In research that is conducted over a period of time, the participants naturally get older. If the researcher is not interested in the effects of age on the dependent variable, then the changes in age pose which of the following threats to the validity of the research?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Maturation refers to the natural changes that occur in participants over time, including aging, which can affect the outcomes of the study if the research is not specifically interested in the effects of age. This can threaten the internal validity of the study by confounding the results with changes that are not related to the experimental manipulation.

In Research That Is Conducted Over a Period of Time