For this final reflection paper, please write a 3-page paper answering the following questions. Note: there are two short-answer questions (give at least one paragraph each) and the rest are multiple-choice. For each multiple-choice question, please explain the correct answer using your own words and examples. Provide at least 2 sentences for EACH answer. Your answers are understood to represent your OWN work – this is an individual effort.
- Using an example of a quasi-experiment of your own choosing/design, explain why quasi-experiments generally have lower internal validity than true experiments?
- Children who watch a lot of violence on television grow up to be more violent than children who watch less violent television. The “directionality” problem is that
(a) no one knows how much television you must watch to be violent
(b) not all children who watch a lot of television are violent
(c) some violent television is not of interest to children
(d) violent children may watch more violent tv or violent tv may make normal children violent
- Which variable is manipulated in an experiment?
(a) dependent
(b) independent
(c) control
(d) extraneous
- Ralph lets subjects listen to “beeps” in their headphones that represent tension or anxiety in their brainwaves. He hopes they can learn to relax by keeping the beeps turned off. However, some subjects get more relaxed because they expect the treatment to work. This “expectation” is called
(a) the anticipatory variable effect
(b) the untreated effect
(c) the placebo effect
(d) laboratory effect
5. If a significant correlation is found between X and Y, that means that
a. X may cause Y
b. Y may cause X
c. A third variable may cause X and Y
d. a and b are correct
e. a, b, and c are correct
- In a sample of 300 teenagers, a negative correlation is found between the number of friends they have and the number of hours per week they spend playing video games.
- Describe how the directionality/bidirectionality problem applies
- Identify/describe at least one “third variable” that could reasonably account for the correlation between X and Y. Explain your answer.
7. Which of the following is not a criterion of scientific investigations?
a. problems must be solvable
b. observations must be conducted systematically
c. researchers must agree regarding how data should be interpreted
d. research findings must be publicly verifiable
e. theories must be falsifiable
8. A researcher conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of noise on the work performance of employees in a manufacturing plant. In this study, the dependent variable is
a. noise
b. work performance
c. the employees
d. the manufacturing plant
e. none of the above
9. When simple random assignment is used
a. each participant has an equal probability of being placed in any experimental condition
b. participants are assigned to conditions on the basis of their personal characteristics
c. the same participant serves in more than one condition of the design
d. participants select the condition in which they will participate
e. any of the above can be true
10. Which of the following is true about a factorial design?
a. it has more than one dependent variable.
b. it involves the manipulation of two or more variables.
c. it is not a true experimental design.
d. allows the researcher to test only main effects.
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