A group of students was asked to write an essay in support of the legalization of marijuana. They were paid $.50 each. Another group of students received $2.00 each for performing the same task. It was subsequently found that those students who received only $.50 each developed a more positive attitude toward the legalization of marijuana. The researcher in this study was using the ________ method of research.
A) correlational
B) survey
C) naturalistic observation
D) experimental

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study involved manipulating the independent variable (amount of payment) and measuring its effect on the dependent variable (attitude toward legalization of marijuana). This is a key characteristic of experimental research. The other methods mentioned (correlational, survey, and naturalistic observation) do not involve manipulation of variables in the same way.

A Group of Students Was Asked to Write an Essay