Based on the provided example of a study evaluating the effect of mood on memory, explain how a confounding variable like introduces an alternative explanation and affects the conclusions of the study.
Question: Based on the provided example of a study evaluating the effect of mood on memory, explain how a confounding variable like introduces an alternative explanation and affects the conclusions of the study.
Sample answer: In the hypothetical study, if participants in the positive mood condition have a higher average than those in the negative mood condition, acts as a confounding variable. This systematic difference creates an alternative explanation for the superior memory task performance, making it unclear whether mood or intelligence caused the difference in memory scores.
Key points:
- acts as a confounding variable if the positive mood group has a higher average than the negative mood group.
- This average difference in represents a systematic difference between the conditions.
- The systematic difference provides an alternative explanation for the memory task scores.
- The confound makes it unclear whether mood or intelligence caused the superior memory performance.
Rubric: The response must recall that: 1) acts as a confounding variable when there is an average difference between the groups, 2) this difference is systematic, and 3) it provides an alternative explanation that prevents establishing a clear cause-and-effect relationship.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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