This is the second out of four multiple choice tests (unit exams) that count for your final
grade. There are 25 questions with four possible answe
... [Show More] rs each. In all questions, only one of
the four answers is correct. You will receive 1 point for each correct answer, and 0 points
for each incorrect answer. Hence, the maximum possible points in this test are 25 points.
Please read the questions and possible answers carefully before you make your choices!
Also, don’t forget to write down and “bubble” your name on the answer sheet!
On Chapter 4:
1. Which of the following is true if a study used random sampling to select its participants?
(a) It means that the causal conclusions reached in the study about the relationship
between X and Y are scientifically valid.
(b) It means that every member of the population was given the opportunity to participate
in the study.
(c) It means that the results are more likely to be statistically significant.
(d) It means that every member of the population had an equal probability of being
selected to participate in the study.
2. Which of the following best captures the difference between experimental and
observational research designs?
(a) Experimental designs control for confounding variables through randomly assigning
participants to different treatment groups, while observational designs accomplish this
through statistical controls.
(b) Experimental designs are less prone than observational designs to bias caused by a
researcher unintentionally influencing the behaviors of participants.
(c) Reverse causality is more likely to be problematic in experimental designs.
(d) Experimental designs are more likely to have problems with internal validity because of
how they recruit participants, whereas observational designs do not suffer from this
difficulty as often.
3. A competent researcher would be least likely to study which of the following using an
experimental research design?
(a) The influence of negative media coverage on Iraq War opinions.
(b) The influence of emotional rhetoric on candidate evaluations.
(c) The influence of personal ideology on candidate evaluations.
(d) The influence of peer‐group discussions on Iraq War opinions.
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4. What is the most significant benefit of randomly assigning participants to different
treatment groups?
(a) It ensures that the sample is an accurate representation of the population at large.
(b) It ensures that you have a credible causal mechanism linking X to Y.
(c) Both (a) and (b).
(d) It controls for other possible causes of the dependent variable.
5. Which of the following is not a potential drawback of experimental research designs?
(a) Not every independent variable is subject to experimental manipulation.
(b) Experiments often suffer from low degrees of external validity.
(c) Experiments sometimes have trouble sorting out whether X causes Y or Y causes X.
(d) Some experimental situations create ethical dilemmas for researchers.
6. In observational research, which of the following “causal hurdles” is most difficult to
cross?
(a) Is there a credible causal mechanism linking X to Y ?
(b) Could Y cause X?
(c) Is there covariation between X and Y?
(d) These are all equally difficult to cross in observational research. [Show Less]