PSYC 255 QUIZ 5 CERTIFICATION REVIEW
SET 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⫸ Experimentation Answer: Most beautiful "scientific work of art"
because, if done correctly, it is the best scientific tool we have to draw
conclusions about causal relationships.
⫸ Experimental Control Answer: 1) manipulate one or more
independent variables
2) choose the types of dependent variables that will be measured, and
how and when they will be measured, so that the effects of the
independent variables can be assessed; and
3) regulate other aspects of the research environment including the
manner in which participants are exposed to the various conditions in the
experiment
⫸ Casual Inference Answer: 1. Co-variation of X and Y
2. Temporal order: cause (X) before effect (Y)
3. Absence of alternative causes (confounds/third-variables) In principle,
if X is the only factor in a situation that varies prior to a change in Y,
then the logical conclusion is that the variation in X must have caused
the change in Y.
,⫸ Confounding variable Answer: is a factor that co-varies with the
independent variable in such a way that we can no longer determine
which one has caused the changes in the dependent variable.
⫸ Types of Variables (Review) Answer: Independent: the one thing you
change, limit to only one in an experiment ex) the liquid used to water
each plant
Dependent: the change that happens because of the independent variable
ex) the height or health of the plant
Controlled: everything you want to remain constant and unchanging ex)
type of plant used, pot size, amount of liquid, soil type, etc
⫸ Potential Confounding Variables: Environmental Factors Answer:
There are other environmental factors that even in principle cannot be
held constant, but that can be balanced across the different experimental
conditions. These include the time of day, day of the week, and month of
the year when each student participates.
⫸ What researchers hope to avoid: Systematic Bias Answer: in which
the experimenter consistently alters his or her behavior towards
participants based on the particular condition they are in
⫸ Single-factor design Answer: - has only one independent variable
- This IV must have at least (2) conditions, also called two levels of the
IV.
, - An experiment with 1 IV that has more than two levels is often called a
single-factor, MULTI-Level design
⫸ What determines how many levels of an IV we should create?
Answer: Essentially, the question about behavior that we ask, our
personal preferences, and our assessment of available resources will be
three key factors.
⫸ Counterbalancing Answer: a procedure in which the order of
conditions is varied so that no condition has an overall advantage
relative to the other conditions
⫸ Random assignment Answer: a procedure in which each participant
has an equal probability of being assigned to any one of the conditions in
the experiment.
⫸ Between-subjects design Answer: different participants are assigned
to each of the conditions of the experiment
- researchers typically minimize the potential confounding effects of
each subject by random assignment
⫸ Advantages of between-subjects design Answer: 1) because each
participant only engages in one condition, effects caused by exposure to
one condition (e.g., stress) can't carry over to other conditions.
2) some scientific questions can only be examined using a between-
subjects design
SET 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⫸ Experimentation Answer: Most beautiful "scientific work of art"
because, if done correctly, it is the best scientific tool we have to draw
conclusions about causal relationships.
⫸ Experimental Control Answer: 1) manipulate one or more
independent variables
2) choose the types of dependent variables that will be measured, and
how and when they will be measured, so that the effects of the
independent variables can be assessed; and
3) regulate other aspects of the research environment including the
manner in which participants are exposed to the various conditions in the
experiment
⫸ Casual Inference Answer: 1. Co-variation of X and Y
2. Temporal order: cause (X) before effect (Y)
3. Absence of alternative causes (confounds/third-variables) In principle,
if X is the only factor in a situation that varies prior to a change in Y,
then the logical conclusion is that the variation in X must have caused
the change in Y.
,⫸ Confounding variable Answer: is a factor that co-varies with the
independent variable in such a way that we can no longer determine
which one has caused the changes in the dependent variable.
⫸ Types of Variables (Review) Answer: Independent: the one thing you
change, limit to only one in an experiment ex) the liquid used to water
each plant
Dependent: the change that happens because of the independent variable
ex) the height or health of the plant
Controlled: everything you want to remain constant and unchanging ex)
type of plant used, pot size, amount of liquid, soil type, etc
⫸ Potential Confounding Variables: Environmental Factors Answer:
There are other environmental factors that even in principle cannot be
held constant, but that can be balanced across the different experimental
conditions. These include the time of day, day of the week, and month of
the year when each student participates.
⫸ What researchers hope to avoid: Systematic Bias Answer: in which
the experimenter consistently alters his or her behavior towards
participants based on the particular condition they are in
⫸ Single-factor design Answer: - has only one independent variable
- This IV must have at least (2) conditions, also called two levels of the
IV.
, - An experiment with 1 IV that has more than two levels is often called a
single-factor, MULTI-Level design
⫸ What determines how many levels of an IV we should create?
Answer: Essentially, the question about behavior that we ask, our
personal preferences, and our assessment of available resources will be
three key factors.
⫸ Counterbalancing Answer: a procedure in which the order of
conditions is varied so that no condition has an overall advantage
relative to the other conditions
⫸ Random assignment Answer: a procedure in which each participant
has an equal probability of being assigned to any one of the conditions in
the experiment.
⫸ Between-subjects design Answer: different participants are assigned
to each of the conditions of the experiment
- researchers typically minimize the potential confounding effects of
each subject by random assignment
⫸ Advantages of between-subjects design Answer: 1) because each
participant only engages in one condition, effects caused by exposure to
one condition (e.g., stress) can't carry over to other conditions.
2) some scientific questions can only be examined using a between-
subjects design
