An experiment was conducted to look at the positive work-motivation effects of imagery on different people. A group of male staff was compared against a group of female staff. Both groups received presentations of positive images (e.g. cats and bunnies), neutral images (e.g. duvets and light bulbs), and negative images (e.g. corpses and vivisection photographs). Positive work motivation was measured by individual work productivity (high values indicate positive work motivation) both before and after each batch of images. The order in which participants saw the batches of positive, neutral and negative images was randomized to avoid order effects. It was hypothesized that positive images would increase positive work motivation, negative images would reduce motivation and neutral images would have no effect. Differences between the subject groups (male and female staff) were not expected. What technique should be used to analyse these data?
A) Two-way mixed ANOVA
B) Three-way repeated-measures ANOVA
C) Two-way mixed ANCOVA
D) Three-way mixed ANOVA

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct technique is a Three-way mixed ANOVA. This is because the experiment involves three factors: the type of image (positive, neutral, negative) which is a within-subjects factor (as all participants are exposed to all types of images), the time of measurement (before and after exposure to images) which is also a within-subjects factor, and the group (male vs. female staff) which is a between-subjects factor. This combination of within-subjects and between-subjects factors makes it a mixed ANOVA, and since there are three factors involved, it is specifically a three-way mixed ANOVA.

An Experiment Was Conducted to Look at the Positive Work-Motivation