Chapter 11: Quazi-Experimental Research

In a time series design,
1. participants are not exposed to any treatment
2. observations are made immediately before and after the introduction of a treatment
3. time is the independent variable
4. experimental and control groups are included
In the ________ design, you chart changes in behavior as a function of some naturally occurring event.
1. interrupted time series
2. time series
3. time samples
4. Solomon four-group
The naturally occurring event used as an "independent variable" in a quasi-experimental design is termed a(n):
1. pseudoindependent variable
2. quasi-independent variable
3. independent variable
4. simulated independent variable
Berkowitz's (1970) study of murder rates prior to and after John F. Kennedy's assassination is an example of a(n) ________ design.
1. time samples
2. nonequivalent time samples
3. equivalent time samples
4. interrupted time series
An advantage of quasi-experimental research is that they:
1. allow you to evaluate the impact of a variable under naturally occurring conditions
2. include sufficient controls so that internal validity is preserved
3. are sufficiently general to allow you to ignore issues of external validity
4. all of the above
A major disadvantage of quasi-experimental research is that:
1. you can study only one variable at a time
2. tight experimental controls often disrupt naturally occurring behavior
3. the results often have too much external validity
4. you have no control over the variables influencing behavior
You conduct a quasi-experiment to assess the impact of raising the speed limit from 55 to 65 miles per hour. You find that there are more accidents in the six month period following the change than in the six months before the change. Although concluding that raising the speed limit caused higher accident rates is tempting, you must be careful, because:
1. you did not actually manipulate an independent variable
2. drivers may have exceeded the 65 mph speed limit
3. other variables may also be affecting the accident rates
4. none of the above
In the nonequivalent control group design,
1. a second group of participants is included that is not exposed to your treatment
2. observations are made only after the introduction of your treatment
3. observations are made only before the introduction of your treatment
4. periods of observation are alternated with repeated introductions of your treatment
In the ________, you measure the behavior of groups of different aged participants at about the same time.
1. longitudinal design
2. cohort-sequential design
3. cross-sectional design
4. Solomon four-group design
Dr. Courson conducts a cross-sectional study of the effects of age on intelligence. After testing participants ranging in age from 10 to 90, she concludes that intelligence declines with age. This conclusion:
1. is totally correct and logical
2. may be incorrect because of the operation of generation effects
3. is incorrect because cross-sectional research lacks external validity
4. none of the above
Dr. Madison studies the development of emotions by following a group of 100 participants over the course of the first 10 years of life, taking measures every year. The strategy being employed here is the:
1. cross-sectional design
2. cohort-sequential design
3. Solomon four-group design
4. longitudinal design
Participant mortality, multiple testing effects, and the cross-generational problem are all drawbacks to the:
1. cross-sectional design
2. cohort-sequential design
3. Solomon four-group design
4. longitudinal design
The cohort-sequential design:
1. does not allow you to determine whether generation effects are a problem in your developmental research
2. includes a cross-sectional and a longitudinal component
3. allows you to eliminate generation effects
4. none of the above
In a reversal design, the dependent variable is assessed before the introduction of the treatment during the ________ phase.
1. baseline
2. treatment
3. control
4. intervention
During an experiment using a reversal design, the behavior during the baseline phase:
1. shows the effects of the independent variable
2. provides an index of behavior in the absence of the treatment
3. is normally too erratic to be of any use and is not usually included in the analysis of the data
4. none of the above

Chapter 11: Quazi-Experimental Research

Choose the best answer for each question.