SPCE 630 Final Exam Questions
Verified Questions with Answers & Rationales | Ball State University (2025/2026)
SECTION 1: SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING & INTERNAL VALIDITY (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
Which level of scientific understanding involves systematic observation and
accurate description of phenomena, allowing researchers to suggest hypotheses
for future study?
A) Prediction
B) Control
C) Description
D) Correlation
Answer: C
Rationale: Description is the foundational level of scientific understanding that
involves systematic observation and accurate documentation of phenomena. It
allows researchers to suggest hypotheses for future study
,Question 2
Which level of scientific understanding refers to observing the correlation
between two variables, allowing researchers to anticipate events?
A) Description
B) Control
C) Prediction
D) Verification
Answer: C
Rationale: Prediction involves observing the correlation between two variables,
allowing researchers to anticipate events based on observed relationships. This
enables the prediction of future occurrences based on current knowledge
Question 3
Which level of scientific understanding refers to reliable change produced by
systematic manipulation of the independent variable, establishing a functional
relationship?
A) Description
B) Prediction
,C) Control
D) Correlation
Answer: C
Rationale: Control is the highest level of scientific understanding, achieved when
systematic manipulation of the independent variable reliably produces a change
in the dependent variable, thus establishing a functional relationship
Question 4
Inconsistent implementation of experimental condition protocols refers to which
threat to internal validity?
A) Maturation
B) Procedural infidelity
C) Attrition
D) Testing
Answer: B
Rationale: Procedural infidelity (also called treatment infidelity or implementation
fidelity) refers to the inconsistent application of experimental conditions, which
threatens the internal validity of a study
, Question 5
Events that occur during the experiment that are not related to planned
procedural changes and may influence the outcome are called:
A) Maturation
B) History
C) Testing
D) Attrition
Answer: B
Rationale: History refers to external events that occur during the experiment
unrelated to the independent variable that could account for changes in the
dependent variable
Question 6
Changes in behavior due to the passage of time (e.g., growth, development,
fatigue) are referred to as:
A) History
B) Testing
C) Maturation