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Standardizing the Procedure
Standardizing the procedure is the process of minimizing unintended variation by conducting an experiment in the exact same way for all participants, regardless of their assigned condition. This consistency prevents extraneous variables, such as experimenter demeanor, from systematically affecting the results and creating confounds. Common standardization techniques include using written protocols, delivering standard or automated instructions, anticipating participant questions in advance, training multiple experimenters together, and ensuring each experimenter tests participants in all conditions.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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Participant Variable
Situational Variable
Task Variable
Experimental Control
Experimenter's Sex as an Extraneous Variable
Standardizing the Procedure
Experimenter Expectancy Effect
Example of Extraneous Variables: Expressive Writing Experiment
Confounding Variable
Internal Validity
In the context of an experiment, what is an extraneous variable?
In a study examining whether caffeine improves focus, the amount of sleep a participant had the night before would be considered an extraneous variable if it varies between participants and could potentially influence the results.
In psychological research, factors other than the primary ones being studied can often influence the results. Match each research study with the specific factor that would act as an extraneous variable in that scenario.
A researcher conducts a study to see if 'Bright Lighting' (the factor being tested) improves 'Reading Speed' (the performance being measured). However, the group in the bright light reads an interesting novel, while the group in the dim light reads a technical manual. Arrange the following statements to represent the logical sequence of how this extraneous variable (Topic Interest) creates ambiguity in the study's results.
True or False: In experimental research, an extraneous variable is defined as any factor that varies within the context of a study other than the specific variables being investigated.
In an experiment, why does the presence of an extraneous variable that varies within the study make it difficult to draw clear conclusions about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables?
When a researcher evaluates the validity of a claim that one factor caused a change in another, they must determine if any additional factors fluctuated during the study. A factor that varies in the context of the study other than the ones being specifically investigated is known as a(n) _____ variable; its presence requires the researcher to judge the study's conclusions as inconclusive because the true cause of the results cannot be isolated.
A researcher is conducting an experiment to see if a new mnemonic strategy improves memory recall. Match each element of this research study to its correct classification.
A researcher designs an experiment to measure the effect of cell phone use on reaction times. If the participants' age varies throughout the study and potentially affects reaction times, the researcher must recognize age as a/an _____ variable because it is a factor other than the independent and dependent variables that could introduce competing influences.
Order the steps a researcher should take to evaluate and manage potential threats to internal validity from factors outside the primary hypothesis.
Standardizing the Procedure
Experimenter Expectancy Effect
Socially Desirable Responding
Demand Characteristics
Hawthorne Effect
Clear and Brief Procedures
Anonymity in Testing
How does participant reactivity most frequently manifest in psychological research?
Participant reactivity is a phenomenon that exclusively involves participants intentionally trying to disrupt or sabotage the research data.
A psychologist is designing a study on social behavior and wants to account for the impact of measurement on the subjects. Arrange the following research scenarios in order from the highest likely participant reactivity (1) to the lowest likely participant reactivity (3).
A researcher is evaluating different ways that measurement can influence human behavior. Match each research scenario with the specific manifestation of participant reactivity it demonstrates.
Match each term related to participant behavior with its correct description according to the concept of participant reactivity.
Which of the following best explains why participant reactivity is considered a threat to the validity of psychological research?
An external reviewer critiques a study on social interactions and concludes that the data is 'contaminated' because the participants' awareness of the recording devices led them to behave more politely than they would in a natural setting. By making this judgment, the reviewer is identifying _____ as the primary threat that has compromised the study's validity.
A clinical psychologist measures client anxiety levels by observing their fidgeting through a one-way mirror (of which the clients are unaware) and finds no changes in behavior. If the psychologist then enters the room and tells the clients they are being evaluated, and the clients immediately sit up straight and stop fidgeting to appear calm, this change in behavior is an example of participant reactivity.
A researcher analyzing observational data notes that while a few disagreeable participants intentionally tried to disrupt the study, most participants reacted by adjusting their responses to match perceived researcher expectations. This more common manifestation of participant reactivity is driven by _____ participants.
Evaluate the risk of participant reactivity across different research settings. Order the following research designs from the lowest risk of participant reactivity to the highest risk of participant reactivity.
Learn After
Written Protocol
Automated Procedure
Anticipating Participant Questions
Training Multiple Experimenters
Experimenter Cross-Condition Testing
Standardizing Interactions
Pilot Test
Match each standardization technique with its correct description.
A researcher is concerned that differences in how various research assistants interact with participants might introduce unintended variation into a study on memory. Which of the following actions best illustrates the process of standardizing the procedure to address this concern?
A researcher attempts to standardize the procedure of a memory study by having one research assistant test all participants in the 'High-Distraction' condition and a second assistant test all participants in the 'Low-Distraction' condition.
Arrange the following research scenarios in order from the LEAST standardized (1) to the MOST standardized (4) based on their ability to minimize unintended variation caused by the researcher.
Imagine you are developing a new research protocol for a psychology study on social influence. To create a fully standardized procedure that eliminates unintended variation across multiple research assistants, in what order should you execute these developmental steps?
What is the primary objective of standardizing the procedure in a psychological study?
A researcher evaluates two versions of an experimental protocol. Protocol A allows experimenters to explain the task in their own words to help participants feel comfortable, while Protocol B requires them to use a word-for-word script. The researcher chooses Protocol B because it is the most effective way of _____ the procedure to ensure every participant has an identical experience.