Question 1

Of the following, which describes a likely causal-comparative study?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 2

One strength of causal-comparative studies, in comparison to experimental studies, is that causal-comparative studies can examine _____________ while experimental studies can not.

Accepted Answer

Causal-comparative studies can examine variables that should not be manipulated, such as gender, race, and age, whereas experimental studies require the manipulation of variables to examine causality.

Question 3

Of the following which is an example of a prospective casual-comparative study?

Accepted Answer

A prospective casual-comparative study involves identifying groups and then observing them over time to determine if there are differences based on a specific variable. In option D, Jason identifies groups based on whether they receive vocabulary homework and then observes their performance, making it prospective.

Question 4

The most common descriptive statistic used in causal-comparative research as a measure of spread around the mean is the

Accepted Answer

The standard deviation is the most common descriptive statistic used in causal-comparative research as a measure of spread around the mean. It is a measure of how much individual scores vary from the mean of the sample. The range is not as precise as the standard deviation because it only considers the difference between the highest and lowest scores. The mean is a measure of central tendency, not a measure of spread, and t-tests are statistical tests used for hypothesis testing, not for describing the spread of scores.

Question 5

The most common descriptive statistic used in causal-comparative research as a measure of central tendency is the

Accepted Answer

The mean is the most common descriptive statistic used in causal-comparative research as a measure of central tendency because it provides a single value that summarizes and represents the center of a data set.

Question 6

One similarity between causal-comparative and experimental research is that both

Accepted Answer

Both causal-comparative and experimental research attempt to establish cause-effect relationships. In causal-comparative research, the researcher attempts to identify potential causes for observed differences between groups, while in experimental research, the researcher manipulates an independent variable to investigate its effect on a dependent variable. Random assignment is a feature of experimental research and not of causal-comparative research, and while both types of research examine relationships after events have occurred, this is not a defining characteristic of either.

Question 7

In contrast to experimental research, causal-comparative studies generally

Accepted Answer

Causal-comparative studies, also known as quasi-experimental studies, do not manipulate independent variables. Instead, they compare groups that already exist and look for differences in the dependent variable. They cannot establish causation as there may be other variables at play that could explain the differences observed. Random assignment is typically not used in causal-comparative studies.

Question 8

One similarity between causal-comparative and correlational research is that both

Accepted Answer

Both causal-comparative and correlational research are types of descriptive research, which aim to describe or explain phenomena rather than manipulate variables to establish causality. While correlational research attempts to identify the degree and direction of relationships between variables, causal-comparative research compares groups that have been naturally exposed to different levels of a potential causal factor to identify differences in outcome variables. However, neither type of research can determine causality, as they do not involve manipulation of independent variables or random assignment to conditions. Also, the research procedures for each type are different, with causal-comparative research requiring selection of groups with different levels of the variable of interest, while correlational research uses measures of variables and statistical analyses to establish relationships.

Question 9

All of the following are relative weaknesses of causal-comparative research when compared with other forms of quantitative research EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The time to conduct the study is not a relative weakness of causal-comparative research as it is not specific to this type of research but rather a factor that affects all forms of research. The other options are relative weaknesses because experimental research has randomization and manipulation of independent variables, and correlational research has control of research variables as its strengths.

Question 10

Of the following, which is most likely to be an independent variable in a causal-comparative study?

Accepted Answer

In a causal-comparative study, the independent variable is already established and cannot be manipulated. Therefore, out of the given options, the most likely independent variable would be the type of instructional treatment administered as it cannot be manipulated easily. The other options such as mathematics achievement, time to complete a problem, and amount of content learned from instructional materials can be influenced by many other factors and are not already established.

Question 11

Stan's study examined the differences in self-concept between children enrolled in a summer outdoor adventure program and those who were not. The adventure group children had slightly higher self-concept prior to the program than the comparison group, so Stan took individual's initial self-concept score into consideration when he examined his data. Which of the following strategies for controlling extraneous variables did Stan employ?

Accepted Answer

Stan employed Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to control for the extraneous variable of initial self-concept scores. ANCOVA is a statistical technique that allows researchers to control for the effects of extraneous variables by including them as covariates in the analysis of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Question 12

Of the following, which is most likely to be an independent variable in a causal-comparative study?

Accepted Answer

Country of origin is the most likely independent variable in a causal-comparative study because it is a variable that cannot be manipulated by the researcher and may potentially have a causal relationship with the dependent variable of interest (e.g. academic achievement). Discipline referrals and SAT scores can be influenced by other factors, such as school policies or individual differences, and attitudes about science may not have a direct causal relationship with academic achievement.

Question 13

Causal comparative and experimental research both

Accepted Answer

Both causal comparative and experimental research are used to examine differences between groups. While experimental research manipulates the independent variable(s) in the study and assigns participants to conditions, causal comparative research does not manipulate any variables and only compares pre-existing groups. Additionally, while both types of research have ethical considerations, the considerations may differ depending on the nature of the study and the variables being studied.

Question 14

A causal-comparative study requires

Accepted Answer

A causal-comparative study compares pre-existing groups that differ on some variable, without any manipulation by the researcher. Options A, C, and D refer to other types of studies.

Question 15

Wendy is investigating differences in cardiovascular health between children who are involved in extra-curricular activities and those who are not. She decides to investigate only children who are average height and weight, with no existing heart conditions and no family history of obesity. Wendy has employed which method for controlling the extraneous variable in her study?

Accepted Answer

Wendy is using the method of comparing homogeneous subgroups by selecting children who share similar characteristics (average height and weight, no existing heart conditions, and no family history of obesity) to control for extraneous variables. This ensures that the groups being compared are as similar as possible except for the variable of interest (involvement in extra-curricular activities).

Question 16

Paula examined differences in college persistence between students who took the SAT either before their junior year or during their junior year of high school. She compared students with the same score and found that students had taken the SAT before their junior year of high school were more likely to stay in college than those who had taken the SAT during their junior year. Paula employed which method for controlling the extraneous variable, performance, in her study?

Accepted Answer

Paula employed matching to control for performance, as she compared students with the same SAT score who had taken the test at different times. Matching involves selecting participants who are similar on a specific variable (in this case, SAT score) in order to reduce the impact of that variable on the outcome of the study.

Question 17

Of the following, which is an example of a retrospective causal-comparative approach?

Accepted Answer

A retrospective causal-comparative approach involves comparing groups that differ on a variable of interest that has already occurred in the past. In this case, James is comparing the environmental attitudes of adults who were scouts (a variable that had already occurred in the past) to those of adults who were not scouts. The other options are not retrospective in nature as they involve manipulating a variable in the present and then observing differences.

Question 18

Laura is designing a study that examines difference in social skills between children raised in a three-generation family household compared to those raised in a two-generation family home. Laura is most likely to study this research problem by use of causal-comparative research because

Accepted Answer

Causal-comparative research is used to determine cause-and-effect relationships when the independent variables have already occurred and cannot be manipulated by the researcher, which is the case in Laura's study where the type of family household has already been established.

Question 19

Of the following, which is considered an organismic variable?

Accepted Answer

Age is an organismic variable because it refers to a characteristic of the individual's physical and biological development, such as maturation and growth. Marital status, intelligence, and self-esteem are not organismic variables, as they are influenced by social or environmental factors.

Question 20

The following are primary statistical procedure employed to analyze data in a causal-comparative study EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Spearman rho is a non-parametric correlation coefficient used to determine the relationship between two variables. It is not a statistical procedure typically used in a causal-comparative study. The most commonly used statistical procedures in a causal-comparative study include ANOVA, t test, and chi square depending on the nature of the variables being compared.

Quiz 9: Causal-Comparative Research

Of the following, which describes a likely causal-comparative study?

One strength of causal-comparative studies, in comparison to experimental studies, is that causal-comparative studies can examine _____________ while experimental studies can not.

Of the following which is an example of a prospective casual-comparative study?

The most common descriptive statistic used in causal-comparative research as a measure of spread around the mean is the

The most common descriptive statistic used in causal-comparative research as a measure of central tendency is the

One similarity between causal-comparative and experimental research is that both

In contrast to experimental research, causal-comparative studies generally

One similarity between causal-comparative and correlational research is that both

All of the following are relative weaknesses of causal-comparative research when compared with other forms of quantitative research EXCEPT

Of the following, which is most likely to be an independent variable in a causal-comparative study?

Of the following, which is most likely to be an independent variable in a causal-comparative study?

Causal comparative and experimental research both

A causal-comparative study requires

Of the following, which is an example of a retrospective causal-comparative approach?

Laura is designing a study that examines difference in social skills between children raised in a three-generation family household compared to those raised in a two-generation family home. Laura is most likely to study this research problem by use of causal-comparative research because

Of the following, which is considered an organismic variable?

The following are primary statistical procedure employed to analyze data in a causal-comparative study EXCEPT