Question 1

The following are procedures undertaken before an experimental study begins EXCEPT
A)testing students on a pretest over the material.
B)matching students to both the control and experimental groups.
C)selecting a group of homogeneous students on select characteristics.
D)statistically controlling for covariates that may influence the outcome.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 2

In an experiment,this type of group receives an alternative form of the treatment so that they benefit from the study.
A)Experimental group
B)Control group
C)Comparison group
D)Alternate group

Accepted Answer

The comparison group receives an alternative form of the treatment or no treatment at all, so that their results can be compared to the experimental group's results. This helps researchers determine the effectiveness of the treatment being studied. The control group, on the other hand, receives no treatment or a placebo to serve as a baseline for comparison. The alternate group is not a commonly used term in research studies. So, the comparison group is the best choice for this question.

Question 3

Define what is meant by a threat to external validity.

Accepted Answer

A threat to external validity is a problem in generalizing the results to other persons,settings,treatment variables,and measures

Question 4

An experiment is conducted in a middle school.Students in the experiment group receive special tutoring in math while students in the control group participate in a regular math class.On the math achievement test at the end of the year,the students in the special tutoring group score higher on math skills than the students in the regular math class.A parent complains about the ethics of this experiment.What ethical issue would the parent likely raise?
A)The math skills test is inadequate.
B)The students in the regular math class are disadvantaged because they did not have tutor.
C)The experiment did not receive approval from school officials.
D)The random assignment of students to groups was unethical.

Accepted Answer

The parent is likely concerned that the students in the control group did not receive the same advantage as the students in the experimental group, which creates an unfair disadvantage. This can be seen as a violation of the ethical principle of equitable treatment of participants in experiments.

Question 5

Which one of the following is a characteristic of an experiment?
A)Participants self-assign into the intervention or control
B)Allow a deep understanding of the participants' experiences
C)Allow researchers to compare groups
D)Have no threats to validity

Accepted Answer

An experiment allows researchers to compare groups, which is a defining characteristic of this research design. Participants in an experiment are typically assigned to either an intervention or control group by the researcher, eliminating the option of self-assignment. While experiments may provide some understanding of participants' experiences, this is not a defining characteristic of the design. Finally, there are several potential threats to validity in experiments, so the statement that experiments have no threats to validity is false.

Question 6

What serves as the control in single subject research?
A)Matched participants serve as the control
B)The target behavior serves as the control
C)The comparison condition serves as the control
D)Each participant serves as his or her own control

Accepted Answer

In single subject research, each participant serves as his or her own control. This is because the same participant is observed and measured before and after the intervention or treatment. The focus is on changes in the target behavior based on the intervention, rather than comparing it to a separate group or condition.

Question 7

Which one of the following is a characteristic of causal comparative research?
A)The researcher is manipulating the treatment condition.
B)The researcher can establish probable cause and effect.
C)The researcher cannot apply it practically in educational settings.
D)The researcher can determine an association between groups and the outcome.

Accepted Answer

Causal comparative research involves comparing two or more groups that differ on a specific variable of interest to determine if there is a relationship between the variable and the outcome. The researcher cannot manipulate the treatment condition, so it is not possible to establish cause and effect. However, the researcher can determine an association between groups and the outcome. The findings can be applied to educational settings to identify potential factors that can improve student learning outcomes.

Question 8

In a single subject design,what is the best strategy for demonstrating external validity?
A)Ensuring random assignment to the intervention
B)Replicating across multiple participants and studies
C)Measuring the baseline behavior
D)Using statistical techniques to evaluate intervention effect

Accepted Answer

In a single subject design, external validity can be demonstrated by replicating the study across multiple participants and studies. This ensures that the results are not specific to one individual or setting, but instead can be generalized to a larger population. Random assignment, measuring baseline behavior, and using statistical techniques are all important aspects of a single subject design, but they do not specifically address external validity.

Question 9

In experimental research,groups on some independent variable are compared in terms of outcomes on a dependent variable.Identify the independent variable and the groups in this experimental study.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In experimental research,groups on some independent variable...

Question 10

In this experiment,did the experimental treatment groups (token-economy structure and the contingency-contract structure)outperform the control group in terms of the outcome? Justify your response.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In this experiment,did the experimental treatment groups...

Question 11

Define what is meant by a threat to internal validity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define what is meant by a threat...

Question 12

Why are groups compared in an experiment?
A)Because they differ in important characteristics
B)To isolate whether the treatment affects the outcome
C)To identify if the groups statistically differ
D)To eliminate whether groups have different experiences

Accepted Answer

Groups are compared in an experiment to isolate whether the treatment affects the outcome. By comparing a treatment group (which receives the treatment being tested) to a control group (which does not receive the treatment), researchers can determine if the treatment had a significant effect on the outcome being measured.

Question 13

You are conducting an experiment with several school districts to identify if district goal setting as a treatment influences the outcome of high student achievement in the districts.Your experimental unit of analysis would be
A)an organization.
B)the school districts.
C)schools in the school districts.
D)students in the school districts.

Accepted Answer

The experimental unit of analysis in this study would be the school districts, as they are the ones being manipulated with district goal setting as a treatment. The study is not focused on individual schools or students within the districts.

Question 14

In an experiment,this type of group receives an alternative form of the treatment so that they benefit from the study.
A)Experimental group
B)Control group
C)Comparison group
D)Alternate group

Accepted Answer

The comparison group receives an alternative form of the treatment or no treatment at all, so that their results can be compared to the experimental group's results. This helps researchers determine the effectiveness of the treatment being studied. The control group, on the other hand, receives no treatment or a placebo to serve as a baseline for comparison. The alternate group is not a commonly used term in research studies. So, the comparison group is the best choice for this question.

Question 15

You read a journal article in which the researcher compares two existing third grade classrooms,one using a new behavioral management approach and the other using the usual approach.The researcher did not randomly assign the approach.What type of design is this study?
A)Quasi-experimental design
B)Dual group design
C)Experimental design
D)Within-group design

Accepted Answer

Since the researcher did not randomly assign the approach to the classrooms, this study cannot be considered an experimental design. However, the researcher is comparing two existing groups, making it a quasi-experimental design. The other options (B and D) do not accurately describe the study.

Question 16

A researcher finds out in an experimental study that a special program on binge drinking lowers the use of alcohol in the residential dormitories of a small college in the Midwest.Excited about the results,the investigator draws conclusions in the research report for use of this program in a nearby university.What potential threat to validity exists in this experiment?
A)Statistical conclusion validity
B)Construct validity
C)Internal validity
D)External validity

Accepted Answer

The potential threat to validity in this experiment is external validity. The researcher cannot assume that the results will generalize to a different population or setting without further investigation. The nearby university may have different cultural norms or a different student population that could affect the effectiveness of the program.

Question 17

In an experiment,the researcher randomly assigns students who have been caught smoking inside the high school to three different classes of a health class in which the teacher will address the issues of adolescent smoking.One advantage of this experimental procedure is
A)any variability in student characteristics will be equated among the classes.
B)the students who are caught smoking will be required to take a health class.
C)variables,such as the type of adolescent smoker,will be controlled in the study.
D)the students will be randomly assigned to the three classes and equally distributed.

Accepted Answer

Randomly assigning students to classes helps ensure that any variability in student characteristics, such as age, gender, smoking habits, etc., is equated among the classes. This increases the internal validity of the study, as it helps to ensure that any differences in outcomes between the classes are not due to preexisting differences in the students themselves. The other options listed do not accurately reflect the advantages of this experimental procedure.

Question 18

Which of the following is the best indicator of higher quality in an experiment?
A)The researcher reported that the effect of the intervention was strong.
B)The researcher selects measures and instruments based on availability.
C)The intervention is given to all participants,even the control group on a "wait list" after the experiment concludes.
D)The researcher determines the number individuals to be in each group based on availability of participants.

Accepted Answer

Giving the intervention to the control group after the experiment concludes (i.e. offering the intervention to everyone) indicates ethical considerations and a commitment to treating all participants equally, which are indicators of higher quality in research. Neither A nor D guarantee quality, as strong effects can still be due to flaws in methodology, and selecting sample sizes based on availability can introduce bias. B is also not indicative of higher quality, as selecting measures based on availability may not accurately capture the construct being studied.

Question 19

In this experimental study,what was the dependent variable or outcome assessed in the study?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In this experimental study,what was the dependent...

Quiz 10: Experimental Designs

The following are procedures undertaken before an experimental study begins EXCEPT

In an experiment,this type of group receives an alternative form of the treatment so that they benefit from the study.

Define what is meant by a threat to external validity.

Which one of the following is a characteristic of an experiment?

What serves as the control in single subject research?

Which one of the following is a characteristic of causal comparative research?

In a single subject design,what is the best strategy for demonstrating external validity?

In experimental research,groups on some independent variable are compared in terms of outcomes on a dependent variable.Identify the independent variable and the groups in this experimental study.

In this experiment,did the experimental treatment groups (token-economy structure and the contingency-contract structure)outperform the control group in terms of the outcome? Justify your response.

Define what is meant by a threat to internal validity.

Why are groups compared in an experiment?

You are conducting an experiment with several school districts to identify if district goal setting as a treatment influences the outcome of high student achievement in the districts.Your experimental unit of analysis would be

In an experiment,this type of group receives an alternative form of the treatment so that they benefit from the study.

You read a journal article in which the researcher compares two existing third grade classrooms,one using a new behavioral management approach and the other using the usual approach.The researcher did not randomly assign the approach.What type of design is this study?

In an experiment,the researcher randomly assigns students who have been caught smoking inside the high school to three different classes of a health class in which the teacher will address the issues of adolescent smoking.One advantage of this experimental procedure is

Which of the following is the best indicator of higher quality in an experiment?

In this experimental study,what was the dependent variable or outcome assessed in the study?