Experimental Design and Research Variables Quiz

Case study design is not a type of experimental design, as it typically involves in-depth examination of a single individual or small group.

Mediating variables are not types of research variables; they are mechanisms through which independent variables influence dependent variables.

Age is an example of a continuous variable, as it can take on any value within a range and is not restricted to specific discrete values.

Extraneous variables are factors that are not the focus of the study but could affect the outcome, potentially confounding the results.

Pretest-posttest design is an example of a quasi-experimental design, which lacks random assignment or a control group but involves pre- and post-intervention measurements.

Independent groups design is an example of a between-subjects design, where different groups of participants are exposed to different experimental conditions.

A control group serves as a baseline for comparison against the experimental group to assess the effects of the intervention.

Factorial designs combine different levels of each independent variable through all possible combinations to explore their interactions.

Random assignment is used to ensure that participants are assigned to different experimental conditions in a way that minimizes biases and ensures equal representation.

Quasi-experimental designs lack random assignment or control groups, making it challenging to establish causal relationships.

Blinding is used to prevent bias in the administration of treatments by keeping participants or researchers unaware of the treatment conditions.

Counterbalancing is used to control for order effects in repeated measures designs by systematically varying the order in which conditions are presented to participants.

Covariates are used in experimental design to control for extraneous variables that could potentially confound the results.

Demand characteristics, where participants alter their behavior due to their perception of what is expected in the study, can threaten internal validity.

A confounding variable is an extraneous variable that correlates with both the independent and dependent variables, making it difficult to determine their true relationship.

In a within-subjects design, each participant experiences all conditions of the experiment, allowing for comparisons within individuals.

Dependent variables are directly influenced by changes in the independent variable, while outcome variables may be influenced by various factors beyond the experimental manipulation.

Internal validity pertains to the accuracy of conclusions drawn from the study, while external validity relates to the generalizability of the findings beyond the study context.