Suppose an experimenter were examining the relationship between texting and driving and found that there was no difference between the experimental and control groups in typical cell phone use, previous texting experience, or driving history. This would serve to:
A) identify weaknesses of the current study that must be reexamined through replication.
B) rule out possible alternative explanations.
C) show that the manipulation of the independent variable did not affect the dependent variable.
D) reveal extraneous variables that can explain the obtained research findings.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By ensuring that there was no difference between the experimental and control groups in aspects such as typical cell phone use, previous texting experience, or driving history, the experimenter effectively rules out these factors as alternative explanations for any observed effects on the dependent variable. This strengthens the internal validity of the study by ensuring that differences in the outcome can more confidently be attributed to the manipulation of the independent variable (texting while driving) rather than to these other factors.

Suppose an Experimenter Were Examining the Relationship Between Texting and Driving