Researchers investigated whether mood affects participants' ratings of jokes. Participants in the first mood group read sad statements. In the second group, participants read neutral statements. In this study, the participants who read the sad statements constituted the:
A) control group
B) population
C) experimental group
D) observational group

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The participants who read the sad statements were the experimental group because they were the group that was manipulated and exposed to the factor being measured (the effect of mood on joke ratings). The neutral statement group would be the control group because they were not exposed to the manipulated factor and were used to compare the results of the experimental group. The population refers to the entire group of individuals that the researchers are interested in studying, but it is not specified in this question. There is no mention of an observational group in the study.

Researchers Investigated Whether Mood Affects Participants' Ratings of Jokes