Question 1

Dividing subjects into groups at the beginning of experimental research using a random process,so the experimenter can treat the groups as equivalent is known as __________________.

Accepted Answer

Dividing subjects into groups at the beginning of experimental research using a random process to ensure that the groups are equivalent is known as random assignment. A control group refers to a group that is not exposed to the treatment being tested. Treatment refers to the specific intervention or manipulation being tested. Causal inference refers to the conclusion drawn about the causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables based on the experimental results.

Question 2

Upholding treatment integrity means that the researcher constantly monitors the implementation of the treatment to ensure a consistent and robust treatment effect is known as __________________.

Accepted Answer

Upholding treatment integrity means ensuring that the treatment is being implemented consistently and accurately, which is important for establishing the cause-and-effect relationship between the treatment and the outcome. Selection bias refers to a systematic error in the participant selection process, experimental mortality refers to the loss of participants due to various reasons, and internal validity refers to the extent to which a study is able to establish a causal relationship between the treatment and the outcome by minimizing potential confounding factors.

Question 3

The group that receives the treatment in experimental research is called the ________________.

Accepted Answer

The experimental group is the group that receives the treatment in experimental research. Pretest and posttest are measures used to assess change in participants, and main effect/interaction effect refer to statistical analysis of the results.

Question 4

_________________ has one group,a pretest,a treatment,and a posttest.It lacks a control group and random assignment.

Accepted Answer

The one-group pretest-posttest design involves one group that receives a treatment and is evaluated with a pretest and posttest. However, it lacks a control group and random assignment, which are necessary for a classical experimental design. Therefore, this design falls under the category of quasi-experimental designs. The one-shot case study design, on the other hand, involves only a single measurement after a treatment instead of a pretest-posttest evaluation.

Question 5

The group that does not get the treatment in experimental research is called the _______________.

Accepted Answer

The group that does not receive the treatment in experimental research is called the control group. This group is used to establish a baseline against which the effects of the treatment group can be compared.

Question 6

To make a _______________ from an experiment,we must meet the same requirements that are needed for any causal relationship: (1)cause must precede effect, (2)there must be an association between cause and effect;and (3)the researcher must eliminate plausible alternatives.

Accepted Answer

The given requirement applies to making a causal inference, which is option D. Option A (control group) and option B (treatment) are not directly related to making a causal inference, and option C (random assignment) is only one of the requirements for eliminating plausible alternatives.

Question 7

Also called the one-group posttest-only design,the _________________ has only one group,a treatment,and a posttest.Because there is only one group,there is no random assignment.

Accepted Answer

The one-shot case-study design, also known as the one-group posttest-only design, has only one group that receives treatment and is tested only once after the treatment. This design is considered weak because there is no comparison group and no pretest to establish a baseline for comparison. The lack of random assignment also limits its internal validity. Therefore, it is categorized as a quasi-experimental design.

Question 8

All experimental designs are variations of the ___________________________ which has random assignment,a pretest and a posttest,an experimental group,and a control group.

Accepted Answer

The classical experimental design is the only one mentioned that includes all the components listed - random assignment, pretest and posttest, experimental group, and control group. Quasi-experimental designs may not have random assignment or a control group, the one-group pretest-posttest design does not have a control group, and the one-shot case-study design does not have a pretest or control group.

Question 9

______________is the threat that research participants will not form equivalent groups.It plagues designs without random assignment.

Accepted Answer

Selection bias is the threat to internal validity where the participants are not equivalent in the groups due to non-random assignment, leading to differences in the groups pre-existing conditions. This can lead to confounding variables and inaccurate estimates of the treatment effect. Experimental mortality refers to differential dropout rates and participant attrition, treatment integrity is the level to which a treatment is applied consistently, and internal validity refers to the degree that the treatment effect can be attributed to the independent variable rather than extraneous factors.

Question 10

An experimental design in which the dependent variable is measured periodically across many time points,and the treatment occurs in the midst of such measures,often only once is called a ___________________.

Accepted Answer

An interrupted time-series design involves measuring the dependent variable across multiple time points and introducing a treatment in the middle of those measures. This design allows for the examination of the effects of the treatment over time and is useful in assessing whether changes in the dependent variable can be attributed to the treatment or to other factors. Options B, C, and D do not fit the description of this design.

Question 11

An ________________ is another one-group design that extends over a time period.Instead of one treatment,it has a pretest,then a treatment and posttest,then treatment and posttest,then treatment and posttest,and so on.

Accepted Answer

The design described is an equivalent time-series design, which includes multiple posttests that are compared to the pretest to evaluate the impact of the treatment over time. This design is commonly used in quasi-experimental research to approximate the rigor of a true experimental design in situations where random assignment is not possible. The other options (one-group pretest-posttest design and classical experimental design) do not accurately describe this type of design.

Question 12

The ability of experimenters to strengthen the logical rigor of a causal explanation by eliminating potential alternative explanations for an association between the treatment and dependent variable through an experimental design is known as ________________.

Accepted Answer

Internal validity refers to the extent to which the observed effect of the treatment can be attributed to the treatment itself, rather than to other factors. By eliminating potential alternative explanations, an experimental design increases the internal validity of a causal explanation. Selection bias refers to a non-random assignment of participants to groups, experimental mortality refers to participants dropping out of the study, and treatment integrity refers to the extent to which the treatment is implemented as intended. While these factors can impact internal validity, they do not specifically refer to the ability of experimenters to eliminate potential alternative explanations in an experimental design.

Question 13

A threat to internal validity due to something that occurs and affects the dependent variable during an experiment,but that is unplanned and outside the control of the experimenter is known as ________________.

Accepted Answer

History effects refer to external events or factors that occur during an experiment and potentially affect the dependent variable. These events are usually unplanned and outside the experimenter's control. Testing effect refers to improvements in performance simply due to repeated testing, instrumentation refers to errors in the measuring instruments, and maturation effect refers to changes in the participants over time (e.g. physical or mental development).

Question 14

A ____________ is measurement of the dependent variable of an experiment prior to the treatment.

Accepted Answer

A pretest is a measurement taken before the experimental treatment is applied, allowing for a comparison with the posttest measurement taken after the treatment.

Question 15

_________________ are stronger than preexperimental designs.They are variations on the classical experimental design,they do not include randomization,and they also sometimes lack a pretest or control group.

Accepted Answer

Quasi-experimental designs are stronger than preexperimental designs as they allow for some type of control over extraneous variables and are often used in situations where randomization is not possible or ethical. The other options described are all preexperimental designs and lack the level of control and rigor typically associated with experimental designs.

Question 16

_____________ is an effect of two independent variables operating simultaneously and in combination on a dependent variable.It is a larger effect than occurs from the sum of each independent variable working separately.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of an interaction effect, where the combined effect of two independent variables is larger than the sum of their individual effects. Pretest, posttest, and experimental group are not relevant to this definition.

Question 17

The independent variable in experimental research is often called a ______________.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable in experimental research is the treatment or intervention that is manipulated by the researcher to see its effect on the dependent variable. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer. Choice A refers to a group that does not receive the treatment and is used as a comparison. Choice C refers to the process of assigning participants to different groups randomly to avoid bias. Choice D is not a term related to the independent variable in experimental research.

Question 18

______________ is a threat to internal validity in experiments due to natural processes of growth,boredom,and so on that occur during the experiment and affect the dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

Maturation effect refers to changes in the participants' behavior or performance due to natural processes such as growth, boredom, fatigue, or other developmental processes that may affect the dependent variable. This can threaten the internal validity of experiments because it makes it difficult to determine whether changes in the dependent variable are due to the treatment or to natural developmental changes in the participants.

Question 19

________________,or attrition,arises when some subjects do not continue throughout the experiment.

Accepted Answer

Experimental mortality, also known as attrition, refers to the loss of participants during an experiment, which can lead to a biased sample or affect the generalizability of the study's findings. Selection bias refers to a bias that arises due to the non-random selection of participants. Treatment integrity refers to the extent to which the treatment or intervention is delivered as intended. Internal validity refers to the extent to which the study can establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Question 20

A ____________ is measurement of the dependent variable of an experiment after the treatment.

Accepted Answer

A posttest is a measurement of the dependent variable after the treatment or intervention is given to the participants in an experiment. It is used to assess the effectiveness of the treatment and compare it to the control group, which receives no treatment. A pretest, on the other hand, is a measurement taken before the treatment is administered, and it serves as a baseline for comparison with the posttest data. Main effect/interaction effect and experimental group are not related to the measurement of the dependent variable after the treatment.

Quiz 7: Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Criminal Justice Research