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Evaluate the research team's interpretation of their bar graph. Explain why their label is correct or incorrect, and describe the correct interaction pattern shown in their graph based on the relative bar heights across both levels of task complexity.
Case context: A research team is presenting the results of a factorial experiment studying the effects of study environment (quiet vs. noisy) and task complexity (easy vs. hard) on test scores. In their draft report, they include a bar graph where the horizontal axis represents task complexity (easy vs. hard) and comparison bars represent study environment (quiet vs. noisy). Under the 'easy' task level, the bar for the quiet environment is substantially taller than the bar for the noisy environment. Under the 'hard' task level, the bar for the noisy environment is substantially taller than the bar for the quiet environment. The team labels this pattern as a 'spreading interaction' in their draft.
Question: Evaluate the research team's interpretation of their bar graph. Explain why their label is correct or incorrect, and describe the correct interaction pattern shown in their graph based on the relative bar heights across both levels of task complexity.
Sample answer: The research team's label of a 'spreading interaction' is incorrect. Instead, the bar graph displays a cross-over interaction. This is because the relative pattern of the bar heights completely reverses between the two levels of task complexity: quiet environment scores are higher than noisy environment scores for easy tasks, but noisy environment scores are higher than quiet environment scores for hard tasks. A spreading interaction would show a difference at only one level of task complexity and little to no difference at the other.
Key points:
- Correctly identify that the team's label of a spreading interaction is incorrect.
- Correctly identify the pattern as a cross-over interaction.
- Explain that the relative pattern of bar heights completely reverses between the two levels of task complexity.
- Contrast the observed pattern with a spreading interaction.
Rubric: Students should identify that the team's label is incorrect and explain that the graph displays a cross-over interaction. They must explain that the pattern of bar heights reverses between the two levels of task complexity (easy vs. hard), which defines a cross-over interaction, whereas a spreading interaction would only show a difference at one level and no difference at the other.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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