AP PSYCHOLOGY

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RESEARCH METHODS THINKING CRITICALLY WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND DESCRIPTION

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
A special program was run to improve the goal-shooting accuracy of the school’s basketballers. A study of the effectiveness of the program was undertaken to determine if it should be used in other schools.A trial is run before the program is implemented and the average score for the shooters is 52%. The shooters are then randomly divided into two groups. The members of the control group practise shooting for one hour per day, under the supervision of their classroom teacher. The members of the experimental group undertake the special program for one hour per day, under the supervision of their basketball coach. After five sessions, the test is repeated and the scores recorded.A potential confounding variable in this study is
A
the classroom teacher versus the expertise of basketball coach.
B
the health of the basketball players before and after the program.
C
the height of the basketball players.
D
the age of each basketballer, and therefore the average age of the group to which they are assigned.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -An experiment is the only method that can confirm that a relationship between variables is due to a cause and effect connection. In experimental research, which will be discussed later in this chapter, there is a tremendous amount of control over the variables of interest.

Detailed explanation-2: -As we saw earlier in the book, an experiment is a type of study designed specifically to answer the question of whether there is a causal relationship between two variables. In other words, whether changes in an independent variable cause changes in a dependent variable. Experiments have two fundamental features.

Detailed explanation-3: -In psychology experiments, selective attrition describes the tendency of some people to be more likely to drop out of a study than others. This tendency can threaten the validity of a psychological experiment.

Detailed explanation-4: -Using a control group means that any change in the dependent variable can be attributed to the independent variable.

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