Research Methods Test 2

A researcher tests four different groups of participants. Each group is given a different dosage of caffeine, and reaction time is measured for each subject. Which of the following is true?

A.) dosage level is the dependent variable

B.) reaction time is an independent variable

C.) the independent variable has four levels

D.) the independent variable is a subject variable

C.) the independent variable has four levels

What do all experiments have in common?

A.) there are at least two different ways in which participants are treated

B.) at least one independent variable will be an instructional variable

C.) there must be at least two dependent measures

D.) there must be a control group

A.) there are at least two different ways in which participants are treated

In a study of the effects of X on Y, variable Z is confounded with X. Which of the following is true?

A.) X could be causing Y

B.) Z could be causing Y

C.) both alternatives a. and b. are equally possible

D.) none of the above

C.) both alternatives a. and b. are equally possible

When a confound exists,

A.) some uncontrolled factor covaries with the independent variable

B.) it cannot be determined whether the confounding variable or the independent variable is causing the results to occur

D.) there will be at least two different ways of interpreting the results

E.) all of the above

E.) all of the above

In a study comparing two sets of rankings, a researcher erroneously uses a statistical analysis designed for use with interval or ratio data. This study will have questionable

A.) internal validity

B.) construct validity

C.) statistical conclusion validity

D.) reliability

C.) statistical conclusion validity

Decisions made about how to define the dependent variable most clearly affect the ________ validity of a study.

A.) internal

B.) construct

C.) external

D.) statistical conclusion

B.) construct

The internal validity of a study is high when

A.) the results generalize to other situations

B.) the results apply to other groups of people

C.) potential confounds are properly controlled

D.) external validity is also high (they go together)

C.) potential confounds are properly controlled

External validity concerns the extent that research findings

A.) result from methodologically sound procedures

B.) result from studies that carefully define the variables

C.) generalize beyond the specific group tested in the study

D.) reflect properly completed statistical analyses

C.) generalize beyond the specific group tested in the study

The purpose of random sampling is to obtain a sample that is

a) large enough to be valid

b) representative of the population

c) smaller than the population

d) significantly different from the population

b) representative of the population

In order to generalize from the results obtained with a sample to the population as a whole,

a) all members of the population must be tested eventually

b) each member of the population must have exactly the same probability of being selected, especially if stratified sampling is being used

c) the sample must be representative of the population

d) the exact values (on the trait being measured) for the population must be known

c) the sample must be representative of the population

The basic definition of ____________ is that all members of the population have exactly the same chance of being selected as participants.

a) cluster sampling

b) nonprobability sampling

c) convenience sampling

d) simple random sampling

d) simple random sampling

A test with a minimum amount of measurement error is said to be

a) reliable

b) valid

c) both alternatives a. and b.

d) none of the above

a) reliable

If a personality test is able to produce results similar to results produced by other valid measures of personality, then we can say the test has good

a) predictive validity

b) concurrent validity

c) face validity

d) reliability

b) concurrent validity

Which of the following is true about construct validity?

a) it is never established in a single study

b) it is concerned with the question of whether the construct being measured is a meaningful construct

c) it is concerned with the question of whether a tool developed to measure a construct is the best one available

d) all of the above

d) all of the above

What is a task variable?

An independent variable relating to types of tasks performed by participants

What is a situational variable?

A type of independent variable that involves the manipulation of the situations that the participants are in

What is an instructional variable?

Participants are told to preform tasks different ways

What is a subject variable?

An IV related to a trait that the participants already had