Question 1

An experiment that is conducted in situations that are similar to everyday life experiences is said to have which of the following?
A) External validity
B) Ecological validity
C) Experimental realism
D) Experimental impact

Accepted Answer

Ecological validity refers to the extent to which the findings of a research study are able to be generalized to real-life settings. An experiment that is conducted in situations similar to everyday life experiences is designed to ensure that its outcomes can be applied to everyday situations, thus having ecological validity.

Question 2

In terms of learning about generalization across participants,
A) the researcher can normally be confident that a result found in one sample will generalize to all populations that he or she is interested in.
B) the researcher can usually be confident that a result found in one sample will not generalize beyond the sample that he or she has studied.
C) no sample of research participants can provide definitive information about how a finding will generalize.
D) it is possible to make highly accurate statements about the likelihood of a finding generalizing to all populations.

Accepted Answer

No single sample can provide definitive information about generalization because samples may not represent all variations in the population.

Question 3

In comparison to laboratory studies, field experiments are likely to have
A) higher internal and external validity.
B) higher internal and lower external validity.
C) lower internal and higher external validity.
D) lower internal and external validity.

Accepted Answer

Field experiments typically have lower internal validity due to less control over variables but higher external validity because they are conducted in natural settings, making the results more generalizable to real-world situations.

Question 4

Which of the following is true?
A) It is useful to conduct exact replications because they provide information about generalization to new operationalizations of the original variables.
B) It is useful to conduct constructive replications because they provide information about the exact circumstances in which an effect does or does not occur.
C) It is useful to conduct constructive replications because they require fewer conditions than the original experiment.
D) It is useful to conduct participant replications because their interpretation is usually very clear.

Accepted Answer

Constructive replications are designed to test the boundaries of the original findings by altering some aspects of the methodology, thereby providing information about the exact circumstances in which an effect does or does not occur. This contrasts with exact replications, which aim to replicate the study as closely as possible to see if the same results can be obtained, thus not directly informing about generalization to new operationalizations. Constructive replications do not necessarily require fewer conditions than the original experiment, and the concept of "participant replications" is not a standard term in the context of replication types, nor does it imply clear interpretation.

Question 5

To determine whether a beneficial influence of therapy that has been found in a sample of women would also be found in a sample of men, the researcher will need to use which of the following?
A) A participant replication
B) A conceptual replication
C) An exact replication
D) A cross-cultural replication

Accepted Answer

A participant replication involves repeating the study with different participants to see if the original findings can be generalized to a new group, in this case, from women to men.

Question 6

Researchers in the behavioral sciences may be content to use college students as research participants because
A) they can be assumed to have the same characteristics as any other sample of individuals.
B) they represent a random sample of all human beings.
C) they have had fewer experiences than many people, thus making them naive.
D) they are more intelligent than most people.

Accepted Answer

College students are often used as research participants because they are readily available and relatively easy to recruit. They are also assumed to be representative of the general population, as they come from a variety of backgrounds and have a wide range of experiences.

Question 7

If a research finding was found to hold up only in one sample of individuals or only in one laboratory, the research would be said to have low
A) external validity.
B) statistical conclusion validity.
C) internal validity.
D) construct validity.

Accepted Answer

External validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized or applied to other settings, populations, or times. If a finding only holds up in one sample or one laboratory, it means it has low external validity because it may not be applicable or generalizable beyond that specific context.

Question 8

A variable that produces an interaction of the relationship between two other variables such that the relationship between them is different at different levels of that variable is a
A) moderator variable.
B) mediator variable.
C) extraneous variable.
D) confounding variable.

Accepted Answer

A moderator variable is one that affects the strength or direction of the relationship between two other variables, making the relationship between them different at different levels of the moderator variable.

Question 9

When we say that there is a relationship between two variables but that this relationship only occurs under certain conditions, then the variable that represents the conditions under which the effect does or does not occur is known as which of the following?
A) A mediator variable
B) A generalization variable
C) A moderator variable
D) An external variable

Accepted Answer

A moderator variable is the one that influences the strength or direction of the relationship between two other variables, essentially representing the conditions under which certain effects occur.

Question 10

A replication that investigates the relationship between the same conceptual variables that were studied in previous research but tests the hypothesis using different operational definitions of the independent variable and/or the dependent variable is known as a(n)
A) conceptual replication.
B) constructive replication.
C) participant replication.
D) exact replication.

Accepted Answer

A conceptual replication involves investigating the same conceptual variables as previous research but with different operational definitions for the independent and/or dependent variables.

Question 11

Researcher Franklin tests the limiting conditions of a previous finding by adding a new control condition to the design. Franklin's experiment is a(n)
A) conceptual replication.
B) constructive replication.
C) participant replication.
D) exact replication.

Accepted Answer

A constructive replication involves testing the original findings under new conditions or with additional variables, such as adding a new control condition.

Question 12

A collection of experiments in which a topic of interest is systematically studied through conceptual and constructive replications over time is known as a
A) research program.
B) review paper.
C) field experiment.
D) meta-analysis.

Accepted Answer

A research program is a series of studies or experiments conducted over time, focusing on a specific topic or question. It often involves both conceptual and constructive replications to build a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT true regarding field experiments?
A) They have an experimental manipulation.
B) They have a measured dependent variable.
C) They are always more externally valid than lab experiments.
D) They use a method for creating initial equivalence.

Accepted Answer

Field experiments are not always more externally valid than lab experiments. External validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other situations and to other people. While field experiments are conducted in natural settings and may offer higher external validity in some cases, it is not accurate to say they are always more externally valid than lab experiments. The external validity of an experiment depends on many factors, including the nature of the manipulation, the participants, and the context, rather than the setting (field vs. lab) alone.

Question 14

The degree to which relationships among conceptual variables can be demonstrated in a wide variety of people and using a wide variety of manipulated or measured variables is known as which of the following?
A) Conceptual replication
B) External validity
C) Ecological validity
D) Meta analysis

Accepted Answer

External validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized or applied to other settings, populations, times, and measures. It encompasses the degree to which relationships among conceptual variables can be demonstrated across different groups of people and using various methods.

Question 15

A participant replication should be conducted
A) after any other study is conducted.
B) only after several studies have been conducted.
C) to be certain that the results generalize to all human beings.
D) when there is a specific reason to believe that a result will not generalize.

Accepted Answer

Participant replication is conducted when there's a specific reason to believe that a result might not generalize across different groups or settings, aiming to verify the consistency of the findings.

Question 16

Whereas internal validity refers to _________, external validity refers to _________.
A) practical conclusions; statistical conclusions
B) the relationship between the independent and the dependent variable; the extent to which the findings are expected to generalize
C) the extent to which the findings are expected to generalize; the relationship between the independent and the dependent variable
D) statistical conclusions; practical conclusions

Accepted Answer

Internal validity is about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, ensuring that the study accurately demonstrates whether a cause-and-effect relationship exists. External validity, on the other hand, concerns the extent to which the findings can be generalized to other settings or groups.

Question 17

Exact replications are most likely to be conducted because the researcher wants to
A) add a new condition to a previous experiment.
B) examine other possible conceptual variables involved in the results of a previous experiment.
C) see if an effect that has been found in one laboratory or by one researcher can be found.
D) repeat the original experiment with a different population of participants.

Accepted Answer

Exact replications are conducted primarily to verify if the results of a study can be reproduced under the same experimental conditions, ensuring the reliability of the original findings. This is done by repeating the study as closely as possible to the original setup, to see if the same effects are observed, regardless of the laboratory or researcher conducting the experiment.

Question 18

Which of the following is a potential difficulty of cross-cultural replications?
A) The findings are difficult to interpret.
B) They are not scientific.
C) There are not enough cultural variables.
D) There is too much random error.

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural replications can be challenging because the findings might be difficult to interpret due to differences in cultural contexts, norms, and behaviors that can influence the results in ways that are not immediately apparent. This complexity can make it hard to draw clear conclusions from the data.

Question 19

The idea of generalization is most closely related to
A) external validity.
B) internal validity.
C) construct validity.
D) statistical conclusion validity.

Accepted Answer

Generalization is most closely related to external validity, which refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized or applied to other settings, populations, or times.

Question 20

The major issue underlying external validity is that of
A) ecological validity.
B) generalization.
C) random assignment.
D) meta analysis.

Accepted Answer

The major issue underlying external validity is generalization, which refers to the extent to which the findings of a study can be applied to other settings, populations, or time periods beyond the specific conditions of the original study.

Quiz 13: External Validity

An experiment that is conducted in situations that are similar to everyday life experiences is said to have which of the following?

In terms of learning about generalization across participants,

In comparison to laboratory studies, field experiments are likely to have

Which of the following is true?

To determine whether a beneficial influence of therapy that has been found in a sample of women would also be found in a sample of men, the researcher will need to use which of the following?

Researchers in the behavioral sciences may be content to use college students as research participants because

If a research finding was found to hold up only in one sample of individuals or only in one laboratory, the research would be said to have low

A variable that produces an interaction of the relationship between two other variables such that the relationship between them is different at different levels of that variable is a

When we say that there is a relationship between two variables but that this relationship only occurs under certain conditions, then the variable that represents the conditions under which the effect does or does not occur is known as which of the following?

A replication that investigates the relationship between the same conceptual variables that were studied in previous research but tests the hypothesis using different operational definitions of the independent variable and/or the dependent variable is known as a(n)

Researcher Franklin tests the limiting conditions of a previous finding by adding a new control condition to the design. Franklin's experiment is a(n)

A collection of experiments in which a topic of interest is systematically studied through conceptual and constructive replications over time is known as a

Which of the following is NOT true regarding field experiments?

The degree to which relationships among conceptual variables can be demonstrated in a wide variety of people and using a wide variety of manipulated or measured variables is known as which of the following?

A participant replication should be conducted

Whereas internal validity refers to _, external validity refers to _.

Exact replications are most likely to be conducted because the researcher wants to

Which of the following is a potential difficulty of cross-cultural replications?

The idea of generalization is most closely related to

The major issue underlying external validity is that of