Question 1

Which of the following is a type of independent variable that is controlled by the researcher by manipulating a 'treatment' that one group of participants receive and the control group does not?&#10;A) Factor&#10;B) Individual-difference variable&#10;C) Placebo

Accepted Answer

A factor is a type of independent variable that the researcher manipulates to observe its effect on a dependent variable, often involving different treatments for different groups.

Question 2

If you were to test whether males and females differed on a measure of the communication of intimacy in friendship relationships, you would most likely use:&#10;A) Independent-samples t test&#10;B) ANOVA

Accepted Answer

An independent-samples t-test is used to compare the means of two independent groups (in this case, males and females) on a continuous outcome (e.g., the measure of the communication of intimacy in friendship relationships). This test is appropriate for examining differences between two groups, which aligns with the scenario described.

Question 3

A student conducted a research study by surveying his fraternity brothers about their political attitudes. This study might well have a problem with _____________-&#10;A) Internal validity&#10;B) External validity

Accepted Answer

The study might have a problem with external validity because the sample (fraternity brothers) may not be representative of the general population, limiting the ability to generalize the findings to a broader group.

Question 4

If you were to compare the mean scores of people living in the U.S., China, Japan and Russia on a test of introversion-extroversion, you would most likely use:&#10;A) Independent -samples t test&#10;B) ANOVA

Accepted Answer

ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) is the appropriate statistical test for comparing the means of more than two groups, in this case, people living in the U.S., China, Japan, and Russia, on a test of introversion-extroversion.

Question 5

Which type of statistical test requires post-hoc tests to interpret significant findings?&#10;A) Independent-samples t test&#10;B) ANOVA&#10;C) Both of the above

Accepted Answer

ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) is used when comparing the means of three or more groups. If the ANOVA test finds significant differences, post-hoc tests are needed to determine which specific groups differ from each other.

Question 6

The law of large numbers means that:&#10;A) All participants have an equal opportunity to be placed in experimental groups&#10;B) As the size of the sample increases, the likelihood that the sample will be similar to the overall population increases&#10;C) Participants are assigned to conditions based on a preexisting trait&#10;D) The researcher makes the experimental groups as similar as possible on a potential rival variable&#10;E) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The law of large numbers is a principle of probability according to which the frequencies of events with the same likelihood of occurrence even out, given enough trials or instances. As the sample size increases, the actual ratio of outcomes will converge on the theoretical, or expected, ratio of outcomes. For example, in a study, as the number of participants (sample size) increases, the characteristics of the sample are more likely to reflect those of the broader population, making the results more reliable and generalizable.

Question 7

A researcher can attempt to control for rival variables by using which of the following strategies?&#10;A) Balance the presence of a rival variable across all experimental groups

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher can attempt to control for...

Question 8

Which of the following is the outcome variable that the researcher is seeking to predict?&#10;A) Dependent variable&#10;B) Extraneous variable&#10;C) Independent variable&#10;D) Individual-difference variable

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the outcome variable that the researcher is seeking to predict or explain in a study, as it depends on the effects of the independent variables.

Question 9

Which of the following are variables that are systematically controlled by the researcher?&#10;A) Independent variables&#10;B) Dependent variables

Accepted Answer

Independent variables are the ones that researchers manipulate or control in an experiment to see if they cause an effect on the dependent variables.

Deck 5: Quantitative Research: Basic Experimental Designs