A researcher who is studying methods of decreasing test anxiety decides to measure anxiety in a group of volunteers both before and after an experimental intervention. He finds that anxiety levels are lower after the intervention. However, when reviewing his results, the researcher notes that the first test occurred about a week before midterm exams and the second test occurred two weeks after the exams. This study appears to have a problem with ____.
A) internal validity
B) external validity
C) reliability
D) accuracy

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study has a problem with internal validity because the change in anxiety levels could be attributed to factors other than the experimental intervention, such as the passage of time, the natural reduction of anxiety after the exams were over, or the effect of the exams themselves. To improve internal validity, the researcher could have used a control group, randomized assignment to conditions, or counterbalancing the order of the tests.

A Researcher Who Is Studying Methods of Decreasing Test Anxiety