Participants in a within-subjects experiment are performing an odor identification task in which the smell of vinegar is presented at a particularly high concentration. The smell that follows the presentation of the vinegar is always poorly identified, regardless of which odorant it is. What should be a concern for this experimental design?
A) Order effects
B) Sequence Effects
C) Random allocation to groups
D) Mortality

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is most likely a sequence effect, where the presentation of vinegar is influencing the identification of the subsequent smells. A within-subjects design means that all participants experience the same sequence of odor presentations, so any effect that carries over from one trial to the next could be considered a sequence effect. Order effects refer to the influence of the order in which conditions are presented (e.g., experiencing one condition before another) and are not as likely to be a concern in this specific scenario. Random allocation to groups and mortality are not relevant to this experiment design.

Participants in a Within-Subjects Experiment Are Performing an Odor Identification