Question 1

The purpose of randomization is to make sure that

Accepted Answer

Randomization ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to the treatment or control group, which reduces the influence of extraneous variables and increases the internal validity of the study. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because randomization does not ensure equal time spent in the treatment and control groups, nor does it ensure that everyone is exactly the same on the independent or dependent variables.

Question 2

Statistical significance determines whether an observed difference between a treatment and control group is likely due to _____________.

Accepted Answer

Statistical significance helps determine whether the observed difference between a treatment and control group is likely due to chance or not. Random assignment helps control for confounds but does not determine statistical significance. External validity refers to the extent to which findings can be generalized beyond the study sample and is not directly related to statistical significance.

Question 3

Matilda designed a study in which she had a treatment group and a control group. She then took 100 participants and flipped a coin with each one to determine which group they would be in. This assigning of participants is called _____________.

Accepted Answer

The assigning of participants to the treatment and control groups based on the flip of a coin is an example of randomization. Randomization helps to ensure that the groups are similar and that any differences between them are due to the treatment being tested and not some other factor.

Question 4

In research studies, the term "effect size" refers to

Accepted Answer

Effect size refers to the magnitude of the difference between groups in a study, essentially quantifying the size of the change or difference observed, not the number of subjects, the statistical power, or the external validity of the study.

Question 5

Analog research models

Accepted Answer

Analog research models create laboratory conditions that are comparable to the phenomenon under study.

Question 6

In research, the term "clinical significance" refers to

Accepted Answer

Clinical significance refers to whether the treatment or intervention studied had a meaningful impact or benefit for the individuals being treated. It is different from statistical significance, which has to do with whether the results are likely due to chance or not. The other options are not related to clinical significance.

Question 7

The type of study that generally does not follow the scientific method and typically contains many confounds is the

Accepted Answer

Case studies often do not follow the scientific method strictly and can contain many confounding variables because they focus on an in-depth examination of a single subject or a small group, rather than controlling variables and testing hypotheses in a systematic way.

Question 8

A researcher studying the effect of a dietary supplement on sleep finds that research participants who take the supplement sleep an average of 7 hours and 25 minutes per night, while participants who were given a placebo pill with no active ingredients in it sleep for an average of 7 hours and 20 minutes. These findings are clearly

Accepted Answer

The difference of 5 minutes in sleep duration between the supplement group and the placebo group is very small and unlikely to have a meaningful impact on individuals' health or well-being, indicating that the findings are not clinically significant.

Question 9

Randomization is used to assign research participants to groups in order to

Accepted Answer

Randomization helps to create groups that are similar in terms of potential influencing factors, such as age, gender, or past experiences, in order to reduce the likelihood of these factors affecting the research outcome. Randomization does not have an impact on the independent or dependent variables, but instead helps to control extraneous variables.

Question 10

A researcher separates participants into two groups. Group A receives an active medication, and Group B receives an empty capsule that looks and feels like the real medication. Group B is the group.

Accepted Answer

Group B is the control group, which is used to establish a baseline for comparison with the active treatment group (Group A). Group B receives an empty capsule, which is an analog of the active medication, to ensure that any observed effects in Group A are due to the medication and not any placebo effect.

Question 11

The reason that researchers cannot allow participants to decide whether to be in the control or treatment group is that this procedure may result in differences between the treatment and control group participants that

Accepted Answer

Allowing participants to decide which group they will be in could result in differences between the groups that have nothing to do with the independent variable being tested. This could compromise the internal validity of the study, making it difficult to determine if any differences observed between the groups are due to the independent variable or other factors. Therefore, researchers need to carefully assign participants to treatment and control groups to minimize these differences.

Question 12

Analogue models are useful when:

Accepted Answer

Analogue models are useful when there are too many potential confounds outside of the laboratory, there is a need to tightly control for internal validity, or it is not reasonable/practical to study the phenomenon outside of the laboratory. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 13

In well-designed research studies, medications that enhance serotonin functioning have been found to help patients recover from episodes of depression. Given the realities of the patient uniformity myth, it would be a mistake to conclude that

Accepted Answer

The patient uniformity myth suggests that all individuals with a particular diagnosis will have the same response to treatment, which is not the case. Therefore, it would be a mistake to conclude that all depressed patients will be helped by medications that enhance serotonin functioning, as some individuals may not respond to this treatment.

Question 14

Which of the following is most likely to be investigated using a case study method:

Accepted Answer

Case studies are often used to deeply investigate rare or unique phenomena, which is the case with the very rare physical disability impacting the mental health of 14-and-a-half year olds living in the American southeast. A case study approach would allow for a comprehensive examination of all the factors involved in this specific disability and how it's impacting the mental health of these teenagers. The other options involve broader questions that may require larger sample sizes and different research methods.

Question 15

Joe is suffering from a severe anxiety disorder. His psychiatrist prescribes a medication that has been found in many research studies to help reduce anxiety. Joe takes the medication, but his anxiety level does not improve at all. Since the anxiety medication did not work, Joe concludes that his psychiatrist must be wrong and he must be suffering from some other disorder. The problem with Joe's conclusion is that he is failing to consider the

Accepted Answer

Joe's conclusion overlooks the patient uniformity myth, which is the incorrect assumption that all patients with the same diagnosis will respond similarly to a given treatment. This overlooks individual differences in response to medication.

Question 16

A study that uses the controlled conditions of the lab to replicate the phenomenon under study is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A study that uses the controlled conditions of the lab to replicate the phenomenon under study is called an analogue model. Longitudinal studies involve observing a group over a long period of time, cross-sectional studies involve comparing different groups at one point in time, and retrospective studies involve collecting data from the past.

Question 17

The patient uniformity myth refers to the tendency to

Accepted Answer

The patient uniformity myth refers to the tendency to see all study participants as homogenous, assuming that they will have similar responses to treatments or interventions. This oversimplification disregards individual differences and can lead to ineffective or even harmful medical practices. Therefore, recognizing and addressing the heterogeneity of study participants is important for personalized and evidence-based medicine.

Question 18

One of the major problems with the case study method is that it is too easy to make false conclusions based on

Accepted Answer

The case study method often involves a small sample size and relies heavily on qualitative data. Without proper controls, it is easy to attribute causation to a particular factor based on coincidence, rather than true causation. Therefore, false conclusions can be easily drawn, making option D the correct answer.

Question 19

One advantage of the case study method is that it can:

Accepted Answer

The case study method allows for in-depth analysis of rare phenomena, which may not be possible through other research methods. However, it cannot measure causation as it does not involve manipulation of variables and does not necessarily generalize to broader populations. Therefore, option D is incorrect.

Question 20

In a study to investigate the effects of alcohol on reflexes, some students were given three bottles of beer and some were given three bottles of nonalcoholic beer, and reaction time was measured. The group that received the nonalcoholic beer is the .

Accepted Answer

The group that received the nonalcoholic beer is the control group because it serves as a comparison to the treatment group (those who received alcoholic beer).

Quiz 4: Research Methods