Deck 8: Control

Question 1

Which one of the following is not a good general strategy for achieving control in research?

A) using a laboratory setting
B) instrumenting the response
C) avoiding designs that require statistical analyses
D) using trained researchers

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Failing to confirm a hypothesis

A) Means that the hypothesis is incorrect
B) Means that the equipment could be faulty
C) Means that there may be problems with the experimental technique
D) Any of the above are possible

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Scientists have studied nerve conduction in the giant nerve axon of the squid because

A) It is larger than the axons of other animals, and thus makes an excellent preparation
B) Squids are cheap and plentiful
C) Its nerves fire repeatedly in the same way, generating more reliability than mammals
D) Reaction time can be measured for its nervous system

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Within-subjects experiments always have

A) control groups
B) control conditions
C) random assignment of subjects to conditions
D) nuisance variables

Question 5

A between-subjects experiment is one in which each subject

A) experiences each condition
B) serves as his or her own control
C) experiences only one of the conditions
D) both a and b

Question 6

Subjects may be used as their own control when

A) experiencing one condition is unlikely to influence the response to another
B) using statistical control is impossible
C) there are likely to be sequence effects
D) a within-subjects condition is not possible

Question 7

In a certain experiment,Group l receives Treatment A,and Group 2 receives no treatment.Group l is the ____ group,and Group 2 is the ____ group.

A) experimental, control
B) control, experimental
C) experimental, experimental
D) None of these are true. Each group controls for the other.

Question 8

The experimental group

A) Does not take part in the experiment
B) Is treated the same as the control group, except for the independent variable
C) Receives no treatment
D) Receives all treatments

Question 9

Laboratory research,as opposed to field research,is

A) the only way to achieve satisfactory experimental control
B) required by government funding agencies
C) better because participants expect formal settings
D) generally preferred because it is easier to achieve control

Question 10

When designing an experiment,one must always have

A) A control group
B) An experimental group
C) A control condition
D) Confounded variables

Question 11

A within-subjects experiment is one in which each subject

A) experiences each condition
B) serves as his or her own control
C) experiences only one of the conditions
D) both a and b

Question 12

Which of the following best conveys the idea of instrumentation of the response as control?

A) getting the most sensitive measure of a phenomenon
B) using the computer to present stimuli and record responses
C) using the computer to analyze data
D) using a physical device to record the data

Question 13

Skinner emphasized which aspect of control?

A) reduction of variability
B) providing a standard of comparison
C) using groups of subjects
D) using statistical control

Question 14

Which one of the following statements is true about a between-subjects experiment?

A) Each subject experiences each condition.
B) Different groups of subjects experience different conditions.
C) Each group of subjects experiences each condition.
D) Each individual experiences a different condition.

Question 15

Using subjects as their own control involves which one of the following?

A) equating groups on one or more variables that is highly related to the dependent variable
B) exposing each participant to multiple conditions
C) exposing each individual to a unique and different treatment
D) using the analysis of covariance technique

Question 16

A control group

A) does not take part in the experiment
B) is treated the same as the experimental group but is not tested
C) is treated the same as the experimental group except for the independent variable
D) is treated the same as the experimental group except for the dependent variable

Question 17

Sometimes a nonexperimental study has more ____ validity than a corresponding laboratory study,despite the more limited control

A) External
B) Internal
C) Construct
D) Concurrent

Question 18

Control may be defined as

A) the ability to guide sources of variability in an experiment
B) providing standards for comparing the effect of a particular variable
C) providing techniques to reduce the effects of extraneous variables on the results
D) all of these

Question 19

An environment that is selected for a particular research purpose is called

A) Construct validity
B) A preparation
C) Reliable
D) Instrumentation

Question 20

Dr.Rankin ran an experiment investigating the effects of packaging color on consumer preference for the pudding in the package.Each participant in the experiment tasted the same pudding from three differently colored containers and was asked to rate how much they liked each one.Dr.Rankin used a

A) Between-subjects design
B) Random design
C) Within-subjects design
D) Concurrent design

Question 21

Between-subjects experiments

A) eliminate the possibility that one condition will affect another
B) use fewer subjects than within-subjects experiments
C) are always preferable to within-subjects experiments
D) All of these are true.

Question 22

Which of the following is the best means of randomly assigning subjects to conditions?

A) Place students into groups in the order they sign up for the experiment.
B) Placing every other student into one of the two groups.
C) Give each student a number and compare them to a random number table.
D) Give each student a number, write them on slips of paper and shake them in a hat.

Question 23

Replication is

A) used as a means of control only when statistical significance is marginal
B) generally considered a real test of an experimental result
C) only attempted when a researcher(s results are suspect
D) limited to testing internal validity, not external, construct, or statistical

Question 24

If the independent variable is magnitude of reward,then subjects who experience a large reward (say,$200)first may respond less to a small reward (say,$20).This is a(n)

A) Situation in which to use a within-subjects experiment
B) Example of a contrast effect
C) Example of a concurrent effect
D) Situation in which an experiment cannot be performed

Question 25

Matching may justified in an experiment if

A) there is a variable that is highly correlated with the dependent variable
B) it is feasible to present a pretest before assigning subjects to conditions
C) Both a and b are true.
D) Matching is always justified.

Question 26

The number of subjects to be used in an experiment should depend mainly on

A) the size of the effect
B) the anticipated variability of the data
C) the number available
D) both a and b

Question 27

What is the main purpose of matching?

A) to reduce initial differences between the experimental and control groups on the dependent variable
B) to reduce the amount of variability among subjects within each treatment group
C) to control for order effects
D) to control for sequence effects

Question 28

The purpose of random assignment of subjects to conditions is

A) to eliminate confounding of subject-related variables
B) to make groups equal
C) to permit the use of statistics
D) Both a and c are true.

Question 29

One learns to do research by

A) Studying examples of research
B) Reading about it in text books
C) Doing research
D) All of the above

Question 30

Including a nuisance variable

A) is a mistake to be avoided
B) can increase the sensitivity of the experiment
C) is a type of manipulation check
D) decreases the generality of the results

Question 31

How do experimenters decide which methodology to use to test a hypothesis?

A) A thorough review of the literature helps to reveal techniques generally used
B) Trial and Error
C) It doesn't matter; Statistics can make sense of any method
D) If the hypothesis is to be supported, it will be proven any way you test it.

Question 32

Which of the following is an example of random allocation of subjects to groups?

A) A sign-up sheet is passed around the class with times. Participants are allowed to sign up for the time that fits them best
B) Rats are pulled from a group cage and the first batch are placed in Condition 1, the second in Condition 2, and so on
C) Assign numbers individually and non-systemmatically, then look at a random number table to allocate them to groups.
D) Divide participants based on where they live

Question 33

Matching can reduce the precision of your experiment if

A) the variable on which you match is not highly correlated with the dependent variable
B) the variable on which you match is too highly correlated with the dependent variable
C) the matching variable and the dependent variable are the same
D) None of these are true. Matching always increases the precision of an experiment.

Question 34

The power of an experiment increases in direct proportion with the

A) square root of the number of subjects
B) square root of the number of subjects divided by the standard deviation
C) the number of subjects
D) anticipated variability of the data

Question 35

Which one of the following is not a good specific strategy for achieving control in research?

A) using subjects as their own control
B) building nuisance variables into the experiment
C) making designs more complex
D) using statistical controls

Question 36

The difference between a nuisance variable and a confounded variable is

A) There is no difference. They are the same thing.
B) A nuisance variable varies with the independent variable
C) A confounded variable varies with the dependent variable
D) A confounded variable varies with the independent variable

Question 37

Systematic replication of an experiment tests

A) external validity
B) construct validity
C) statistical validity
D) all of these

Question 38

Statistical control is

A) a way of equating subjects on paper that are actually not equal
B) the same as randomization
C) generally preferable to experimental control
D) All of these are true.

Question 39

A nuisance variable is

A) the same as a confounded variable
B) an second independent variable in an experiment
C) one that is included even though it is not of theoretical interest
D) Both b and c are correct.

Question 40

Statistical control refers to a means of

A) equating subjects on paper when they cannot be equated as they exist
B) estimating the probability that any observed differences between groups are the result of chance errors
C) estimating the probability that any observed differences between groups are the result of true differences in the population
D) estimating the probability that all extraneous variables have been controlled

Question 41

What are the two different meanings of the term control as discussed in research,and how do they contribute to dealing with problems of validity of research?

Question 42

Discuss the concept of a preparation and give an example of how it might apply in a psychological experiment.

Question 43

List and describe the conditions that make using a within-subjects design viable.

Question 44

Discuss two methods by which experimental control over extraneous variables can be increased.

Question 45

A researcher plans to do an experiment in the college setting concerning the effects of class size on attendance in a first year law course.He has four levels of size,namely,15,25,40,and 60 students.Four colleges are involved in the study,each having eight first-year law classes,two of each class size.The researcher can assign students at random to a class within a college,but he cannot assign students randomly to a college.Two law professors are used in each college.All professors teach four classes; the dependent variable is grades measured after one semester.Discuss the problems of control in this situation.Consider possible uncontrolled variables and variables that are or might be controlled.Is there a possibility of confounding of variables in this research situation? State one or more hypotheses for this experiment.