Ch. 9

Question 1

Experiment: Three critical steps

Answer 1

1. start with a causal hypothesis; 2. modify one specific aspect of a situation that is closely connected to the cause; 3. compare outcomes.

Question 2

Experimental Research:

Answer 2

offers the strongest tests of causal relationships.

Question 3

Experiment: Three conditions for causality

Answer 3

1. temporal order in which the independent precedes the dependent variable; 2. evidence of an association; 3. ruling out alternative causes.

Question 4

Experimental technique:

Answer 4

Usually best for issues that have a narrow scope or scale.

Question 5

Confounding variables:

Answer 5

In experimental research, factors that are not part of the intended hypothesis being tested, but that have effects on variables of interest and threaten internal validity.

Question 6

Social Science experiments:

Answer 6

1. empirically based 2. theory-directed.

Question 7

Empirically based experiment:

Answer 7

To determine whether an independent variable has a significant effect on a specific dependent variable.

Question 8

Random assignment

Answer 8

Participants divided into groups at the beginning of experimental research using a random process so the experimenter can treat the groups as equivalent.

Question 9

Randomly assign:

Answer 9

We sort a collection of cases into two or more groups using a random process.

Question 10

Random sample:

Answer 10

We select a smaller subset of cases from a far larger collection of cases.

Question 11

Subjects:

Answer 11

A traditional name for participants in experimental research.

Question 12

Treatment:

Answer 12

The independent variable in experimental research.

Question 13

Experiment: Parts

Answer 13

1. Treatment or independent variable; 2. Dependent variable; 3. Pretest; 4. Posttest; 5. Experimental group; . 6. Control group; 7. Random assignment.

Question 14

Dependent variables:

Answer 14

or outcomes in experimental research, as the phusical condiditions, social behaviors, attitudes, feelings, or beliefs of participants that change in response to a treatment.

Question 15

Pretest:

Answer 15

An examination that measurer the dependent variable of an experiment prior to the treatment.

Question 16

Posttest:

Answer 16

An examination that measurer the dependent variable of an experiment after the treatment.

Question 17

Experimental group:

Answer 17

The participants who receive the treatment in experimental research.

Question 18

Control group:

Answer 18

The participants who do not receive the treatment in experimental research.

Question 19

Deception:

Answer 19

A lie by an experimenter to participants about the true nature of an experiment or the creation of a false impression through his or her actions or the setting.

Question 20

Confederate:

Answer 20

A person working for the experimenter who acts as another participant or in a role in front of participants to deceive them with an experiment’s cover story.

Question 21

Cover story:

Answer 21

A type of deception in shich the experimenter tells a false story to participants so they will act as wanted and do not know the true hypothesis.

Question 22

Experimental design:

Answer 22

The planning and arranging of the parts of an experiment.

Question 23

Classical experimental design:

Answer 23

An experimental design that has random assignment, a control group, an experimental group, and a pretest and posttest for each group.

Question 24

Preexperimental designs:

Answer 24

Experimental plans that lack random assignment or use shortcuts and are much weaker than the classical experimental design; are substituted in situations in which an experimenter can not use all of the features of a classical experimental design but the design has weaker internal validity.

Question 25

One-shot case-study design:

Answer 25

An experimental plan with only an experimental group and a posttest but no pretest.

Question 26

Static group comparison design

Answer 26

An experimental plan with two groups, no random assignment, and only a posttest.

Question 27

Quasi-experimental designs:

Answer 27

Plans that are stronger than preexperimental ones; variations on the classical experimental design used in special situations or when an experimenter has limited control over the independent variable.

Question 28

One-group Pretest-Posttest Design:

Answer 28

Has one group, a pretest, a treatment, and a posttest. it lacks a control group and random assignment.

Question 29

Posttest-only nonequivalent group design:

Answer 29

A static group comparison. Has two groups, a posttest, and treatment. It lacks random assignment and a pretest.

Question 30

Interrupted time-series design:

Answer 30

An experimental plan in which the dependent variable is measured periodically across many time points and the treatment occurs in the midst of such measures, often only once.

Question 31

Equivalent time-series design:

Answer 31

An experimental plan with several repeated pretests, posttests, and treatments for one group often over a period of time.

Question 32

Latin square design:

Answer 32

An experimental plan to examine whether the order or sequence in which participants receive versions of the treatment has an effect.

Question 33

Solomon four-group design:

Answer 33

An experimental plan in which participants are randomly assigned to two control groups and two experimental groups; only one experimental group and one control group receive a pretest; all four groups receive a posttest.

Question 34

Factorial design:

Answer 34

An experimental plan that considers the impact of several independent variables simultaneously.

Question 35

Interaction effect

Answer 35

A result of two independent variables operating simultaneously and in combination on a dependent variable; is larger than a result that occurs from the sum of each independent variable; is larger than a result that occurs from the sum of each independent variable working separately.

Question 36

Design notation

Answer 36

A symbol system used to show parts of an experiment and to make diagrams of them.

Question 37

Internal validity

Answer 37

The ability of experimenters to strengthen the logical rigor of a causal explanation by eliminating potential alternative explanations for an association between the treatment and dependent variable through an experimental design. Occurs when the independent variable, and nothing else influences the dependent variable.

Question 38

Artifact:

Answer 38

An object in experimental research studies; refers to the type of confounding variable that is not part of the hypothesis but affects the experiments operation or outcome. In field research studies, it refers to physical objects that human created that have cultural significance; specifically, objects that members use or to which they attach meaning that we study to learn more about a cultural setting or its members.

Question 39

Selection bias

Answer 39

A preconception that threatens internal validity when groups in an experiment are not equivalent at the beginning of the experiment with regard to the dependent variable.

Question 40

History effect

Answer 40

Resut that presents a threat to internal validity because of something that occurs and affects the dependent variable during an experiment, is unplanned and outside the control of the experimenter.

Question 41

Maturation effect

Answer 41

A result that is a threat to internal validity in experiments because of natural processes of growth, boredom, and so on that occur during the experiment and affect the dependent variable.

Question 42

Testing effect

Answer 42

A result that threatens internal validity because the very process of measuring in the pretest can have an impact on the dependent variable.

Question 43

Experimental morality

Answer 43

Threat to internal validity because participants fail to participate through the entire experiment.

Question 44

Statistical regression effect:

Answer 44

A threat to internal validity from measurement instruments providing extreme values and a tendency for random errors to move extreme results toward the average.