Chapter 7
Control Techniques in Experimental Research
Multiple choice questions
1. Often, we do not know at the start of an experiment what
extraneous variables could affect our results. The best means of
controlling unknown sources of extraneous variables is a.
matching.
b. counterbalancing.
* c. randomization.
d. analysis of covariance.
2. It is usually impossible to eliminate the effects of extraneous
variables. However, it may be possible to eliminate
a. the effects of the independent variable.
*b. differential effects of extraneous variables.
c. the effects of the dependent variable.
d. differential effects of intrinsic variables.
3. Which of the control techniques has the most power to insure
that unidentified, extraneous variables do not have differential
effects on the different groups in the experiment?
* a. randomization
b. matching
c. counterbalancing
d. precision matching
4. Random assignment of participants to the various groups in an
experiment
a. guarantees that extraneous variables will be constant
across groups.
,* b. maximized the probability that extraneous variables will
NOT have a differential effect on the various treatment
groups.
c. is essential if you want to generalize your results to the
population.
d. is very difficult to do and is therefore not commonly done.
5. The "sensitivity" of an experiment refers to its ability to detect
any differences in performance, however small, between the two
groups. In one technique to improve sensitivity the experimenter
uses matching of participants across groups, assuring that
a. all participants are randomly distributed across groups.
* b. groups of participants are equated on those selected
extraneous variables.
c. the performance of a participant in one group is
statistically equated with the performance of that
participant's partner in another group.
d. all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to
a given group.
6. When one of the matching techniques is used,
a. randomizing techniques are no longer needed.
*b. randomizing should still be used where possible.
c. the possibility of confounding of the experiment is
eliminated.
d. generalization to the population is assured.
7. The most basic and simplest matching technique is to
a. make the extraneous variable an IV
*b. hold the extraneous variable constant
c. individual matching
d. frequency distribution matching
8. Suppose you are interested in studying how prior exposure can
affect color preference, but you know that color preferences are
also a function of ethnic background. You could increase your
, study's sensitivity by studying only one ethnic group. There is a
problem inherent in this approach, which is that
* a. your results would not be generalizable beyond the ethnic
group you studied.
b. you would have to use a larger sample to be sure your
results were valid.
c. you would have to use several levels of prior exposure to
be sure you were getting an accurate picture of the
relationship between exposure and preference.
d. you don't know which ethnic group prefers which colors.
9. If you are interested in any possible interaction effects between
an extraneous variable and the independent variable, which of
the following techniques you should use?
a. matching by holding the extraneous variable constant
* b. matching by making the extraneous variable into another
independent variable
c. matching by equating participants
d. counterbalancing
10. Suppose you do find an extraneous variable that could have
great influence on your results, beyond the influence of the
independent variable. You could increase the experiment's
sensitivity by
a. studying that variable first.
b. exposing half of your participants to the independent
variable, and half to the extraneous variable, and
comparing the performance of the two groups.
* c. incorporating that extraneous variable as a second
independent variable.
d. randomly assigning participants to experience either the
independent variable or the extraneous variable.
11. What is the primary benefit of matching?
a. it eliminates the influence of virtually all known extraneous
variables
b. it eliminates experimenter expectancy and participant
effects
Control Techniques in Experimental Research
Multiple choice questions
1. Often, we do not know at the start of an experiment what
extraneous variables could affect our results. The best means of
controlling unknown sources of extraneous variables is a.
matching.
b. counterbalancing.
* c. randomization.
d. analysis of covariance.
2. It is usually impossible to eliminate the effects of extraneous
variables. However, it may be possible to eliminate
a. the effects of the independent variable.
*b. differential effects of extraneous variables.
c. the effects of the dependent variable.
d. differential effects of intrinsic variables.
3. Which of the control techniques has the most power to insure
that unidentified, extraneous variables do not have differential
effects on the different groups in the experiment?
* a. randomization
b. matching
c. counterbalancing
d. precision matching
4. Random assignment of participants to the various groups in an
experiment
a. guarantees that extraneous variables will be constant
across groups.
,* b. maximized the probability that extraneous variables will
NOT have a differential effect on the various treatment
groups.
c. is essential if you want to generalize your results to the
population.
d. is very difficult to do and is therefore not commonly done.
5. The "sensitivity" of an experiment refers to its ability to detect
any differences in performance, however small, between the two
groups. In one technique to improve sensitivity the experimenter
uses matching of participants across groups, assuring that
a. all participants are randomly distributed across groups.
* b. groups of participants are equated on those selected
extraneous variables.
c. the performance of a participant in one group is
statistically equated with the performance of that
participant's partner in another group.
d. all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to
a given group.
6. When one of the matching techniques is used,
a. randomizing techniques are no longer needed.
*b. randomizing should still be used where possible.
c. the possibility of confounding of the experiment is
eliminated.
d. generalization to the population is assured.
7. The most basic and simplest matching technique is to
a. make the extraneous variable an IV
*b. hold the extraneous variable constant
c. individual matching
d. frequency distribution matching
8. Suppose you are interested in studying how prior exposure can
affect color preference, but you know that color preferences are
also a function of ethnic background. You could increase your
, study's sensitivity by studying only one ethnic group. There is a
problem inherent in this approach, which is that
* a. your results would not be generalizable beyond the ethnic
group you studied.
b. you would have to use a larger sample to be sure your
results were valid.
c. you would have to use several levels of prior exposure to
be sure you were getting an accurate picture of the
relationship between exposure and preference.
d. you don't know which ethnic group prefers which colors.
9. If you are interested in any possible interaction effects between
an extraneous variable and the independent variable, which of
the following techniques you should use?
a. matching by holding the extraneous variable constant
* b. matching by making the extraneous variable into another
independent variable
c. matching by equating participants
d. counterbalancing
10. Suppose you do find an extraneous variable that could have
great influence on your results, beyond the influence of the
independent variable. You could increase the experiment's
sensitivity by
a. studying that variable first.
b. exposing half of your participants to the independent
variable, and half to the extraneous variable, and
comparing the performance of the two groups.
* c. incorporating that extraneous variable as a second
independent variable.
d. randomly assigning participants to experience either the
independent variable or the extraneous variable.
11. What is the primary benefit of matching?
a. it eliminates the influence of virtually all known extraneous
variables
b. it eliminates experimenter expectancy and participant
effects
