Question 1

In an experiment, what do you call the variable that is controlled or manipulated by the researcher?

Accepted Answer

The variable that is controlled or manipulated by the researcher is called the independent variable. This is because it is the variable that is being changed deliberately in order to observe the effects it has on the dependent variable.

Question 2

What is an independent variable in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable in an experiment is the variable that the experimenter deliberately manipulates in order to test its effects on the dependent variable. It is the variable that is being tested in the experiment and is not dependent on any other variable.

Question 3

What does a researcher do when conducting an experiment?

Accepted Answer

When conducting an experiment, a researcher typically manipulates a variable under controlled conditions and observes whether there are changes in a second variable as a result. This allows the researcher to examine causal relationships between variables and establish cause and effect. Option A describes a case study, Option B describes naturalistic observation, and Option C describes correlational research.

Question 4

What is an experimental group?

Accepted Answer

An experimental group is a group of individuals who receive some special treatment related to the independent variable being tested in the experiment. This group is compared to a control group, which does not receive the treatment. Option A is incorrect as the experimental group should not be chosen to be deliberately different from the control group. Option B is incorrect as the experimental group is the one that receives the special treatment. Option D is incorrect as the dependent variable is the outcome being measured, and the experimental group does not receive any special treatment related to this variable.

Question 5

A group of researchers wanted to determine if people will eat more food in a room with red paint and red decorations than in a room that is decorated blue. Half the participants in this study ate in a red room and half ate in a blue room. The researchers then measured how much food was consumed in each of the two rooms. What is the independent variable in this study?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated by the researchers, in this case, the color of the decorations in the room. The dependent variable, or the variable that is being measured, is the amount of food consumed. Therefore, the correct answer is A, the color of the decorations in the room.

Question 6

Researchers studying the effects of sleep deprivation tested the physical coordination skills of 25-year-old males who had been sleep deprived for 24, 36, or 48 hours. In this study, what is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the outcome being measured, which in this case is the physical coordination skills of the men in the study. The independent variable is the length of time the participants had been sleep deprived. The type of physical coordination task and age of the research participants may be controlled variables in this study.

Question 7

In a study designed to test the effects of a new drug developed to treat Alzheimer's disease, half the patients were given the actual drug while the other half of the patients were given a placebo (sugar pill). In this study, which group is the experimental group?

Accepted Answer

The experimental group in this study is the group that received the actual drug, as they are the group that is being tested to see if the drug is effective in treating Alzheimer's disease. The group that received the placebo is the control group, which is used to compare the results of the experimental group to a group that did not receive the drug. The group that showed evidence of an improvement in their memory is not necessarily the experimental group, as it could be either the experimental or control group that showed improvement. The group of patients that was not included in the study is not relevant to determining the experimental group.

Question 8

Researchers who were studying plant growth raised plants in two separate rooms. One room had taped conversations playing 24 hours a day; the other room was silent. The researchers found that the plants grew better in the room that had the conversations playing. In this study, what would you call the type of room (silent versus conversation)?

Accepted Answer

The type of room (silent versus conversation) is the independent variable because it is being manipulated by the researchers to see if it has an effect on plant growth.

Question 9

Researchers who were studying memory had participants learn a list of words after consuming a soft drink with caffeine or a decaffeinated version of the same soft drink. The researchers then counted the number of words that were recalled from the list. In this study, what would you call the type of beverage (caffeinated or decaffeinated)?

Accepted Answer

The type of beverage (caffeinated or decaffeinated) is the independent variable in this study as it is being manipulated by the researchers to observe its effect on the dependent variable (number of words recalled).

Question 10

Which approach is defined by manipulating a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observing the changes in a second variable?

Accepted Answer

The experimental approach involves manipulating a variable under carefully controlled conditions to observe the changes in a second variable. This approach is commonly used in psychology and other scientific fields to test hypotheses and draw cause-and-effect conclusions. Surveys, testing, and naturalistic approaches are all different research methods that may be used in different situations, but they do not involve the same level of experimental control as the experimental approach.

Question 11

A group of researchers investigates the effects of gingko biloba on animal memory. During the first part of the study, the animals learn to run a maze while they are not receiving the supplement; in the second part of the study, the animals learn to run a different maze while they are receiving the supplement. In each case the researchers count how many trials it takes before the animals can run the maze pattern without making any errors. What is the independent variable in this study??

Accepted Answer

The independent variable in this study is the presence or absence of the supplement (gingko biloba) in the animal's diet. It is the variable that the researchers manipulate and change in order to measure its effect on the animal's memory. The other variables listed (number of trials, type of animal, age) are all potential dependent variables that may be influenced by the independent variable.

Question 12

Which of the following terms refers to differing approaches to the observation, measurement, manipulation, and control of variables in empirical studies?

Accepted Answer

Research methods refer to the different approaches used in empirical studies to observe, measure, manipulate and control variables. Validity operationalizations refer to how well a variable is defined and measured in a study. Statistical analyses refer to the methods used to analyze data collected in the study. Inductive techniques refer to a method of reasoning in which a general conclusion is derived from specific observations.

Question 13

What is a dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

A dependent variable is a variable that is being measured or observed and is expected to change in response to the independent variable, which is systematically manipulated in an experiment. The dependent variable is dependent on the independent variable and its changes are the result of the changes made to the independent variable.

Question 14

If we view an experiment as an attempt to establish a cause-effect relationship, how can we define the relationship between the variables in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

In an experiment, the independent variable is deliberately manipulated in order to observe its effect on the dependent variable. Therefore, the independent variable is considered the cause, and the dependent variable is the effect. The control variable is not directly involved in the cause-effect relationship and is used to eliminate alternative explanations for the results.

Question 15

A group of researchers wants to determine if people are more likely to follow directions if the person giving the directions is in a uniform. Half the participants are directed to a parking spot by a uniformed security guard; the other half are directed to a parking spot by an individual wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt. In this study, what is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable in this study is the behavior of the participants, specifically whether or not they park in the spot they are directed to. This variable is being measured to determine if there is a difference between the two groups (uniformed security guard vs. individual in casual clothing) and if the presence of a uniform influences behavior. The gender of the person driving, the type of clothing worn by the person giving directions, and the distance between the parking spot and the entrance are not being studied as dependent variables in this particular study.

Question 16

A researcher found that clients who were randomly assigned to same-sex groups participated more in group therapy sessions than clients who were randomly assigned to co-ed groups. In this experiment, what is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured and observed for changes in response to the manipulation of the independent variable. In this experiment, the independent variable is the composition of the therapy groups (same-sex or co-ed), and the dependent variable is the amount of participation in the group therapy sessions. Therefore, the best choice is letter D, as it represents the dependent variable.

Question 17

A group of researchers conducts a study to determine if a child's performance is affected by the presence of other children. First, the children are taken to a room with no other children and timed while they complete a puzzle. Later, the same children are taken to a room with four other children and timed while they complete a similar puzzle. In this study, what do you call the length of time it takes to complete the puzzle?

Accepted Answer

The length of time it takes to complete the puzzle is the variable being measured and is therefore the dependent variable. The presence of other children is the independent variable, and the type of puzzle is the control variable. There is no mention of an extraneous variable in this scenario.

Question 18

Nula is conducting a study in which one group is exposed to loud music while completing a writing assignment and the other group has quiet conditions. Further, Nula examines the effect of gender within these groups. Therefore, she is examining the effects of both noise and gender on participants' performance on a writing task. Which of the following reflects the type of variables present in this study?

Accepted Answer

The study involves two independent variables (loud music and gender) and one dependent variable (performance on a writing task). There is no control variable mentioned in the scenario. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 19

In an experiment designed to test memory processes, one group was given special instructions and asked to group the items on a list into categories while trying to memorize them. A second group of participants was given the same list, but did not receive any special instructions. In this study, which group is the experimental group?

Accepted Answer

The experimental group is the group that receives the manipulation or special instructions. In this case, the group that received special instructions to group the items into categories while trying to memorize them is the experimental group. The other group serves as a control group to compare the effect of the manipulation on the experimental group.

Question 20

An industrial designer wants to determine if the new design for a piece of office equipment will result in fewer errors. The designer sets up a machine with the old design in one room, and a machine with the new design in a second room. He counts how many errors are made using each of the two machines. In this study, what do you call the number of errors made?

Accepted Answer

The number of errors made is the variable that is being measured or observed as the outcome of the study. Therefore, it is the dependent variable.

Quiz 2: A: The Research Enterprise in Psychology