Chapter 20. Experiments 1. Under what conditions is experimental research most appropriate? Show
2. What can you do with experiments that you cannot do with other approaches to research?
3. Why are control groups used in experiments? What do they do for you?
4. Why is random assignment to groups used in experiments? What does it do for you?
5. What are the main strengths and weaknesses of experiments?
6. Compare the two-group pretest-posttest design to the two-group posttest only design. What additional information does the pretest give you in the former? What potential sources of invalidity does the pretest allow you to rule out?
7. Compare the Solomon four-group design to the two-group pretest-posttest design. What additional information do the additional groups give you in the former? What potential sources of invalidity do they allow you to rule out?
8. How can you determine whether the pretest is influencing the way people respond to the experimental stimulus?
9. How can you determine whether the pretest is influencing the way people respond to the posttest?
10. How can you check the validity of the random assignment to conditions?
Which research method is most appropriate if you are looking for a casual relationship?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.
What kind of research looks for relations between variables?Correlational research involves measuring two variables and assessing the relationship between them, with no manipulation of an independent variable. Correlational research is not defined by where or how the data are collected.
Which of the following is the objective of causal research?The goal of causal research is to prove the cause-and-effect relationship between two variables.
Which research method must always occur in a real life setting?A naturalistic observation is a psychological research method used to accurately observe and record behavior in the environment in which it normally occurs.
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