Question 1

Internal validity refers to the soundness of the conclusion that
A) manipulating the independent variable caused a change in scores on the dependent variable
B) the results can be generalized safely to other species
C) the results can be generalized safely to other environments
D) the study accurately measured and manipulated the relevant variables

Accepted Answer

Internal validity is concerned with establishing a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables, ensuring that the observed effects are due to the manipulation of the independent variable and not other factors.

Question 2

The research method with the greatest internal validity is
A) field observation
B) the survey method
C) nonexperimental research methods
D) the simple experiment

Accepted Answer

A simple experiment is designed to establish cause-and-effect relationships, allowing for control over variables and conditions, which enhances internal validity.

Question 3

The purpose of the simple experiment is to
A) describe behavior
B) predict behavior
C) explain behavior
D) eliminate variability

Accepted Answer

The purpose of a simple experiment is to explain behavior by determining cause-and-effect relationships between variables.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a prerequisite for establishing causality with the simple experiment?
A) statistical tests
B) eliminating random error
C) accounting for random error
D) independent random assignment

Accepted Answer

Eliminating random error is not a prerequisite for establishing causality; rather, accounting for it is important. Random error is inherent in experiments, and researchers aim to minimize and account for it, not eliminate it entirely.

Question 5

The key to the simple experiment is
A) control over extraneous variables
B) eliminating extraneous variables
C) random assignment
D) keeping all nontreatment factors constant

Accepted Answer

The answer of The key to the simple experiment is
A)...

Question 6

If the average score for the treatment group is higher than the average score for the no-treatment group, this difference could be due to
A) the treatment
B) random error
C) both a and b
D) neither a nor b

Accepted Answer

The difference could be due to the treatment having an effect or due to random error or variability in the data.

Question 7

If the difference between the treatment group and the no-treatment group is NOT larger than what would be expected by chance, then
A) the results are statistically significant
B) the treatment did not have an effect
C) the results are inconclusive
D) a Type I error has been made

Accepted Answer

The results are inconclusive because the difference between the treatment group and the no-treatment group is not larger than what would be expected by chance.

Question 8

When doing an experiment and analyzing the results, a scientist hopes to
A) prove the null hypothesis
B) prove the experimental hypothesis
C) reject the null hypothesis
D) both b and c

Accepted Answer

Rejecting the null hypothesis means accepting the experimental hypothesis.

Question 9

The relationship between the independent and dependent variables that you would like to demonstrate
A) is called the null hypothesis
B) is call the experimental hypothesis
C) requires descriptive statistics
D) requires correlational statistics

Accepted Answer

The experimental hypothesis is the statement that predicts a relationship between the independent and dependent variables, which is what researchers aim to demonstrate through their study.

Question 10

The null hypothesis
A) supports the experimental hypothesis
B) contradicts the experimental hypothesis
C) reflects the true state of affairs
D) reflects the truth 95% of the time

Accepted Answer

The null hypothesis is a statement that there is no effect or no difference, and it is often set up to be contradicted by the experimental hypothesis, which suggests there is an effect or difference.

Question 11

In an experiment to determine whether TV cartoons produce more aggressive behavior in grade school children, the null hypothesis states that TV cartoons
A) have an effect on aggressive behavior
B) have at least a slight effect on aggressive behavior
C) have no effect on aggressive behavior
D) have at most a weak effect on aggressive behavior

Accepted Answer

The null hypothesis typically states that there is no effect or no difference. In this context, it means TV cartoons have no effect on aggressive behavior.

Question 12

In an experiment, the variable that is manipulated is the
A) dependent variable
B) participant
C) independent variable
D) extraneous variable

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated by the experimenter.

Question 13

The dependent variable in an experiment is
A) directly manipulated by the investigator
B) a variable whose effect is being studied
C) a variable that may influenced by the treatment
D) both a and b

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the one that may be influenced by the treatment or independent variable, and its changes are measured to assess the effect of the treatment.

Question 14

In an experiment on the effects of lighting on happiness, happiness would be the
A) control variable
B) independent variable
C) experimental condition
D) dependent variable

Accepted Answer

Happiness is the dependent variable because it is the outcome being measured to see how it is affected by changes in lighting, which is the independent variable.

Question 15

Independent and dependent variables correspond to
A) internal and external validity, respectively
B) external and internal validity, respectively
C) causes and effects, respectively
D) effects and causes, respectively

Accepted Answer

Independent variables are the causes that are manipulated to observe their effect on dependent variables, which are the effects.

Question 16

Independent is to dependent as ______ is to ______.
A) measured; manipulated
B) manipulated; held constant
C) held constant; measured
D) manipulated; measured

Accepted Answer

In experiments, the independent variable is manipulated, while the dependent variable is measured to assess the effect of the manipulation.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT true of the control group?
A) it is a group of interacting individuals
B) participants are assigned to it via independent random assignment
C) it is compared with the experimental group
D) the more participants in the control group, the more closely it will reflect the experimental group - if the null hypothesis is correct

Accepted Answer

The control group is not defined as a group of interacting individuals; rather, it is a group that does not receive the experimental treatment and is used for comparison with the experimental group.

Question 18

The control group
A) has all its behavior under the experimenter's control
B) isn't measured on the dependent variable
C) doesn't get the treatment
D) is more standardized than the experimental group

Accepted Answer

The control group does not receive the treatment or experimental manipulation, allowing for a comparison against the experimental group to assess the effect of the treatment.

Question 19

The participants who receive the treatment are called
A) independent variables
B) dependent variables
C) the control group
D) the experimental group

Accepted Answer

The experimental group consists of participants who receive the treatment or intervention being tested in an experiment.

Question 20

Which of the following would be a drawback to running all members of the experimental group in a single morning session and all members of the control group in a single afternoon session?
A) one participant's responses may affect other participants' responses
B) differences between the control and experimental group might be due to time of day rather than to the treatment
C) chance differences between testing sessions would not have an opportunity to even out
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Differences between the control and experimental group might be due to time of day rather than to the treatment.

Quiz 10: The Simple Experiment

Internal validity refers to the soundness of the conclusion that

The research method with the greatest internal validity is

The purpose of the simple experiment is to

Which of the following is NOT a prerequisite for establishing causality with the simple experiment?

The key to the simple experiment is

If the average score for the treatment group is higher than the average score for the no-treatment group, this difference could be due to

If the difference between the treatment group and the no-treatment group is NOT larger than what would be expected by chance, then

When doing an experiment and analyzing the results, a scientist hopes to

The relationship between the independent and dependent variables that you would like to demonstrate

The null hypothesis

In an experiment to determine whether TV cartoons produce more aggressive behavior in grade school children, the null hypothesis states that TV cartoons

In an experiment, the variable that is manipulated is the

The dependent variable in an experiment is

In an experiment on the effects of lighting on happiness, happiness would be the

Independent and dependent variables correspond to

Independent is to dependent as is to .

Which of the following is NOT true of the control group?

The control group

The participants who receive the treatment are called

Which of the following would be a drawback to running all members of the experimental group in a single morning session and all members of the control group in a single afternoon session?