Question 1

Which of the following steps in the research process would take place after data analysis?

Accepted Answer

After data analysis, researchers often replicate their findings to increase confidence in the results. This step ensures that the results are reliable and not due to chance. Conducting a literature review, randomly assigning participants, and defining variables are steps that occur before data analysis.

Question 2

When results of an experiment reveal a large effect size for the dependent variable, this tells you that:

Accepted Answer

A large effect size indicates the magnitude of difference between groups, which suggests a practically significant finding, rather than just statistical significance, independence issues, or realism of the experiment.

Question 3

Priya was interested in investigating whether people who use credit cards spend more money than people who pay in cash. To examine this research question experimentally, she _____ the type of payment participants used and _____ money spent.

Accepted Answer

In an experimental study, the researcher manipulates one or more independent variables to determine their effect on a dependent variable. In this case, Priya manipulated the type of payment (independent variable) to see its effect on the amount of money spent (dependent variable), which she measured.

Question 4

Independent samples t-tests are appropriate for which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Independent samples t-tests are used to compare the means of two independent groups, making them suitable for two-group experimental designs.

Question 5

Solomon wants to verify that automatic toothbrushes work better than manual toothbrushes. To test this, he randomly assigns 25 participants to use a Sonicare toothbrush and 25 people to use a manual toothbrush. At the end of the study period he has a dentist inspect each participant's teeth. In this study, the _____ would be considered the independent variable, whereas the _____ would be considered the dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the one that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the dependent variable. In this case, the type of toothbrush (automatic vs. manual) is the independent variable because it is what Solomon is manipulating. The dependent variable is the outcome that is being measured, which is the number of cavities, as it depends on the type of toothbrush used.

Question 6

Experimenters use random assignment of participants to different groups in order to:

Accepted Answer

Random assignment is used to minimize preexisting differences between the various groups, ensuring that any observed effects can be attributed more confidently to the experimental manipulations rather than to these differences.

Question 7

Each of the following bolsters confidence in the obtained results of an experiment, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Finding a significant difference between groups on preexisting differences suggests that the groups were not equivalent at the start of the experiment, which could confound the results. This does not bolster confidence in the obtained results, unlike the other options which indicate methodological rigor or meaningful effects.

Question 8

In a study examining the impact of wearing eyeglasses on the likelihood of being hired for a job, participants who are assigned to wear eyeglasses to their job interviews are in the _____ condition.

Accepted Answer

Participants assigned to wear eyeglasses are in the experimental condition because they are subjected to the variable being tested (wearing eyeglasses) to see its effect on job interview outcomes.

Question 9

Professor Loman is interested in conducting a study examining the impact of class discussions on students' overall understanding of course concepts. In his experiment he uses a convenience sample of college-aged students. Ultimately, this is not a problem for the given study, because:

Accepted Answer

College students are the specific group Professor Loman is interested in studying, making them the target population for his research on the impact of class discussions on understanding course concepts.

Question 10

Malica recently completed an experiment that revealed participants are less likely to offer assistance to a victim when there are many bystanders than when there are fewer bystanders. Which of the following represents a plausible follow-up experiment to extend her current findings?

Accepted Answer

This follow-up experiment would test whether priming participants to think about helping can influence their likelihood of offering assistance, thus extending the original findings by exploring a potential psychological mechanism behind the bystander effect.

Question 11

Why might an experimenter choose to use a behavioral measure of the dependent variable rather than a self-report measure?

Accepted Answer

Self-report measures can be influenced by participants' desire to present themselves in a favorable light, leading to biased responses. Behavioral measures can provide more objective data by observing actual behaviors.

Question 12

During data analysis an experimenter must do each of the following, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Assessing the likelihood of participants ending up in either the experimental or control condition is more related to the design phase of an experiment, specifically random assignment, rather than a task typically performed during data analysis. Data analysis focuses on verifying group similarities on key variables (A), ensuring the manipulation was effective (B), and testing the research hypothesis (C).

Question 13

After conducting an independent samples t-test on your data, which test statistic should you examine to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between groups?

Accepted Answer

The answer of After conducting an independent samples t-test on...

Question 14

Aya is a developmental psychologist who is interested in studying children's acrophobia (i.e., fear of heights). In her experimental study, she randomly assigns some infants to crawl to their mothers on the floor. Other infants must crawl across a glass table (allowing them to see how high they were off of the ground) to get to their mothers. In Aya's study, who is in the control condition?

Accepted Answer

The control condition in an experiment is the group that is not exposed to the experimental treatment. In this case, the infants crawling on the floor are not exposed to the height element, making them the control group.

Question 15

A t-test for independent means is appropriate for studies that use a:

Accepted Answer

A t-test for independent means is designed to compare the means of two groups where participants are only in one group (between-subjects design) and there are only two levels of the independent variable.

Question 16

In an experiment where researchers want to make sure every participant has an equal chance of being selected into either the experimental or control condition _____ is used.

Accepted Answer

Random assignment is used to ensure every participant has an equal chance of being selected into either the experimental or control condition, which helps in controlling for confounding variables and allows for the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships.

Quiz 8: Two-Group Design: Texting: I Cant Get You Out of My Mind