Deck 11: Research Designs for Special Circumstances

Question 1

One design used to demonstrate the reversibility of the effect of the independent variable is a(n)______________ design.

A) non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest
B) interrupted time series
C) control series
D) ABA

Answer 1

D

Question 2

A researcher studies one group of children when they are 3,6,and 9 years old and another group of children when they are 9,12,and 15 years old.The researcher has used the ______ method.

A) longitudinal
B) sequential
C) cross-sectional
D) panel study

Answer 2

B

Question 3

You go to several elementary schools where you test students who are in the first grade,third grade,and sixth grade to examine the effect of age on a reasoning ability task.You have used the ________ method.

A) longitudinal
B) sequential
C) cross-sectional
D) time analysis

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A researcher investigates the effect of weather on college students' study habits.On a sunny day,the researcher sat in the quad and recorded the number of minutes of study per student.What is the crucial element missing in this design?

A) An experimental group
B) A control group
C) An independent variable
D) A dependent variable

Question 5

A park ranger records the daily number of individuals who visited a park for six months before and six months after an admission fee was implemented.During the same time period,he compares the number of visits to two comparable parks that have no admission fee.This quasi-experimental design would be an example of a(n)

A) non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design.
B) interrupted time series design.
C) control series design.
D) reversal design.

Question 6

In developmental research,a cohort is

A) someone who shares an individual's living quarters.
B) someone who has many similar characteristics as the individual under study.
C) a group of people born at about the same time.
D) a group of people who lived together at one time.

Question 7

To examine how a reward influences a desired behaviour,a mother first counts the number of times her son makes his bed over a two-week period.For the next two weeks,she gives him a reward every time he makes his bed.Following this period,she stops giving him a reward and again counts the number of times he makes his bed.This procedure would be an example of a(n)_____ design.

A) pretest-posttest
B) baseline treatment
C) control series
D) ABA

Question 8

Sonny examines the number of traumatic head injuries that occurred in California monthly for five years before and after the passage of a law requiring the wearing of a helmet.Sonny's design would be classified as a(n)

A) non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design.
B) program evaluation.
C) control series design.
D) interrupted time series design.

Question 9

You studied the same people when they were 7,14,21,and 30 years old.You have used the _________ method.

A) longitudinal
B) sequential
C) cross-sectional
D) time analysis

Question 10

Professor Briscoe finds that when he smiles and makes eye contact with Jeanne,she becomes more responsive to his questions.He later tries the same behaviour on David,Chris,and then Sarah and finds that it also influences their responses to his questions.What type of study design did Professor Briscoe employ?

A) Across situations multiple baseline design
B) Across behaviours multiple baseline design
C) Across subjects multiple baseline design
D) ABA design

Question 11

In the reversal design,ABAB,the second "B" period is necessary to reduce the probability of

A) carry-over effects.
B) correlational variables.
C) chance fluctuations.
D) baseline changes.

Question 12

Which one of the following is NOT a quasi-experimental design?

A) Non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design
B) Interrupted time series design
C) Correlated groups design
D) Control series design

Question 13

Which one of the following is NOT a variation of the multiple baseline design?

A) Across subjects
B) Across behaviours
C) Across time
D) Across situations

Question 14

A restaurant company is interested in examining the effect of increasing the price of hamburgers on their sales.During the first six months of the year,they measure the number of hamburgers sold each day.They then increase the price and record the number of hamburgers sold each day for the last six months of the year.This quasi-experimental design would be an example of a(n)

A) non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design.
B) interrupted time series design.
C) control series design.
D) reversal design.

Question 15

Sarah finds that her son James enjoys lemon candy.Sarah reinforces James when he displays courteous behaviour at home.She then starts to reinforce this behaviour at school,relatives' homes,and church.What type of study design did Sarah employ?

A) Across situations multiple baseline design
B) Across behaviours multiple baseline design
C) Across subjects multiple baseline design
D) ABA design

Question 16

John has developed a scale to measure a person's fear of earthquakes.After the occurrence of an earthquake,he surveys 1000 individuals and finds the mean score to be 7.8 out of a possible 10 (the higher the score,the greater the fear).John concludes that fear increases after people experience an earthquake.This study is an example of a(n)

A) true experiment.
B) one group pretest-posttest design.
C) control group design.
D) one-group posttest-only design.

Question 17

A quasi-experimental design attempts to

A) approximate the control features of true experiments.
B) create natural conditions in the laboratory.
C) control all extraneous variables after subjects have been randomly assigned.
D) measure changes in the manipulated variable.

Question 18

Which one of the following is a reversal design?

A) Pretest-posttest design
B) Interrupted time series design
C) ABAB design
D) Multiple baselines design

Question 19

Selection differences are likely to occur whenever researchers

A) use pre-existing groups found in natural settings.
B) fail to randomly assign participants to groups.
C) allow participants to assign themselves to groups.
D) fail to use random assignment.

Question 20

Mary discovered that her 7-year-old daughter,Maggie,was especially motivated by money.Mary began a reinforcement program whereby Maggie earned 5 cents every time she brushed her teeth.A month later,Mary instituted a payment schedule of 10 cents every time Maggie went to bed on time without complaining.Once these behaviours were firmly established,Maggie began earning money for every book she read.What kind of single-subject design did Mary employ?

A) Across subjects multiple baseline design
B) Across behaviours multiple baseline design
C) Across situations multiple baseline design
D) ABA design

Question 21

Dr.Gorton is studying the effect of exercise on cholesterol level.He first measures his patients' cholesterol level before recommending an exercise program and after one month of participating in an exercise program,he measures their cholesterol level again.What type of research design has Dr.Gorton employed?

A) Between groups design
B) One-group posttest-only design
C) Missing control group design
D) One group pretest-posttest design

Question 22

The use of existing natural groups of participants often results in

A) non-equivalent groups.
B) equivalent groups.
C) many independent variables.
D) equal numbers of males and females.

Question 23

Regression toward the mean refers to the fact that

A) extreme scores tend to change toward the less extreme mean.
B) statistics are a useful tool for researchers.
C) multiple dependent variables often correlate with each other.
D) later scores are usually similar to earlier scores.

Question 24

The interrupted time series design involves

A) making an observation immediately before and immediately after a treatment is instituted.
B) using time as the independent variable.
C) making observations over an extended period of time before and after a treatment is instituted.
D) comparing treatment and control groups over an extended period of time.

Question 25

The ABAB design

A) provides a second withdrawal period.
B) does not account for chance fluctuations.
C) ends with the treatment rather than the withdrawal of treatment.
D) tests the effect of the treatment a third time.

Question 26

A graduating college senior takes the GRE (Graduate Record Exam)and scores at the 95^th percentile.Six months later the senior retakes the exam after completing all undergraduate coursework and scores at the 89^th percentile.What (other than boring coursework)most likely accounts for the lowered score?

A) Maturation
B) Testing
C) Instrument decay
D) Regression toward the mean

Question 27

Which one of the following is NOT a type of program evaluation research?

A) Needs assessment
B) Process evaluation
C) Outcome evaluation
D) Participant evaluation

Question 28

Any naturally occurring change within the individual that has an effect on the dependent variable is referred to as a _____ effect.

A) regression toward the mean
B) testing
C) maturation
D) history

Question 29

Teachers at School A were given a substance abuse knowledge test.During the next four months,the teachers attended training sessions in substance abuse.They were then given the knowledge test again.Teachers at School B were given the substance abuse knowledge test,then four months later were given the test again.What kind of design was used?

A) Pretest-posttest true experimental design
B) Non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design
C) Interrupted time series design
D) One-group posttest-only design

Question 30

A researcher records the number of motorcycle fatalities before and after the implementation of a mandatory helmet law.During the same period,she compares this number to the number of motorcycle fatalities of three states that do not have a mandatory helmet law.This research design would be an example of a(n)_____ design.

A) true experiment
B) single case
C) interrupted time series
D) control series

Question 31

Causal inference in quasi-experimental designs is _____ difficult than in true experiments because quasi-experimental designs _____ the important features of true designs.

A) less;have more of
B) more;lack
C) more;have more of
D) less;lack

Question 32

Single case experiments were developed from a need to

A) have a design that examines a measurement at only one point in time.
B) measure only a single dependent variable.
C) determine whether a manipulation had an effect on a single research participant.
D) reduce the cost of research.

Question 33

At the beginning of the term,researchers measured the attitudes of students taking a class in cross-cultural communication.At the end of the term,the students' attitudes were measured again.This is an example of a(n)_____ design.

A) non-equivalent control group
B) independent groups
C) Latin squares
D) one-group pretest-posttest

Question 34

A study is conducted in which the attitudes of the staff of one mental hospital are assessed;then the staff is exposed to an attitude-change manipulation,and attitudes are assessed again.A control hospital of similar size is also chosen;attitudes there are measured and then at a later time,assessed again.This quasi-experimental design is called a(n)_____ design.

A) Solomon four-group
B) non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest
C) interrupted time series
D) control series

Question 35

A human resources psychologist is interested in the effect of work schedule on job satisfaction.She compares satisfaction scores of workers who work five 8-hour shifts with workers who work four 10-hour shifts.What type of design has the manager employed?

A) One-group pretest-posttest design
B) Non-equivalent pretest-posttest design
C) Non-equivalent control group design
D) One-group posttest-only design

Question 36

A researcher administers a reading test to a group of fourth graders at the beginning of the school year.During the year,the students receive an intensive program designed to improve reading skills.At the end of the year,the reading test is given again,and a large improvement in test scores is discovered.What type of study is this?

A) One-group posttest-only design
B) One-group pretest-posttest design
C) Non-equivalent control group design
D) Time series design

Question 37

Which of the following describes a sequential design?

A) Studying a group of 5 year olds over a 10 year period.
B) Comparing reasoning abilities of 5,8,and 10 year olds.
C) Measuring motor abilities of a child when she is 2 years old and then measuring her abilities again when she is 5 years old.
D) Studying groups of 10- and 15-year olds,and then studying these same individuals 2,4,and 6 years later.

Question 38

If you wanted to use an interrupted time series design to examine if lowering the legal limit of blood alcohol level (BAL)for driving under the influence affected the frequency of arrests,you would

A) compare a state with a higher BAL to one with a lower BAL.
B) measure the number of arrests just before and immediately after a law lowering BAL.
C) measure the number of arrests regularly for an extended period of time before and after a law lowering BAL.
D) correlate the amount of alcohol consumed by an individual and the number of times they have been arrested.

Question 39

Which is the more common method,longitudinal or cross-sectional?

A) Longitudinal because it is less expensive.
B) Cross-sectional because it is less expensive.
C) Longitudinal because the results are obtained relatively quickly.
D) Cross-sectional because the results are obtained over longer periods of time.

Question 40

A researcher asks students to record in a journal,every hour,the emotions they have experienced.She finds that over time,the descriptions become shorter and less detailed.What may be responsible for this change in performance?

A) Regression towards the mean
B) Testing
C) Instrument decay
D) History

Question 41

A researcher pretests a group of participants to determine their attitudes toward the use of alternative energy sources to replace crude oil.The researcher then initiates a program to convince them that they should invest in such alternatives.During this time,the price of gasoline rises $.50 per gallon.At the end of the program,the researcher retests and finds that the participants are much more positive in their attitudes.What threat to internal validity most likely accounts for this change?

A) History
B) Maturation
C) Testing
D) Regression toward the mean

Question 42

Researchers have developed systematic approaches to evaluation research when there are restraints of time,budget,and data collection.These approaches are referred to as _____ evaluation.

A) control series
B) shoestring
C) program
D) single subject

Question 43

The question "Do single income families have child-care problems different than dual income families?" would be asked in which phase of program evaluation?

A) Needs assessment
B) Program theory assessment
C) Outcome evaluation
D) Efficiency assessment

Question 44

I assess your attitude toward marijuana,present you with a persuasive communication favouring liberalization of marijuana laws,and then reassess your attitude toward the drug.However,between assessment 1 and assessment 2,the President also advocates liberalization of marijuana laws.If I don't use a control group,any differences I observe are suspect on the grounds of

A) maturation.
B) history.
C) regression toward the mean.
D) testing.

Question 45

A school administrator wants to examine the effect of student lockers on class tardiness.He compares tardiness records of a school with no lockers to a school with lockers.What type of design is this?

A) Non-equivalent control group
B) One-group pretest-posttest
C) Posttest only
D) Pretest only

Question 46

An advantage of the ABAB reversal design over the ABA design is that it

A) is less expensive.
B) allows for fewer alternative explanations for the results.
C) should be used in clinical research.
D) takes less time and fewer resources.

Question 47

The serious flaw associated with the non-equivalent control group design is that ____ occur.

A) selection differences
B) data variances
C) participant dropouts
D) Latin squares

Question 48

If exposure to an earlier measure affects behaviour when a participant is measured a second time,the researcher might suspect which type of effect?

A) History
B) Instrument decay
C) Testing
D) Maturation

Question 49

Any event that occurs between the first and second measurement period but is not part of the manipulation is referred to as a _____ effect.

A) history
B) maturation
C) testing
D) regression toward the mean

Question 50

Which one of the following describes a longitudinal study?

A) The same children are tested at 1,3,5,and 10 years of age.
B) Different children are tested at 1,3,5,and 10 years of age.
C) Some children are tested at 1,3,and 5 years of age while other children are tested at 3,5,and 10 years of age.
D) The same children are tested at 1,3,and 5,and another group of children are tested at 2,4,and 6.

Question 51

A researcher learns that a program designed to reduce truancy in junior high school students is not successful because the staff has not been adequately trained to deal with truancy.This finding should have occurred in which phase of program evaluation?

A) Needs assessment
B) Program theory assessment
C) Process evaluation
D) Efficiency assessment

Question 52

Selection differences in the non-equivalent control group design are

A) essential to the design because they enhance the independent variable.
B) essential to the design because they allow greater differences than the dependent variable.
C) problematic because they challenge the external validity of the study.
D) problematic because they challenge the interval validity of the study.

Question 53

In a(n)_____,the researcher must determine whether the resources used to implement a program can be better used elsewhere.

A) needs assessment
B) process evaluation
C) outcome evaluation
D) efficiency assessment

Question 54

A television program designed to reduce racial prejudice was not watched by prejudiced persons.In a comprehensive evaluation,this fact would be discovered with which type of evaluation?

A) Process evaluation
B) Participant evaluation
C) Outcome evaluation
D) Needs assessment

Question 55

A program was designed to address the problem of Venetian refugees in Oak Hills.However,it was discovered that there were no Venetian refugees living in Oak Hills.Had this program been comprehensively evaluated from the start,this fact would have been discovered during a(n)_____ evaluation.

A) efficiency assessment
B) outcome evaluation
C) process evaluation
D) needs assessment

Question 56

A control series design is a(n)_____ design with a comparison group.

A) true experimental
B) interrupted time series
C) outcome series
D) matched series

Question 57

A city council finds that printing voting pamphlets in several languages has resulted in an increase in the number of voters who speak these languages.The city council must now determine if the resources spent in printing the pamphlets is worth the cost.In terms of program evaluation,this would be an example of

A) needs assessment.
B) efficiency assessment.
C) outcome evaluation.
D) process evaluation.

Question 58

Research conducted to assess the effectiveness of schemes designed to have some positive effect on a group of individuals is called _____ research.

A) positive
B) social action
C) program evaluation
D) attitude adjustment

Question 59

After identifying a need for a program,researchers,service providers,and prospective clients collaborate to ensure that the program does in fact address the needs of the target population in appropriate ways.This is referred to as

A) assessment of program theory.
B) process evaluation.
C) outcome evaluation.
D) efficiency assessment.

Question 60

In a program designed to help teenagers gain summer employment,a researcher measures whether or not the program has actually increased the number of teenagers finding jobs.The researcher is involved in which phase of evaluation?

A) Needs assessment
B) Outcome evaluation
C) Process evaluation
D) Efficiency assessment

Question 61

A researcher has children watch 30 minutes of violent television and then measures their aggressiveness.The researcher concludes that television violence causes aggressiveness.A problem here is that

A) there is no control group.
B) the aggression measure is unreliable.
C) the researcher should have had the children watch at least 60 minutes of violent television.
D) the measurement tool is not valid.

Question 62

A researcher investigated the effect of weather on college students' study habits.On a sunny day,the researcher sat in the quad and recorded the number of minutes of study per student.The researcher found that the mean number of minutes of study was 39.8.This is an example of a(n)

A) one-group posttest-only design.
B) one-group pretest-posttest.
C) true experimental design.
D) random group design.

Question 63

Dutton and Aron had an attractive female interview men who were crossing either a precarious suspension footbridge over a chasm,or a sturdy anchored footbridge over a small creek.The suspension-bridge participants used more sexual imagery to describe people in a picture than did the sturdy-bridge participants.What factor,other than excitement,might explain these results?

A) History
B) Regression toward the mean
C) Testing
D) Selection differences

Question 64

What is the advantage of the pretest in the non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design?

A) The pretest accustoms the participants to the procedures of the study.
B) Participants who experience a pretest generally score higher on a posttest.
C) When groups are not equivalent,we can look at changes from pretest to posttest scores.
D) If the pretest scores are different,we can stop the study immediately without wasting time or money continuing the study.

Question 65

Over time,human observers may become fatigued or change the standards on which observations are based.When this change in measurement occurs over time a researcher might suspect which type of effect?

A) History
B) Regression toward the mean
C) Testing
D) Instrument decay

Question 66

A multiple baseline design is often used when

A) it is impossible or unethical to effect a reversal of treatment.
B) random assignment to groups was done incorrectly.
C) the researcher wants to correlate many behaviours with the one of interest.
D) the chances are high there will be a high mortality rate among the participants.

Question 67

A researcher wants to test the effect of alcohol on driving performance.Participants first drive through an obstacle course before drinking any alcohol.The participants then drink 8 ounces of alcohol and drive the course again.After each trial,the number of traffic cones hit is recorded.Surprisingly,the researcher finds that the number of traffic cones hit is greater before rather than after the participant drank the alcohol.What may best account for the change in performance?

A) Maturation
B) History
C) Testing effect
D) Instrument decay

Question 68

In a multiple baseline design,in order to conclude that a treatment is effective,a behaviour change must be observed

A) with multiple participants at the same time.
B) under multiple circumstances.
C) when a treatment is removed and reintroduced multiple times.
D) with multiple researchers.

Question 69

Ray is comparing the heart rates of a group of former smokers to non-smokers after they have walked on a treadmill for 15 minutes.This would be an example of a

A) program evaluation.
B) true experiment.
C) time series design.
D) quasi-experimental design.

Question 70

From an ethical viewpoint,the ABAB design is preferred over the ABA design because

A) the ABAB design more powerfully rules out chance fluctuations.
B) the ABAB design is less expensive.
C) the ABAB design shows the reversibility of a treatment.
D) it does not seem right to end the design with the withdrawal of a treatment that may be beneficial to the participant.