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Evaluate the following claim: 'In a within-subjects experiment testing cognitive processing speed, a fatigue effect can only act as a confounding variable if participants are subjected to high physical exertion.' Based on the definition of a fatigue effect, is this claim valid or invalid? Briefly justify your answer in one to three sentences.
Question: Evaluate the following claim: 'In a within-subjects experiment testing cognitive processing speed, a fatigue effect can only act as a confounding variable if participants are subjected to high physical exertion.' Based on the definition of a fatigue effect, is this claim valid or invalid? Briefly justify your answer in one to three sentences.
Sample answer: This claim is invalid. A fatigue effect is a specific type of carryover effect that can be triggered by mental tiredness or simple boredom from participating in earlier conditions, not just physical exertion. Therefore, high physical exertion is not required for a fatigue effect to occur and act as a confounding variable.
Key points:
- The claim is invalid because fatigue effects do not require physical exertion.
- Fatigue effects can be caused by mental tiredness or boredom from participating in earlier conditions.
- Participants perform a task worse in subsequent experimental conditions due to this tiredness or boredom.
- If the order of conditions is not controlled, this decline acts as a confounding variable.
Rubric: The answer must state that the claim is invalid and justify this by explaining that fatigue effects can be caused by mental tiredness or boredom, not just physical exertion.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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Evaluate the following claim: 'In a within-subjects experiment testing cognitive processing speed, a fatigue effect can only act as a confounding variable if participants are subjected to high physical exertion.' Based on the definition of a fatigue effect, is this claim valid or invalid? Briefly justify your answer in one to three sentences.