Single-Subject and Group Designs Flashcards
A psychologist conducts a study to evaluate the effects of type of workshop (face-to-face and online) and level of motivation (high, average, and low) on mock EPPP scores. The results indicate that there are statistically significant main effects of both independent variables and a statistically significant interaction. When interpreting these results, the psychologist will conclude which of the following?
A. Both types of workshop are effective regardless of a person’s level of motivation.
B. Both types of workshop are ineffective regardless of a person’s level of motivation.
C. The most effective type of workshop is the same regardless of a person’s level of motivation.
D. The most effective type of workshop depends on the person’s level of motivation.
Answer D is correct. The interaction between type of workshop and motivation is statistically significant, which means that the effects of type of workshop differ for different levels of motivation. For example, the face-to-face workshop might be more effective for people with low motivation, while the online workshop is more effective for people with moderate or high motivation.
Which of the following types of qualitative research is likely to be most useful for gaining an understanding of the daily experiences of family members after one member receives a diagnosis of schizophrenia?
A. thematic analysis
B. ethnography
C. phenomenology
D. grounded theory
Answer C is correct. The purpose of research using a phenomenological approach is to gain an in-depth understanding of the “lived experience” of the study’s participants.
The primary characteristic that distinguishes true experimental research from quasi-experimental research is that, when conducting a true experimental research study, the researcher is able to:
A. randomly select subjects from the population.
B. randomly assign subjects to different treatment groups.
C. use a parametric statistical test to analyze the data.
D. use a nonparametric statistical test to analyze the data.
Answer B is correct. True experimental research allows researchers to control many aspects of their studies, which allows them to determine if observed changes in the dependent variable were caused by the independent variable. The most important aspect of this control is the ability to randomly assign subjects to different treatment groups, which helps ensure that groups are equivalent at the beginning of the study. (The appropriate use of a parametric or nonparametric statistical test depends primarily on the type of data that is to be analyzed, not whether the study was true or quasi-experimental.)
Like the AB single-subject design, the __________ group design involves measuring the dependent variable measure multiple times before and after applying the independent variable.
A. Solomon four-group
B. factorial
C. counterbalanced
D. time-series
Answer D is correct. The AB single-subject design has a single baseline (no treatment) phase that is followed by a single treatment phase. Like the time-series group design, it involves measuring the dependent variable multiple times before and after the independent variable (treatment) is applied.
To obtain a sample for her study, a researcher randomly selects 25 schools from the 90 schools in a single school district and then interviews all teachers in each selected school. The researcher has used which of the following sampling methods?
A. stratified sampling
B. cluster sampling
C. systematic sampling
D. convenience sampling
Answer B is correct. Cluster sampling involves randomly selecting a sample of clusters from all of the clusters in the designated population (e.g., schools in a school district) and then either including in the study all individuals in each selected cluster or a random sample of individuals in each selected cluster.
An advantage of the multiple baseline across behaviors design over the ABAB design is that it:
A. helps the researcher determine if there’s a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
B. doesn’t require the researcher to withdraw a treatment from a behavior during the course of the study once it’s been applied to that behavior.
C. allows the researcher to compare the effectiveness of two different treatments during the course of the study.
D. doesn’t require the behavior to exhibit a stable pattern during the baseline phase before the treatment is applied to that behavior.
Answer B is correct. The multiple-baseline across behaviors design involves sequentially applying a treatment to two or more behaviors. An advantage of this design is that, once the treatment has been applied to a behavior, it continues being applied to that behavior for the duration of the study
