#1
Which of the following is a characteristic of a true experimental design?
Random assignment of participants to groups
ExplanationEnsures equal chance of being in any group, minimizing bias.
#2
What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
To compare the results with the experimental group
ExplanationServes as a standard for comparison.
#3
Which of the following is an example of a threat to internal validity in an experiment?
Demand characteristics
ExplanationParticipants alter behavior due to perceived expectations.
#4
How does random assignment contribute to internal validity in an experiment?
It reduces the likelihood of systematic differences between groups
ExplanationMinimizes preexisting differences between groups.
#5
What is the purpose of counterbalancing in experimental design?
To eliminate order effects
ExplanationBalances the impact of order in treatments.
#6
Which of the following is a potential limitation of using a pretest-posttest design?
Increased risk of selection bias
ExplanationPretest sensitizes participants, affecting outcomes.
#7
What is the primary purpose of including a placebo condition in an experiment?
To provide a baseline for comparison
ExplanationSeparates treatment effects from psychological factors.
#8
Which of the following is an example of a design flaw that could threaten internal validity?
Failing to control for extraneous variables
ExplanationUnaccounted variables may affect outcomes.
#9
Which of the following is an example of a potential confounding variable in an experiment investigating the effectiveness of a new teaching method?
The time of day the class is held
ExplanationTime may influence performance irrespective of method.
#10
Why is it important to conduct a pilot study before implementing a large-scale experiment?
To test the feasibility of the experimental procedures
ExplanationIdentifies and rectifies logistical issues.
#11
Which of the following best describes a Solomon four-group design?
A design with both pretest and posttest measures in two experimental and two control groups
ExplanationCombines control and experimental group variations.
#12
What is the primary purpose of using a crossover design in research?
To reduce the impact of order effects
ExplanationEach subject receives all treatments in varied sequences.