. By not receiving the independent variable, the control group allows researchers to determine the effects of the independent variable by comparing it to the experimental group. This helps to isolate and identify the specific impact of the independent variable on the dependent variable.Rate this question:
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- 12.
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.
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Jimmy must tell the subjects that he plans to observe their nonverbal communications
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All of these choices are TRUE
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Jimmy needs to determine whether deception is essential to the experiment
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Jimmy is intruding on the lives of his subjects
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Jimmy is deceiving his subjects
Correct Answer
A. Jimmy must tell the subjects that he plans to observe their nonverbal communicationsExplanation
In order for Jimmy's experiment to be ethical and respectful of the subjects' autonomy, he must inform them that he will be observing their nonverbal communications. This ensures that the subjects are aware of the true nature of the experiment and can give informed consent to participate.Rate this question:
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- 13.
A researcher administered a math test to a group of 9th graders in September. During the school year these students received an intensive program designed to improve their math skills. In May the math test was again given to these students and their math scores improved. A major problem in this research is that the researcher failed to control for:
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Selection biases
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Testing
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History
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The researcher failed to control for all of these choices
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Maturation
Correct Answer
A. The researcher failed to control for all of these choicesExplanation
The major problem in this research is that the researcher failed to control for selection biases, testing, history, and maturation. This means that the improvement in math scores may not solely be attributed to the intensive program designed to improve their math skills. There could be other factors such as differences in the students' abilities, the effect of taking the test multiple times, external events or circumstances, and natural development and growth over time that could have influenced the improvement in math scores.Rate this question:
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- 14.
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:
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compensation rivalry
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Demoralization
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Differential selection
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Testing
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Statistical regression
Correct Answer
A. Statistical regressionExplanation
Statistical regression is the most likely explanation for the friend's lowered score. This phenomenon occurs when an individual's extreme score on an initial test is likely to move closer to the average score on a subsequent test. In this case, since the friend initially scored in the 99th percentile, it is expected that their score would regress towards the mean on the second test, resulting in a lower percentile rank. This is a common occurrence in testing and is not necessarily indicative of a decline in performance or ability.Rate this question:
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- 15.
Among the requirements for the classical experimental design is a post-test measurement of the:
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Dependent variable for both the experimental and control groups
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Independent variable for the experimental group only
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Independent variable for the control group only
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Dependent variable for the experimental group only
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Independent variable for both the experimental and control groups
Correct Answer
A. Dependent variable for both the experimental and control groupsExplanation
In a classical experimental design, it is necessary to measure the dependent variable for both the experimental and control groups. This is because the dependent variable is the variable that is expected to be influenced by the independent variable, which is manipulated in the experimental group. By measuring the dependent variable in both groups, researchers can compare the effects of the independent variable on the experimental group to the control group, allowing for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the intervention or treatment being studied.Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Mar 17, 2017Quiz Created by
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