Using random assignment to groups in an experiment promotes all of the following EXCEPT

Question 162 out of 2 pointsBefore psychologists can begin a research project, they must receiveapproval from the

Using random assignment to groups in an experiment promotes all of the following EXCEPT

Board.CorrectAnswer:Institutional ReviewBoard.Question 172 out of 2 pointsIn order to maximize the likelihood that experimental and control groupsare similar before any treatment has begun, researchers typically use

Question 182 out of 2 pointsWhy do scientists avoid the termfact?

Question 190 out of 2 pointsIn the nature/nurture debate, the termnaturerefers to the question ofhow ________ factors affect the mind, brain, and behavior.

Question 200 out of 2 pointsDr. Jahrel has designed a study that uses surveys to collect data onstudents’ opinions regarding the use of drugs on campus. Whatresponsibility does Dr. Jahrel have before he starts collecting data?

study to the institutional review board.CorrectAnswer:Dr. Jahrel will need to present his study to the institutionalreview board for an ethics review before he collects data.Question 212 out of 2 pointsThe more time Annie devoted to studying, the better her scores on exams.This fact illustrates a(n)

Question 220 out of 2 pointsIf a researcher created two groups by assigning the first 30 people to theexperimental group and the last 30 people to the control group, thisprocess would

Question 232 out of 2 pointsJane Goodall systematically watched and recorded the behavior ofchimpanzees in their natural environment. She was conducting

Question 242 out of 2 pointsIf a researcher publicly discussed a participant’s responses and named theparticipant, that researcher would be guilty of violating the ethicalprinciple of

Question 252 out of 2 pointsWhy is the first step in critical thinking to ask, “What is the claim I ambeing asked to accept?”

The Manipulation of Predictor Variables

In an experiment, the researcher manipulates the factor that is hypothesized to affect the outcome of interest. The factor that is being manipulated is typically referred to as the treatment or intervention. The researcher may manipulate whether research subjects receive a treatment (e.g., antidepressant medicine: yes or no) and the level of treatment (e.g., 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, and 125 mg).

Suppose, for example, a group of researchers was interested in the causes of maternal employment. They might hypothesize that the provision of government-subsidized child care would promote such employment. They could then design an experiment in which some subjects would be provided the option of government-funded child care subsidies and others would not. The researchers might also manipulate the value of the child care subsidies in order to determine if higher subsidy values might result in different levels of maternal employment.

Random Assignment

  • Study participants are randomly assigned to different treatment groups
  • All participants have the same chance of being in a given condition
  • Participants are assigned to either the group that receives the treatment, known as the "experimental group" or "treatment group," or to the group which does not receive the treatment, referred to as the "control group"
  • Random assignment neutralizes factors other than the independent and dependent variables, making it possible to directly infer cause and effect

Random Sampling

Traditionally, experimental researchers have used convenience sampling to select study participants. However, as research methods have become more rigorous, and the problems with generalizing from a convenience sample to the larger population have become more apparent, experimental researchers are increasingly turning to random sampling. In experimental policy research studies, participants are often randomly selected from program administrative databases and randomly assigned to the control or treatment groups.

Why is random assignment important in an experiment quizlet?

The purpose of random assignment is to allow the experimenter to prevent the participants from knowing which condition they were assigned to. The purpose of random assignment is to equalize participants' characteristics across all conditions of an experiment.

What is the major limitation of random assignment quizlet?

By randomly assigning subjects, they can't self-select into certain groups, so the two groups are the same. If certain types of individuals self-select into the treatment group, the results wouldn't be b/c of the treatment but because of some underlying characteristic of the people in that group.

Which of the following research methods is the best way to identify a causal relationship between two variables?

The use of a controlled study is the most effective way of establishing causality between variables. In a controlled study, the sample or population is split in two, with both groups being comparable in almost every way. The two groups then receive different treatments, and the outcomes of each group are assessed.

Which of the following is an important criterion for making a causal inference about the relationship between two variables?

Temporality is a key criterion because, for a relationship to be causal, the exposure must precede the outcome.