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Identify the specific procedural step the researcher is using with the pressure questionnaire, and explain how this relates to the nature of the independent variable in this study.
Case context: A researcher is studying the effect of 'social intimidation' on cognitive performance. Because intimidation is an abstract construct that cannot be manipulated directly, the researcher assigns half the participants to an intimidating environment (a stern evaluator standing closely over them) and the other half to a relaxed environment. Right after this setup, but before the cognitive test, the researcher administers a brief questionnaire asking participants to rate their current feelings of psychological pressure from 1 to 10.
Question: Identify the specific procedural step the researcher is using with the pressure questionnaire, and explain how this relates to the nature of the independent variable in this study.
Sample answer: The researcher is using a manipulation check. This step is necessary because the independent variable (social intimidation) is an abstract construct that cannot be directly manipulated. The questionnaire serves as a separate measurement to confirm whether the experimental setup actually succeeded in altering the participants' feelings of pressure.
Key points:
- Identifies the procedure as a manipulation check.
- Notes that the independent variable is an abstract construct.
- Explains that the construct cannot be manipulated directly.
- States the questionnaire verifies if the manipulation was successful.
Rubric: Full credit requires explicitly naming the questionnaire procedure as a 'manipulation check' and explaining that it is used to verify if the abstract independent variable was successfully manipulated.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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