Essay

Explain why research aimed at creating enduring behavioral changes requires a between-subjects design rather than a within-subjects design. Provide the two specific examples of such treatments mentioned in the textbook context.

Question: Explain why research aimed at creating enduring behavioral changes requires a between-subjects design rather than a within-subjects design. Provide the two specific examples of such treatments mentioned in the textbook context.

Sample answer: Research aimed at creating enduring behavioral changes requires a between-subjects design because successful treatments permanently alter the participants. As a result, participants cannot return to their original baseline state after the treatment, making it impossible for them to serve in a subsequent control condition. The two examples of such treatments mentioned are psychotherapy and attempting to reduce prejudice through cross-racial interaction.

Key points:

  • Enduring behavioral changes permanently alter participants.
  • Participants cannot return to their original baseline state after treatment.
  • Participants cannot serve in a subsequent control condition, making within-subjects designs impossible.
  • Psychotherapy is one example of a treatment that causes permanent alteration.
  • Cross-racial interaction to reduce prejudice is another example of a treatment causing permanent alteration.

Rubric: Grading criteria: 1. Clearly states that treatments permanently alter participants or that participants cannot return to their baseline state (2 points). 2. Explains that because of this change, participants cannot serve in a subsequent control condition (1 point). 3. Mentions psychotherapy as the first example (1 point). 4. Mentions reducing prejudice through cross-racial interaction as the second example (1 point).

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Updated 2026-05-27

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KPU

Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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