Question 1

Which of the following is the strongest type of study?

Accepted Answer

Classical experiment is considered the strongest type of study as it involves random assignment of participants to different treatment groups, ensuring that any observed effects are due to the treatment rather than individual differences or other factors. It also involves control over extraneous variables and blinding of participants and researchers to the treatment conditions.

Question 2

Factors other than the independent variable that might impact the dependent variable are known as:

Accepted Answer

Threats to internal validity refer to any factors other than the independent variable that may influence the dependent variable, making it difficult to draw accurate conclusions about causation. Control groups refer to a group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment. Threats to external validity refer to factors that limit the generalizability of the results beyond the specific study or sample. Noise refers to random variability in the data that is not related to any specific factor.

Question 3

When we select people with extreme opinions or neighborhoods with very high crime rates, we are likely to see change regardless of any type of intervention we might introduce because of ________.

Accepted Answer

Statistical regression is a phenomenon where extreme scores revert to the mean over time. Therefore, if we select people with extreme opinions or neighborhoods with very high crime rates, we are likely to see change even without intervention simply due to statistical regression. Thus, choice A is the best option. History refers to past events or circumstances, testing effects refer to the influence of previous testing on subsequent testing, and mortality refers to the loss of participants in a study over time. None of these factors fully explain why we are likely to see change in extreme groups.

Question 4

_____________ involves a comparison or control group that tries to outperform the experimental group.

Accepted Answer

Compensatory rivalry involves a comparison or control group that tries to outperform the experimental group by applying more effort or competing more intensely. This phenomenon can occur in research studies where participants know they are being observed or where a comparison group is being used. The term "compensatory" suggests that the control group is using more effort or competing more intensely in order to compensate for the experimental group's advantages, which could include receiving a new treatment or having access to new resources.

Question 5

In the classic Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment, police efforts to make their presence known in the reactive beats locations that were supposed to receive the least amount of police attention was known as _____________.

Accepted Answer

Compensatory equalization of treatment was the strategy used in the Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment where police tried to make their presence known in the reactive beats locations that were supposed to receive the least amount of police attention. This strategy aimed to compensate for the perceived lack of attention in those areas.

Question 6

What is the best way to combat the problem of statistical conclusion validity?

Accepted Answer

Increasing the sample size helps to reduce the problem of statistical conclusion validity by increasing the power of the statistical test, thereby reducing the likelihood of Type I and Type II errors.

Question 7

All of the following are problematic because they might hide the existence of an actual relationship between X and Y EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The answer of All of the following are problematic because...

Question 8

The Solomon four-group design is best for avoiding which threat to internal validity?

Accepted Answer

The Solomon four-group design includes two groups that are not pretested, which helps to avoid the threat of testing.

Question 9

The ___________ is similar to a classical experiment but allows us to test more than two groups, so we can compare different types of interventions.

Accepted Answer

A factorial design is a research design that allows us to test the effects of more than one independent variable on a dependent variable. It is similar to a classical experiment in that it involves manipulating independent variables and measuring their effect on the dependent variable, but it allows for multiple groups to be compared simultaneously. Therefore, it is a suitable choice for comparing different types of interventions. Quasi-experiments and time series designs are not necessarily suitable for comparing interventions, and meta-analysis is a statistical method for combining the results of multiple studies.

Question 10

People attempting to be more productive once they realize they are being supervised is called _______

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne effect is the phenomenon where people change their behavior when they know they are being observed or monitored. This can happen in various contexts, including when individuals are attempting to be more productive at work when they realize they are being closely watched or tested. Compensatory equalization and compensatory rivalry are not related terms, while generalizability refers to the extent to which research findings can be applied to other contexts or populations.

Question 11

Which if the following is not a threat to internal validity?

Accepted Answer

Noise is not a threat to internal validity, as it refers to random fluctuations or variability in measurements that are not systematic or related to the independent variable. The other options, statistical regression, mortality, and diffusion of treatment, all have the potential to impact the internal validity of a study.

Question 12

It is easier to find causation between two variables than it is to find a correlation.

Accepted Answer

It is actually easier to find a correlation between two variables than it is to establish causation. Correlation simply means that two variables are associated with each other, whereas causation means that one variable causes the other. Establishing causation requires more rigorous research methods, such as experimental studies, to rule out other potential explanations for the relationship between the two variables.

Question 13

An apparent association between X and Y that appears because both are actually correlated with Z is called a spurious relationship.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true.

Question 14

Quantitative research is largely based on collection of anecdotal information.

Accepted Answer

Quantitative research is based on the collection and analysis of numerical data, whereas anecdotal information is based on personal stories or experiences that cannot be easily measured or analyzed quantitatively.

Question 15

Classical experiments are considered to be better designs than quasi-experiments.

Accepted Answer

Classical experiments have a stronger internal validity because they involve random assignment to control and experimental groups. Quasi-experiments may involve natural groups or non-random assignment which can create confounding variables and weaker causal conclusions.

Question 16

Quasi-experiments involve random allocation of individuals to experimental and control groups.

Accepted Answer

Quasi-experiments do not involve random allocation due to ethical or practical constraints. Instead, the researcher selects pre-existing groups or compares groups that are naturally occurring.

Question 17

A time-series is a type of quasi-experiment.

Accepted Answer

A time-series is a type of quasi-experiment because it involves collecting data over time and comparing the results before and after an intervention. However, it is different from a true experiment in that the researcher does not have control over the treatment or manipulation of the variable being studied.

Question 18

Classical experiments tend to be better at controlling threats to internal validity than addressing external validity.

Accepted Answer

Classical experiments are designed to tightly control the experimental environment in order to eliminate potential confounds and threats to internal validity. However, this often comes at the expense of addressing factors that might impact external validity, such as the generalizability of results to real-world situations and populations. This does not mean that classical experiments are irrelevant for addressing external validity, but they may require supplementary measures to help establish the generalizability of findings.

Question 19

Multiple treatment interference is an external validity issue.

Accepted Answer

Multiple treatment interference is an internal validity issue, as it refers to the potential confounding effects when participants receive more than one treatment, making it difficult to determine which treatment is responsible for observed effects.

Question 20

Causation between two variables is easier to predict in the social sciences than in the natural sciences.

Accepted Answer

Causation between two variables is generally considered more difficult to establish and predict in the social sciences due to the complex nature of human behavior and social systems. Natural sciences often deal with more straightforward cause-and-effect relationships between physical phenomena.

Quiz 4: Causation, Classical Experiments and Quasi Experiments