CH-2 Adaptive Learning Research Methods – Adaptive Learning and the Human Condition : Exam Guide

Chapter 2 Multiple Choice Questions 1. ____ validity refers to the ability to conclude cause and effect. a. Social b. Internal c. External d. Experimental Answer: b. Internal Rationale: Internal validity in research refers to the extent to which a study can establish a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables, without the influence of confounding variables. 2. ____ validity refers to the extent to which findings may be generalized beyond the research setting. a. Social b. Internal c. External d. Experimental Answer: c. External Rationale: External validity refers to the generalizability of research findings to settings, populations, and conditions beyond the specific context of the study. 3. The main advantage of experimental research over correlational research is the ability to a. discover salient variables. b. apply statistical procedures to the results. c. discover cause and effect relationships. d. study the influence of dependent variables. Answer: c. discover cause and effect relationships. Rationale: Experimental research allows researchers to manipulate variables and establish cause-andeffect relationships, which is not possible in correlational research where only associations between variables are observed. 4. The ____ research approach is distinguished by the ____ of variables. a. experimental; manipulation b. experimental; systematic observation c. correlational; elimination d. correlational; manipulation Answer: a. experimental; manipulation Rationale: Experimental research involves manipulating independent variables to observe their effects on dependent variables, distinguishing it from correlational research where variables are observed without manipulation. 5. A common control procedure in a group design is a. random assignment of subjects to groups. b. alternating assignment of subjects to groups. c. recording a 1 week baseline period. d. recording a 2 week baseline period. Answer: a. random assignment of subjects to groups. Rationale: Random assignment of subjects to groups ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any experimental condition, reducing the influence of extraneous variables and increasing the internal validity of the study. 6. Control group designs are useful for studying a. the behavior of one individual. b. the average effect of a variable on a large number of individuals. c. changing patterns of behavior throughout an experiment. d. both a and c Answer: b. the average effect of a variable on a large number of individuals. Rationale: Control group designs allow researchers to compare the effects of an intervention or manipulation across groups, providing information about the average effect of a variable on a larger population. 7. Which of the following designs requires the largest number of subjects? a. simple comparison design b. control group design c. reversal design d. multiple baseline design Answer: b. control group design Rationale: Control group designs typically require a larger number of subjects compared to other designs because they involve multiple groups (e.g., experimental and control groups) for comparison. 8. Advantages of single-subject designs include a. monitoring of the subject's behavior throughout the experiment. b. large numbers of subjects are not required to conduct an entire experiment. c. they do not require sophisticated statistical analysis. d. all of these Answer: d. all of these Rationale: Single-subject designs allow for detailed monitoring of individual behavior, do not necessarily require large sample sizes, and often involve straightforward statistical analyses suitable for analyzing individual data. 9. The baseline of a behavior is the a. normal frequency of that behavior following an intervention. b. enhanced frequency of that behavior following an intervention. c. normal frequency of that behavior prior to an intervention. d. suppressed frequency of that behavior prior to an intervention. Answer: c. normal frequency of that behavior prior to an intervention. Rationale: The baseline of a behavior refers to its typical frequency or level before any intervention or manipulation is introduced in an experiment or study. 10. The best baselines are ____ or trend in the _____ direction to the predicted intervention effect. a. instable; same b. instable; opposite. c. stable; same d. stable; opposite. Answer: d. stable; opposite. Rationale: Stable baselines that trend in the opposite direction of the predicted intervention effect provide a clearer contrast for assessing the impact of the intervention, minimizing potential confounding factors. 11. A _____ design includes initially obtaining a baseline, then introducing an intervention, and then returning to the baseline conditions. a. reversal b. multiple baseline c. group d. correlational Answer: a. reversal Rationale: In a reversal design, also known as an A-B-A design, the researcher observes the baseline behavior (A), then introduces an intervention (B), and finally returns to baseline conditions (A). This allows for the assessment of the effectiveness of the intervention by observing any changes in behavior when the intervention is introduced and when it is removed. 12. A _____ design includes initially obtaining a baseline on different people, in different settings, or for different behaviors, and then sequentially introducing an intervention. a. reversal b. multiple baseline c. group d. correlational Answer: b. multiple baseline Rationale: In a multiple baseline design, baselines are established across different subjects, settings, or behaviors. Then, interventions are sequentially introduced to each baseline. This design allows researchers to demonstrate the effectiveness of the intervention across different conditions, ruling out alternative explanations for observed changes in behavior. 13. For a reversal design to clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of a certain treatment, the behavior must a. return to its original baseline level during the second baseline phase. b. remain at the treatment level during the second baseline phase. c. remain at the baseline level during the treatment phase. d. continue to change during the third phase. Answer: a. return to its original baseline level during the second baseline phase. Rationale: In a reversal design, if the behavior returns to its original baseline level during the second baseline phase (A), it suggests that the intervention (B) had a causal effect on the behavior change observed during the treatment phase. This pattern strengthens the conclusion that the intervention caused the observed changes. 14. A reversal design may be inappropriate when a. the behavior is expected to change quickly. b. the change in behavior may be irreversible. c. both a and b d. neither a nor b Answer: c. both a and b Rationale: Reversal designs are not suitable when the behavior is expected to change rapidly because it may not be feasible to return to baseline conditions quickly enough to observe meaningful effects. Additionally, if the change in behavior is expected to be irreversible, such as in cases of trauma or permanent learning, it may not be ethical or practical to remove the intervention to return to baseline. 15. Advantages of using animals in behavioral research include the ability to a. control genetic differences. b. control learning history. c. control the experimental environment. d. all of these Answer: d. all of these Rationale: Using animals in behavioral research allows researchers to control genetic differences by using genetically similar subjects. They can also control learning history by selecting animals with similar prior experiences. Furthermore, researchers can manipulate and control the experimental environment more precisely with animals compared to human subjects, minimizing extraneous variables and enhancing the reliability of the results. Test Bank for Adaptive Learning and the Human Condition Jeffrey C. Levy 9780205950775