#1
In experimental design, what does the term 'independent variable' refer to?
A variable that is manipulated by the researcher
ExplanationIndependent variables are deliberately changed to observe their effects on dependent variables.
#2
Which of the following is a key characteristic of a well-designed experiment?
Random assignment of participants to groups
ExplanationRandom assignment ensures unbiased group composition for accurate comparisons.
#3
What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
To provide a baseline for comparison
ExplanationControl groups establish a baseline to assess the impact of the independent variable.
#4
Which of the following is an example of a within-subjects design?
Repeated measures design
ExplanationRepeated measures designs involve testing the same participants across different conditions.
#5
What is the purpose of blinding in an experiment?
To hide the identity of participants from the researchers
ExplanationBlinding prevents biases by keeping researchers unaware of participants' identities or group assignments.
#6
What is a confounding variable in experimental design?
A variable that distorts the relationship between the independent and dependent variables
ExplanationConfounding variables introduce bias by influencing the relationship between independent and dependent variables.
#7
In a factorial design, how are different levels of two or more independent variables combined?
By all possible combinations
ExplanationFactorial designs explore all possible combinations of independent variable levels.
#8
In a counterbalanced design, what is the goal regarding the order of conditions?
To randomize the order within each participant
ExplanationCounterbalancing ensures each condition appears in a different order across participants to control for order effects.
#9
What is the difference between internal and external validity in experimental research?
Internal validity is about the accuracy of measurements, while external validity is about the generalizability of findings.
ExplanationInternal validity concerns the integrity of study design and results, while external validity refers to the extent findings can be generalized to other populations or settings.