Question 1

Assume that Professor X has decided to conduct a quasi-experiment where students are assigned to an experimental type of class instruction based on their performance on this final exam.(To qualify for participation,students must either score above 90 percent or below 60 percent).Which problem would be most likely to interfere with the ultimate conclusion that student ability influenced the effectiveness of the instruction?

Accepted Answer

Regression to the mean is a statistical phenomenon that occurs when a variable that is extreme on its first measurement tends to be closer to the average on its second measurement. In this scenario, students who scored very high or very low are likely to score closer to the average on subsequent assessments, which could interfere with attributing changes in performance to the instructional method rather than to this statistical tendency.

Question 2

The issue of scale attenuation in the dependent variable refers to the problems of interpretation when performance is:

Accepted Answer

Scale attenuation in the dependent variable occurs when performance is at the extremes, either nearly perfect or very poor, making it difficult to detect differences or improvements.

Question 3

Of the following,which characteristic represents the most desirable property of experiments?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 4

Why does regression to the mean frequently occur?

Accepted Answer

Regression to the mean occurs because extreme values on a variable tend to be followed by more central values, often due to factors like measurement error or natural variability, which are not under the experimenter's control.

Question 5

Which of the following is not a type of experimental replication?

Accepted Answer

Indirect replication is not a recognized type of experimental replication. Direct replication involves repeating an experiment as closely as possible to the original study to see if the same results are obtained. Systematic replication involves making deliberate variations to the original experiment's procedures or conditions to test the findings' robustness across different contexts. Conceptual replication tests the same hypothesis as the original study but uses different methods or measures. Indirect replication is not a standard term used in the context of experimental replication.

Question 6

A ceiling effect would be suggested if:

Accepted Answer

A ceiling effect occurs when the test is too easy, leading to most participants scoring near the top. This is reflected in choice B, where the performance of any group is nearly perfect, suggesting that the test may not be challenging enough to differentiate between higher levels of ability.

Question 7

Scale attenuation problems might best be overcome by:

Accepted Answer

Conducting pilot research helps in understanding the appropriate level of task difficulty, allowing adjustments to be made to avoid scale attenuation problems.

Question 8

Suppose that you were an A student,but on your last test you received a B,and the average of the class was a C)The phenomenon of statistical regression suggests that on your next test you will most likely receive a(n):

Accepted Answer

Statistical regression, or regression to the mean, suggests that if a student who usually scores an A receives a B, they are likely to return to their average performance, which is an A, on the next test.

Question 9

Assume that a student in a psychology course scored particularly low on an exam compared to others in the class and to his own usual level of performance.We should expect any subsequent exam scores from this student to be higher,even without knowing anything about this student's general abilities in the course.This best represents an example of ____.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a regression artifact (or regression to the mean), which refers to the statistical phenomenon where if a variable is extreme on its first measurement, it will tend to be closer to the average on its second measurement. This is not due to any causal intervention but rather a statistical tendency.

Question 10

How might regression artifacts have been avoided in the Westinghouse-Ohio evaluation of Head Start?

Accepted Answer

Randomly assigning participants helps to avoid regression artifacts by ensuring that any differences between groups are due to the intervention rather than pre-existing differences.

Question 11

Assume that you cast a die 10 times,and the average of all the numbers that are obtained is 5.What condition below should you expect to occur?

Accepted Answer

The expected average score of rolling a fair die is 3.5, because the outcomes are uniformly distributed from 1 to 6. Over a large number of rolls, such as 1,000, the average should converge to this expected value due to the law of large numbers.

Question 12

Regression to the mean should not occur if:

Accepted Answer

Regression to the mean occurs due to random errors in measurements. If each measurement is error-free, there would be no random error to cause regression to the mean.

Question 13

Consider a multiple-choice exam with four alternatives per question.What score (in terms of percentage correct)defines a floor effect?

Accepted Answer

A floor effect occurs when a test is so difficult that the majority of examinees perform at the low end of the score range. Since there are four alternatives per question, guessing on each question would, on average, yield a correct answer 25% of the time, establishing the floor effect at 25%.

Question 14

Experimental reliability may be established by:

Accepted Answer

Replication with an additional sample of similar participants establishes experimental reliability by ensuring that the results are consistent across different samples.

Question 15

Confidence in the reliability of an experimental result increases when:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Confidence in the reliability of an experimental...

Question 16

The problem of regression artifacts:

Accepted Answer

Regression artifacts refer to results that arise due to statistical regression, where extreme scores tend to move towards the mean upon retesting, potentially misleading interpretations of data.

Question 17

Regression artifacts can be avoided by:

Accepted Answer

Random assignment of participants ensures that the groups being compared are equivalent in all other respects, except for the treatment they receive. This helps to avoid confounding variables that could bias the results.

Question 18

Einstellung refers to the tendency of people who are trying to solve a problem:

Accepted Answer

Einstellung is a psychological phenomenon that describes the tendency of people to stick with a familiar solution to a problem rather than looking for a more innovative approach. It highlights how individuals might repeat a strategy that has worked in the past, even if it might not be the most efficient or effective solution in a new context.

Question 19

Careful consideration of Head Start indicates that:

Accepted Answer

Head Start, a program designed to help disadvantaged children catch up before starting school, has been the subject of various studies with mixed results. Some studies suggest benefits in early childhood that may diminish over time, while others argue for long-term benefits in various aspects of life. Given the complexity and variability of outcomes, stating that no single conclusion is universally reasonable reflects the nuanced understanding of Head Start's impact.

Question 20

Yonelinas et al.(2002)could not conclude that medial temporal lobe damage disrupted the conscious retrieval of past events because:

Accepted Answer

Recognition performance was nearly perfect regardless of whether or not participants had temporal lobe damage, so it was not possible to conclude that medial temporal lobe damage disrupted the conscious retrieval of past events.

Quiz 13: Interpreting the Results of Research