Chapter 7 - Experiments

Question 1

random assignment

Answer 1

assignment of research participants to experimental conditions by means of a random device such as a coin toss

Question 2

posttest-only control group design

Answer 2

design in which the dependent variable is measured only after the experimental manipulation

Question 3

pretest posttest control group design

Answer 3

design in which the dependent variable is measured both before and after experimental manipulation

Question 4

factorial design

Answer 4

experiment in which two or more variables are manipulated

Question 5

laboratory experiment

Answer 5

conducted in controlled environment

Question 6

field experiment

Answer 6

conducted in a natural setting

Question 7

audit study

Answer 7

study that examines racial and other forms of discrimination by sending matched pairs of individuals to apply for jobs, purchase a car, rent an apartment, etc.

Question 8

survey-based experiment

Answer 8

experiment embedded in a survey in which respondents are given different, randomly assigned versions of the survey questions

Question 9

pretest

Answer 9

trial run of experiment or survey instrument to evaluate and rehearse study procedures and personnel

Question 10

cover story

Answer 10

introduction presented to research participants to obtain their cooperation while disguising the research hypothesis

Question 11

manipulation check

Answer 11

procedure used to provide evidence that participants interpreted the manipulation of the independent variable in the way intended

Question 12

threats to internal validity

Answer 12

types of extraneous variables that pose alternative explanations of an experimental outcome, thereby threatening the validity of the experimental manipulation

Question 13

selection

Answer 13

a threat to internal validity that is present whenever participants are NOT randomly assigned to experimental conditions

Question 14

maturation

Answer 14

a threat to internal validity that refers to psychological or physiological changes taking place within participants

Question 15

history

Answer 15

a threat to internal validity that refers to events other than the manipulation of the independent variable

Question 16

external validity

Answer 16

the extent to which experimental findings may be generalized to other settings, measurements, populations, and time periods

Question 17

reactive measurement effect

Answer 17

an effect in which participant’s awareness of being studied produces changes in how they would normally respond

Question 18

double-blind experiment

Answer 18

an experiment in which neither research participants nor research personnel know participants’ treatment condition during the running of the experiment