Research Questions

In a line graph of results of a 2x2 factorial experiment, an interaction is shown by: a) some points higher than others b) one line higher than another c) two lines not parallel to the x axis d) two lines not parallel to each other In a mixed design, a) there is one independent variable and one dependant variable b) one independent variable is manipulated and the other independent variable(s) is(are) not manipulated c) At least one independent variable is tested within-subjects and the other independent variable(s) is(are) tested between-subjects. d) the number of independent variables and dependant variables are different. A company plans to implement a new office procedure in... click for more

Identify Variables

After 5 weeks of voluntary wheel running…mice (of a certain strain) were significantly resistant to the sleep inducing effects of (alcohol). Sixty-four mice, 32 males and 32 females, were assigned to wheel (free access to a running wheel in the home cage) or no-wheel conditions. At the end of the training period, the animals were removed from the exercise cages and tested for sensitivity to (alcohol)…, assessed by (the time it took them to fall asleep). Exercised animals (took significantly longer before they fell asleep and had) shorter duration of sleep time (after falling down). Exercise caused a significant decrease in body weight in male but not female mice. The present results suggest ... click for more

Internal validity and external validity of an experiment are contrasted.

I distinguish between internal validity and external validity of an experiment.

Single-subject research design is examined briefly.

The most basic single-subject research design is composed of the following phases:_______________________________________________________ The essential feature of this design that allows one to infer casual relationship is _____________________________________________________________ . These questions are discussed.

Variables in Research

Researcher “Jack” is interested in how self-esteem affects willpower when dieting. He finds 20 students (10 Male, 10 Female) who agree to come to his lab one at a time for a study. The lab is stocked with a variety of snack foods. When they arrive, he gives them an unsolvable logic problem to work on. He then secretly flips a coin. If the coin is heads, he tells the subject that he/she is doing very well on the problem. If it is tails, he tells the subject that he/she is doing very poorly. He then leaves the room. In his analysis, he compares how many of the snacks subjects in the two groups ate. He concludes that self-esteem does not affect willpower. a) Identify the Independent Variable... click for more