Communication Research: Experiment

Experimental research:

• A. most often occurs in the lab or other environment controlled by the researcher.

• B. produces data that are examined by statistical tests.

• C. seeks to determine causation.

• D. relies on probability sampling for selection of research participants and random assignment of participants to conditions

• E. all of the above

Experimental forms differ from quasi-experimental forms in that:

• A. the researcher controls manipulation of the independent variables in experimental, but not quasi-experimental forms.

• B. participants are selected through probability sampling in experimental, but not quasi-experimental forms.

• C. participants are selected through nonprobability sampling in experimental, but not quasi-experimental forms.

• D. deception is used in experimental, but not quasi-experimental forms.

• E. only one independent variable is used in experimental forms, while multiple independent variables can be used in quasi-experimental forms.

Treatment groups are:

• A. used in descriptive research.

• B. based on theory and reflected in the study's hypotheses.

• C. the groups in which participants receive no stimuli.

• D. compared to the control group.

• B and D.

A manipulation check is used to determine if the:

• A. dependent variable was manipulated as the researcher intended.

• B. independent variable was manipulated as the researcher intended.

• C. sample is representative of the population.

• D. correct research procedures were used.

• E. posttest was the same as the pretest.

In a pretest-posttest experimental design:

• A. participants are randomly assigned to treatment and control groups.

• B. the researcher measures the dependent variable only once, during or after participants' exposure to the independent variable.

• C. the researcher measures the dependent variable twice, before and after exposure to the stimulus.

• D. A and B.

• E. A and C.

In a factorial design:

• A. two or more independent variables can be tested.

• B. the effect of each independent variable can be examined.

• C. the interaction effect of each combination of independent variables can be examined.

• D. all of the above.

In a longitudinal design:

• A. there are multiple measurements of the dependent variable.

• B. the length of time between measurements is relative to the topic of study.

• C. the greater the length of time between measurements, the more likely it is that other factors can influence the dependent variable.

• D. training can be evaluated for its effectiveness.

• E. all of the above.

Descriptive designs:

• A. are more rigorous because the researcher does not have direct control over the independent variable.

• B. are more rigorous because participants are not randomly assigned to treatment or control groups.

• C. are sometimes call field experiments.

• D. are less specific to the temporal order in which variables are observed or measured.

• E. are superior to experimental research.

Researchers can influence the results of any experimental design by:

• A. simply being themselves. A researcher's characteristics can influence how participants respond.

• B. unknowingly encouraging participants to respond in the way that supports the predictions of their hypotheses.

• C. being blind to the experimental conditions.

• D. selecting participants from a population with whom they are unfamiliar.

• E. A and B.

A research protocol:

• A. is the informed consent form given to participants before participating in the research project.

• B. is the set of instructions the researcher reads to participants of a particular treatment.

• C. details each procedural step of the research design.

• D. determines which variables are independent and dependent.

• E. determines the length of time between measurements of the dependent variable in a longitudinal design.