Question 1

All true experiments measure the outcome in both groups after the experimental group has received the treatment which is known as the

Accepted Answer

A posttest is used to measure the outcome in both groups after the experimental group has received the treatment. A pretest is conducted before the treatment to establish baseline measurements, while a subtest measures a particular aspect of a larger test. An ex post facto test is not a term commonly used in experimental design.

Question 2

The criterion of time order indicates that the variation in the independent variable came before the

Accepted Answer

The criterion of time order indicates that the variation in the independent variable came before the dependent variable. Therefore, the dependent variable is the one that is affected by the independent variable and is measured after the variation in the independent variable. In this case, the only option that fits this description is the dependent variable (B). The other options are not relevant to the time order criterion.

Question 3

One of the five basic sources of internal invalidity is

Accepted Answer

Endogenous change refers to changes that occur within the participants during the course of the study that may affect the outcome. This can be a source of internal invalidity as it may not be clear whether the change observed is due to the intervention or due to other factors.

Question 4

An explanation that involves the belief that variation in an independent variable will be following by variation in the dependent variable is a

Accepted Answer

This is a basic principle in nomothetic causal explanation, which aims to identify universal laws that predict how changes in one variable are related to changes in another variable.

Question 5

The common feature of before-and-after quasi-experimental designs is

Accepted Answer

Before-and-after quasi-experimental designs involve observing or measuring a single group both before and after they are exposed to an intervention or treatment, without comparing them to a separate control group.

Question 6

When using a true experimental design to test a hypothesis is not feasible, a researcher may use a

Accepted Answer

A quasi-experimental design allows for the manipulation of an independent variable, but lacks random assignment of participants to groups. This is often used when it is not possible to have a true experimental design, such as when the independent variable is not ethically or practically possible to manipulate.

Question 7

In non-equivalent control group designs, a comparison group is selected to be as comparable as possible to the treatment group.One of the selection methods that may be used is

Accepted Answer

Individual matching is the best choice because it allows for the selection of individuals in the comparison group who are similar to those in the treatment group on relevant characteristics. This helps to control for potentially confounding variables and increases the internal validity of the study. Field experimentation, cohort matching, and control experimentation are not selection methods but rather types of experimental designs.

Question 8

In ex post facto control group designs, the groups are

Accepted Answer

In ex post facto control group designs, the groups are designated after the treatment has occurred. This means that the researcher observes the treatment and then forms groups based on who has received it and who has not, rather than randomly assigning participants beforehand.

Question 9

An important feature of a true experiment is that there is random assignment to

Accepted Answer

Random assignment is a key feature of a true experiment because it helps ensure that the comparison groups are equivalent at the beginning of the study, which increases the internal validity of the results. Random assignment involves randomly assigning participants to two or more comparison groups, which is why the best choice is B.

Question 10

The assessment of change in the dependent variable for both groups after the experimental condition has been applied is known as

Accepted Answer

The assessment of change in the dependent variable for both groups after the experimental condition has been applied is known as the posttest. The pretest is used to establish baseline measures before the experimental condition is applied, the ex post facto test is used to analyze data after the fact, and the assigned test is not a commonly used term in research methodology.

Question 11

An explanation that identifies the concrete, individual sequence of events, thoughts or actions, resulting in a particular outcome is a

Accepted Answer

An idiographic causal explanation focuses on the specific details and unique circumstances of a particular event or outcome, and seeks to identify the individual sequence of events, thoughts or actions that led to that outcome.

Question 12

A true experiment has

Accepted Answer

A true experiment involves two comparison groups, one receiving the intervention and one serving as a control group. The control group is given a placebo or no treatment while the intervention group is given the actual treatment under study. The option A, which mentions three comparison groups, does not apply to a true experiment. Option B mentions five interventional groups, which is not typical for a true experiment. Option D, which says "None of the above," is not a correct choice as C is the correct answer.

Question 13

A powerful way to ensure that the independent variable actually affected the dependent variable when using a before-and-after design is by

Accepted Answer

Using a multiple group before-and-after design allows for comparisons between groups that did and did not receive the intervention, helping to isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable.

Question 14

A researcher determines whether an association exists between the independent and dependent variables in a true experiment because two or more groups differ in terms of their value on the

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher to see its effect on the dependent variable. By manipulating the independent variable and comparing the differences in the dependent variable between the groups, the researcher can determine if there is an association or causal relationship between the two variables.

Question 15

Experimental research provides the most powerful design for testing

Accepted Answer

Experimental research is designed for testing causal hypotheses by manipulating an independent variable and observing the effect on a dependent variable. Therefore, option B is the correct choice. Option A is not specific to experimental research, and option C is a technique used in experimental research but is not the purpose of experimental research itself. Option D is a problem that experimental research aims to avoid through randomization.

Question 16

In a true experiment, the ____ group receives some "treatment"

Accepted Answer

In a true experiment, the experimental group is the group that receives some sort of treatment or manipulation, while the control group does not. This allows for comparison between the two groups to determine the effects of the treatment. Therefore, the correct answer is B) Experimental.

Question 17

The group of subjects who are either exposed to a different treatment than the experimental group or who receive no treatment at all is the

Accepted Answer

The group of subjects who are either exposed to a different treatment than the experimental group or who receive no treatment at all is the control group. This group serves as a basis for comparison to determine if the treatment had any effect on the experimental group.

Question 18

Social experiments conducted in the 'real world' are known as

Accepted Answer

Social experiments conducted in the 'real world' are known as field experiments, which involve manipulating or observing variables in a natural setting outside of a laboratory or controlled environment. City experiments and town experiments are not commonly used terms in social experimentation.

Question 19

A relationship that exists between two variables that is not due to variation in a third variable is

Accepted Answer

A nonspurious relationship is one where the association between two variables is not caused by a third variable, indicating a genuine connection.

Question 20

A discernable process that creates a causal connection between two variables is

Accepted Answer

A mechanism is a discernable process that creates a causal connection between two variables. This means that there is a clear and identifiable way in which one variable affects the other. The context and spurious relationship do not necessarily imply a clear causation between two variables.

Quiz 6: Causation and Experimentation