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Based on the concept of practice effects, explain why Dr. Smith's conclusion might be flawed and describe the alternative reason that could explain the participants' faster performance on the second puzzle.
Case context: Dr. Smith is conducting a within-subjects experiment to test whether a short guided meditation session improves performance on a complex logic puzzle. Participants are first timed as they solve a logic puzzle in the control condition. Next, they participate in a 10-minute guided meditation. Finally, they are timed as they solve a second, similar logic puzzle in the experimental condition. Dr. Smith observes that participants completed the second puzzle significantly faster and concludes that the meditation caused the improvement.
Question: Based on the concept of practice effects, explain why Dr. Smith's conclusion might be flawed and describe the alternative reason that could explain the participants' faster performance on the second puzzle.
Sample answer: Dr. Smith's conclusion may be flawed because the improvement in puzzle-solving speed could be a practice effect, which is a type of carryover effect common in within-subjects designs. The participants may have completed the second puzzle faster simply because they gained experience and practiced the task during the first puzzle, rather than because the meditation session actually improved their cognitive abilities.
Key points:
- Identifies the scenario as a potential example of a practice effect.
- Explains that participants gained experience from solving the first logic puzzle.
- Distinguishes between the intended effect of the experimental manipulation (meditation) and the unintended effect of practice.
- Concludes that the improvement in time may not be due to the meditation session.
Rubric: Full credit requires identifying the presence of a potential practice effect and correctly explaining that the performance improvement might just be due to experience gained from the first puzzle rather than the experimental manipulation.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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