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If a researcher is designing a within-subjects study specifically to measure how the sequence of presenting two different memory tasks influences a participant's fatigue, is the sequence considered a problematic confounding variable? Briefly explain why or why not based on the definition of an order effect.
Question: If a researcher is designing a within-subjects study specifically to measure how the sequence of presenting two different memory tasks influences a participant's fatigue, is the sequence considered a problematic confounding variable? Briefly explain why or why not based on the definition of an order effect.
Sample answer: No, it is not a problematic confounding variable in this case. Order effects act as problematic confounding variables only when they are not the direct focus of the research, whereas this researcher is directly investigating the order.
Key points:
- States that the sequence is not a problematic confound in this study.
- Explains that order effects are confounding variables when they are not the direct focus of the research.
- Notes that the researcher in the scenario is making the order effect the direct focus of the study.
Rubric: Award full credit if the answer correctly states 'no' and justifies it by noting that order effects are only problematic confounds when they are not the direct focus of the research.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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If a researcher is designing a within-subjects study specifically to measure how the sequence of presenting two different memory tasks influences a participant's fatigue, is the sequence considered a problematic confounding variable? Briefly explain why or why not based on the definition of an order effect.