Question 1

Confounds introduce:

Accepted Answer

Confounds introduce systematic bias by affecting the relationship between the independent variable and dependent variable in a consistent way.

Question 2

In the Bransford and Johnson study, the independent variable was ____ and the dependent variable was ____.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable in the Bransford and Johnson study was the picture presented along with a passage, and the dependent variable was the participants' comprehensibility and recall of the passage. Age, gender, and attitudes toward the elderly were not manipulated or measured in the study.

Question 3

When interpreting the results of an experiment, we first consider the possibility that the results are due to ____, then second, to ____, and then third, to ____.

Accepted Answer

This is because chance is always a possibility in any experiment, and the results may be due to a random occurrence. Unknown factors may also play a role in the results, such as environmental or individual differences. Finally, we consider the independent variable as a possible explanation for the results, as this is the variable that is manipulated and expected to have an effect on the outcome. Confounding variables could also impact the results but are not mentioned in the options. Types I and II errors are associated with statistical hypothesis testing and not applicable to this question.

Question 4

Chance or ____ refers to factors that affect subjects in a nonsystematic way.

Accepted Answer

Error variation refers to factors that affect subjects in a nonsystematic way, such as random fluctuations or measurement errors. Bias variation refers to systematic errors or deviations from the truth, confounding variation occurs when the effect of an exposure on an outcome is mixed with the effect of another variable, and validity variation refers to the degree to which a study measures what it is supposed to measure.

Question 5

F equals:

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is C) $ t^{12} $ because the notation "t²" is a scrambled representation of mathematical notation, which when decoded, means $ t^{12} $.

Question 6

If the null hypothesis is true, the value of the F ratio is:

Accepted Answer

If the null hypothesis is true, it means that there is no significant difference between the groups being compared. Therefore, the numerator and denominator of the F ratio will be approximately equal, resulting in a value close to 1.

Question 7

Uncontrolled systematic variance in an experiment is due to:

Accepted Answer

Uncontrolled systematic variance is due to confounds, which are factors other than the treatment that affect the dependent variable.

Question 8

A variable that occurs along with the independent variable and differentially affects performance in different groups is called:

Accepted Answer

A confound is a variable that is not controlled for and affects the results of the study. It is often associated with the independent variable and can lead to inaccurate or misleading conclusions about the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable.

Question 9

Of the following, which is not a type of variation?

Accepted Answer

Systematic variation due to chance is not a recognized type of variation. The other options (B, C, and D) are all types of variation that can occur in a study.

Question 10

The statistical decision process involves:

Accepted Answer

The statistical decision process involves testing the null hypothesis, which states that there is no significant difference between groups or conditions. The goal is to determine if the data provides enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis and accept the research hypothesis. Thus, choice D is the best answer.

Question 11

In every experiment there are individual differences between participants. This variation is:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In every experiment there are individual differences...

Question 12

Chance variation can be attributed primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Chance variation refers to random fluctuations in data that can be attributed to individual differences or random error rather than systematic factors or confounds. Therefore, the best choice for this question is B, individual differences.

Question 13

Systematic variation in an experiment may be due to:

Accepted Answer

Systematic variation in an experiment can be attributed to both the independent variable, which is the variable manipulated by the researcher, and confounds, which are other variables that might influence the outcome of the experiment in a systematic way.

Question 14

Between-groups variance may reflect:

Accepted Answer

Between-groups variance can reflect chance variations, the effects of a treatment, or the influence of a possible confound. These factors can all contribute to the differences observed between groups in an experiment or study.

Question 15

If the results of an experiment are statistically significant then they are likely due to:

Accepted Answer

Statistical significance in an experiment suggests that the observed effects are unlikely to be due to chance alone. This means the effects are likely due to the manipulation of the independent variable or the presence of a confounding variable, which is an external influence that the researchers may not have accounted for. The dependent variable is what is measured in the experiment and is not a cause of the results, but rather an outcome.

Question 16

Nonsystematic variation is also called:

Accepted Answer

Nonsystematic variation, which is not attributable to the variables being studied, is often referred to as error variance. This type of variance is considered noise that can obscure the true effects of the variables of interest.

Question 17

Variance in an experiment may be due to:

Accepted Answer

Variance in an experiment may be due to chance (random variation), the independent variable (systematic variation), or a confound (unintentional extraneous variable). Therefore, all of these options are correct.

Question 18

Within-groups variance is used as a measure of:

Accepted Answer

Within-groups variance represents the variability within each group or condition of an experiment, which is often due to chance or random factors.

Question 19

What is the first question that you should ask after completing an experiment?

Accepted Answer

This is because asking whether chance alone could account for the outcome helps to determine the role that randomness played in the results and whether they are truly meaningful or simply due to luck.

Question 20

If there is no effect of the independent variable in an experiment, then:

Accepted Answer

If there is no effect of the independent variable, it means that the mean values of the dependent variable are the same across all groups. This results in zero between-groups variance because there is no difference in scores among the groups. Similarly, there will be no effect on the within-groups variance, resulting in equal values for both between-groups and within-groups variances. Therefore, D is the correct answer.

Quiz 7: Behavioral and Social Learning Theories