Question 1

What serves as the control in single subject research?
A)Matched participants serve as the control
B)The target behavior serves as the control
C)The comparison condition serves as the control
D)Each participant serves as his or her own control

Accepted Answer

In single subject research, each participant serves as his or her own control. This means that the participant's behavior is measured under both the baseline condition (when no intervention is in place) and the experimental condition (when the intervention is in place). This allows researchers to compare the participant's behavior before and after the intervention, rather than comparing the participant's behavior to that of another person or group.

Question 2

An experiment is conducted in a middle school.Students in the experiment group receive special tutoring in math while students in the control group participate in a regular math class.On the math achievement test at the end of the year,the students in the special tutoring group score higher on math skills than the students in the regular math class.A parent complains about the ethics of this experiment.What ethical issue would the parent likely raise?
A)The math skills test is inadequate.
B)The students in the regular math class are disadvantaged because they did not have tutor.
C)The experiment did not receive approval from school officials.
D)The random assignment of students to groups was unethical.

Accepted Answer

The parent is raising an issue about fairness and equity in the experiment. The students in the control group did not receive the same level of support as the students in the experimental group, which could have led to an unfair advantage for the latter group. This raises questions about the ethics of conducting research on human subjects, particularly when there is potential harm or disadvantage to some participants.

Question 3

Define what is meant by a threat to internal validity.

Accepted Answer

A threat to internal validity is a problem in drawing correct about the cause-and-effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables.In an experiment,internal validity is concerned with whether relationship between the presumed treatment variable and the outcome reflects a causal relationship.

Question 4

In an experiment,the researcher randomly assigns students who have been caught smoking inside the high school to three different classes of a health class in which the teacher will address the issues of adolescent smoking.One advantage of this experimental procedure is
A)any variability in student characteristics will be equated among the classes.
B)the students who are caught smoking will be required to take a health class.
C)variables,such as the type of adolescent smoker,will be controlled in the study.
D)the students will be randomly assigned to the three classes and equally distributed.

Accepted Answer

Random assignment of participants to different groups ensures that any variability in student characteristics (age, gender, smoking history, etc.) is equated among the groups. This means that any differences between the groups after the intervention can be attributed to the intervention itself rather than to pre-existing differences between the groups. This is a key advantage of random assignment in experimental research.

Question 5

You read a journal article in which the researcher compares two existing third grade classrooms,one using a new behavioral management approach and the other using the usual approach.The researcher did not randomly assign the approach.What type of design is this study?
A)Quasi-experimental design
B)Dual group design
C)Experimental design
D)Within-group design

Accepted Answer

This study is a quasi-experimental design because the researcher did not randomly assign the approach to each classroom. Instead, the study compares pre-existing groups that were not randomly selected.

Question 6

Which of the following is the best indicator of higher quality in an experiment?
A)The researcher reported that the effect of the intervention was strong and was statistically significant.
B)The researcher selects measures and instruments based on availability to collect data for the experiment.
C)All participants receive the intervention,even the control group on a "wait list" after the experiment concludes.
D)The researcher determines the number individuals to be in each group based their need for the intervention.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is the best...

Question 7

The following are procedures undertaken before an experimental study begins EXCEPT A)testing students on a pretest over the material. B)matching students to both the control and experimental groups. C)selecting a group of homogeneous students on select characteristics. D)statistically controlling for covariates that may influence the outcome.

Accepted Answer

Statistically controlling for covariates is typically done during data analysis after the experiment, not before it begins.

Question 8

Define what is meant by a threat to external validity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define what is meant by a threat...

Question 9

In a single subject design,what is the best strategy for demonstrating external validity?
A)Ensuring random assignment to the intervention
B)Replicating across multiple participants and studies
C)Measuring the baseline behavior
D)Using statistical techniques to evaluate intervention effect

Accepted Answer

Replicating the study across multiple participants and studies is the best strategy for demonstrating external validity in a single subject design. This allows for generalization of the findings beyond the individual participant and the specific study setting.

Question 10

You are conducting an experiment with several school districts to identify if district goal setting as a treatment influences the outcome of high student achievement in the districts.Your experimental unit of analysis would be
A)an organization.
B)the school districts.
C)schools in the school districts.
D)students in the school districts.

Accepted Answer

In this experiment, the school districts are being treated and compared to one another, making them the experimental unit of analysis. The focus is on how goal setting affects the achievement of the entire district, rather than individual schools or students within the districts.

Question 11

Why are groups compared in an experiment?
A)Because they differ in important characteristics
B)To isolate whether the treatment affects the outcome
C)To identify if the groups statistically differ
D)To eliminate whether groups have different experiences

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are groups compared in an experiment?
A)Because...

Question 12

A researcher finds out in an experimental study that a special program on binge drinking lowers the use of alcohol in the residential dormitories of a small college in the Midwest.Excited about the results,the investigator draws conclusions in the research report for use of this program in a nearby university.What potential threat to validity exists in this experiment?
A)Statistical conclusion validity
B)Construct validity
C)Internal validity
D)External validity

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher finds out in an experimental...

Question 13

Which one of the following is a characteristic of an experiment?
A)Participants self-assign into the intervention or control
B)Allow a deep understanding of the participants' experiences
C)Allow researchers to compare groups
D)Have no threats to validity

Accepted Answer

Experiments allow researchers to compare groups, which is a key characteristic of an experimental study. Option A is incorrect because self-assignment into different groups can lead to selection bias and compromise the validity of the results. Option B is incorrect because while experiments can help researchers understand cause-and-effect relationships, they do not necessarily focus on participants' experiences. Option D is incorrect because all experiments face potential threats to validity, such as selection bias, instrumentation error, or maturation.

Question 14

A researcher is examining obesity in elementary school students by selecting a group of students who are medically obese and another group at a healthy weight.The independent variable will be fruit and vegetable intake over the past two years.What is the best description of the design of this study?
A)Experimental
B)Causal-comparative
C)Quasi-experimental
D)Two-group single subject

Accepted Answer

The design is causal-comparative because it compares two groups (obese and healthy weight students) based on a pre-existing condition (weight status) rather than manipulating the independent variable (fruit and vegetable intake).

Question 15

Which one of the following is a characteristic of causal comparative research?
A)The researcher is manipulating the treatment condition.
B)The researcher can establish probable cause and effect.
C)The researcher cannot apply it practically in educational settings.
D)The researcher can determine an association between groups and the outcome.

Accepted Answer

Causal comparative research is also known as ex post facto research. In this type of research, the groups are not randomly assigned to the treatment condition, but rather the researcher looks at the differences between groups that have been previously exposed to different conditions. As a result, the researcher cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship between variables. However, the researcher can determine if an association exists between groups and the outcome, making D the correct choice.

Quiz 10: Experimental Designs

What serves as the control in single subject research?

Define what is meant by a threat to internal validity.

In an experiment,the researcher randomly assigns students who have been caught smoking inside the high school to three different classes of a health class in which the teacher will address the issues of adolescent smoking.One advantage of this experimental procedure is

You read a journal article in which the researcher compares two existing third grade classrooms,one using a new behavioral management approach and the other using the usual approach.The researcher did not randomly assign the approach.What type of design is this study?

Which of the following is the best indicator of higher quality in an experiment?

The following are procedures undertaken before an experimental study begins EXCEPT

Define what is meant by a threat to external validity.

In a single subject design,what is the best strategy for demonstrating external validity?

You are conducting an experiment with several school districts to identify if district goal setting as a treatment influences the outcome of high student achievement in the districts.Your experimental unit of analysis would be

Why are groups compared in an experiment?

Which one of the following is a characteristic of an experiment?

Which one of the following is a characteristic of causal comparative research?