Deck 8: Internal Validity

Question 1

Match the research examples in 1-7 with the main threat to internal validity that it contains (a-g).

-A control and experimental group take a posttest on cultural diversity. The experimental group had a three-day unit on diversity, the control group did not. However, in another class the control group had some discussion about diversity.

A) Maturation
B) History or environmental events
C) Repeated testing
D) Instrumentation
E) Selection or assignment
F) Mortality or attrition
G) Statistical regression

Answer 1

History or environmental events

Question 2

Match the research examples in 1-7 with the main threat to internal validity that it contains (a-g).

-The research assistants become bored and do not do their observations as carefully near the end of the study.

A) Maturation
B) History or environmental events
C) Repeated testing
D) Instrumentation
E) Selection or assignment
F) Mortality or attrition
G) Statistical regression

Answer 2

Instrumentation

Question 3

Match the research examples in 1-7 with the main threat to internal validity that it contains (a-g).

-An experiment is conducted to assess a new history teaching method. School districts that volunteer serve as the experimental group; those that do not volunteer, serve as the control group.

A) Maturation
B) History or environmental events
C) Repeated testing
D) Instrumentation
E) Selection or assignment
F) Mortality or attrition
G) Statistical regression

Answer 3

Selection or assignment

Question 4

Match the research examples in 1-7 with the main threat to internal validity that it contains (a-g).

-A researcher is interested in the long-term effects of an election on the political attitudes of voters. Prior to the election, the views of 100 voters are assessed. Afterward, the researcher is able to reassess the attitudes of 74 voters.

A) Maturation
B) History or environmental events
C) Repeated testing
D) Instrumentation
E) Selection or assignment
F) Mortality or attrition
G) Statistical regression

Question 5

Match the research examples in 1-7 with the main threat to internal validity that it contains (a-g).

-A researcher gives students a pretest on attitudes toward diversity and then implements his "teaching tolerance" curriculum to half of the classes. A month before the posttest, voters in the state pass a divisive anti-homosexual law.

A) Maturation
B) History or environmental events
C) Repeated testing
D) Instrumentation
E) Selection or assignment
F) Mortality or attrition
G) Statistical regression

Question 6

Match the research examples in 1-7 with the main threat to internal validity that it contains (a-g).

-At the start of the school year, the mathematics achievement of a group of young children is assessed. They are then all exposed to a new mathematics program and re-examined at the end of the school year.

A) Maturation
B) History or environmental events
C) Repeated testing
D) Instrumentation
E) Selection or assignment
F) Mortality or attrition
G) Statistical regression

Question 7

Match the research examples in 1-7 with the main threat to internal validity that it contains (a-g).

-A psychiatrist selects a group of patients with the most extreme symptoms of depression. After one month of therapy, the patients have markedly improved.

A) Maturation
B) History or environmental events
C) Repeated testing
D) Instrumentation
E) Selection or assignment
F) Mortality or attrition
G) Statistical regression

Question 8

Which of the following is an attempt to make groups equal and diminish threats to internal validity?

A) Randomized assignment of participants to groups or conditions
B) Randomized assignment of treatments or conditions to intact groups
C) Checking for pretest equality of groups after the fact
D) All of the above are true

Question 9

Threats related to participant characteristics include:

A) Regression to the mean of extreme groups
B) Attrition or experimental mortality
C) Differences between groups in maturation rates
D) All of the above

Question 10

Threats related to experiences and environment include:

A) Environmental events that affect one group more than another group
B) Group differences in genetic predispositions
C) Experimental mortality or attrition
D) Statistical regression

Question 11

A researcher makes some attempts to equate the characteristics of two groups of participants. She conducts her research study in a laboratory setting where extraneous variables are eliminated. The two ratings of internal validity of the study, equivalence of participant characteristics and control of extraneous variables, would be:

A) Medium and high
B) High and medium
C) Low and medium
D) Low and high

Question 12

Two groups of students are tested, there is no attempt to match or check participant characteristics. The study is conducted in a field setting with very different testing rooms for

A) Low and low
B) Low and medium
C) Low and high
D) Medium and high

Question 13

A researcher randomly assigns 30 participants each to two treatment groups. The study is conducted in two different but somewhat similar classroom settings. The ratings of internal validity on equivalence of participant characteristics and control of extraneous variables, would be:

A) Medium and medium
B) High and high
C) High and medium
D) Medium and high

Question 14

A researcher randomly assigns 80 participants to either a treatment group or a control group. The study is conducted in a laboratory setting. The ratings of internal validity on equivalence of participant characteristics and control of extraneous variables, would be:

A) Medium and medium
B) High and high
C) High and medium
D) Medium and high

Question 15

The criteria for causality typically include:

A) The independent variable (IV) must precede the dependent variable (DV)
B) The independent variable (IV) and the dependent variable (DV) must be unrelated
C) There must be no third variable that could explain the relationship between IV and DV
D) Random selection of participants from the population
E) a and c

Question 16

With the associational approach, it is difficult to have a high rating on either one of the measures of internal validity?

Question 17

Extraneous and experiential variables are typically hard to control with comparative and associational approaches.

Question 18

Extraneous and experiential variables are typically well-controlled with the randomized experimental approach.

Question 19

When comparing two groups, historical events can affect both groups equally, obscuring any significant differences.

Question 20

When comparing two groups, a historical event can affect one group more than the other group, threatening the internal validity of the study.

Question 21

Matching of participants on characteristics other than the IV is one way to control for extraneous environmental variables.

Question 22

Statistical regression can be a problem when dealing with students who were selected into a group because of their very high (e.g., gifted and talented) or very low (e.g., failing a class) categories?

Question 23

What are the three types of research validity?

Question 24

In your own words, define internal validity.

Question 25

What threats are not eliminated by using random assignment?