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Suppose you are designing a between-subjects experiment to test the effects of two different teaching methods on student learning. What must you do when assigning participants to the two conditions, and what is the primary methodological reason for doing so regarding participant variables?

Question: Suppose you are designing a between-subjects experiment to test the effects of two different teaching methods on student learning. What must you do when assigning participants to the two conditions, and what is the primary methodological reason for doing so regarding participant variables?

Sample answer: When assigning participants to the conditions, you must ensure that the different groups are, on average, highly similar to each other. The primary reason for this matching is to control extraneous participant variables across conditions so that they do not become confounding variables.

Key points:

  • Assign participants so that the groups are, on average, highly similar to each other.
  • Control extraneous participant variables across conditions.
  • Prevent extraneous participant variables from becoming confounding variables.

Rubric: The response should be 1-3 sentences and must state that: 1. Participants must be assigned so that the groups are, on average, highly similar to one another. 2. The purpose is to control extraneous participant variables so they do not become confounding variables.

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Updated 2026-05-26

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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