All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Identify the design flaw: different thermometers are used for each treatment group.
Answer: Instrument difference introduces systematic bias. Different instruments create systematic measurement bias.
Flashcard 2: Which option best reduces experimenter bias: double-blind procedure or larger beakers?
Answer: Double-blind procedure. Prevents conscious or unconscious researcher bias.
Flashcard 3: Identify the best reason to randomize trial order when testing multiple temperatures.
Answer: To reduce order effects and time-related confounding. Random order prevents time-dependent confounding.
Flashcard 4: Identify the dependent variable: Testing fertilizer's effect on crop yield.
Answer: Crop yield. Crop yield is the outcome measured to assess fertilizer effectiveness.
Flashcard 5: Which aspect of an experiment is manipulated by the researcher?
Answer: Independent variable. The researcher controls this to test its effects.
Flashcard 6: What kind of variable is manipulated to observe effects on the dependent variable?
Answer: Independent variable. This is what the researcher changes or controls.
Flashcard 7: Identify the variable measured in an experiment to assess the effect of manipulation.
Answer: Dependent variable. This shows the effect of the manipulation.
Flashcard 8: Which variable is the outcome or response variable in an experiment?
Answer: Dependent variable. This measures what happens due to treatment.
Flashcard 9: Identify the group that receives the treatment in an experiment.
Answer: Experimental group. This group gets the treatment being tested.
Flashcard 10: Which method ensures that experimental results are not biased?
Answer: Randomization. Random assignment eliminates systematic differences.
Flashcard 11: Identify one method to minimize bias in experimental results.
Answer: Randomization. Random assignment is most effective bias control.
Flashcard 12: Which type of variable can potentially confound the results of an experiment?
Answer: Confounding variable. These create alternative explanations for results.
Flashcard 13: Identify one advantage of a repeated measures design.
Answer: Reduces variability by using the same subjects. Each person serves as their own control.
Flashcard 14: Identify the best way to test one factor at a time when studying two variables.
Answer: Hold one variable constant while varying the other. Isolates effects of individual variables.
Flashcard 15: Identify the confounder: exercise group also changes diet, but diet is not tracked.
Answer: Diet change. Uncontrolled variable that affects the outcome.
Flashcard 16: Which option best reduces bias: random assignment or choosing volunteers?
Answer: Random assignment. Random assignment eliminates selection bias.
Flashcard 17: Identify the independent variable: plants receive 0, 5, or 10 mL fertilizer daily.
Answer: Daily fertilizer volume. The researcher controls fertilizer amount.
Flashcard 18: Identify the dependent variable: plants receive 0, 5, or 10 mL fertilizer; height is recorded.
Answer: Plant height. Height responds to fertilizer treatment.
Flashcard 19: Identify the control group: drug trial compares drug vs sugar pill.
Answer: The sugar pill (placebo) group. No active treatment provides baseline comparison.
Flashcard 20: Which design change best controls a confounder: keep temperature constant or measure it once?
Answer: Keep temperature constant. Control eliminates temperature as confounding variable.
Flashcard 21: Identify the controlled variable: enzyme rate tested at pH 4, 7, 10 using same enzyme amount.
Answer: Amount (concentration) of enzyme. Same enzyme amount isolates pH effects.
Flashcard 22: Which option best increases precision: use a more sensitive instrument or add a placebo?
Answer: Use a more sensitive instrument. Better instruments reduce measurement uncertainty.
Flashcard 23: Which option best increases reliability: perform more trials or change the hypothesis?
Answer: Perform more trials. More trials average out random errors.
Flashcard 24: Identify the measurement type: recording color change as "blue" or "green".
Answer: Qualitative. Color categories are non-numerical observations.
Flashcard 25: Identify the measurement type: recording mass as 12.4 g.
Answer: Quantitative. Mass measurement provides numerical data.
Flashcard 26: Which option best supports causation: manipulating light intensity or only observing natural light levels?
Answer: Manipulating light intensity. Manipulation allows testing cause-effect relationships.
Flashcard 27: Identify the best control for a drug study: compare to no treatment, placebo, or higher dose only.
Answer: Placebo. Placebo controls for psychological effects.
Flashcard 28: Which option is the clearest operational definition of "growth"?
Answer: Increase in height in cm over 7 days. Specific, measurable criteria define the variable.
Flashcard 29: Find the independent variable: A study on exercise's effect on sleep quality.
Answer: Exercise. Exercise is the factor being manipulated to see its impact.
Flashcard 30: Identify the dependent variable: Testing fertilizer's effect on plant growth.
Answer: Plant growth. Plant growth is the outcome being measured in response to fertilizer.