Homework 1
Homework #1
Please answer the questions below. Each response should be in paragraph form. When done please submit your assignment to the Canvas drop box.
1. Describe how the scientific method differs from other ways of knowing.
Scientific method utilizes a series of facts, hypotheses, laws, and the theories to explain observations in the natural world. It involves observing, coming up with a hypothesis and make predictions, test those predictions and repeat to find the similar results.
2. Describe the threats to internal validity discussed in the text: history, maturation, testing, instrument decay, regression toward the mean, and selection differences.
History is a treat to internal validity for the one group design due to some unanticipated event that can occur during the experiment and may affect the dependent variable. Maturation is where change occurs in the dependent variable due to normal developmental processes operating within the subject as a function of time. Testing is a threat because the pre-test can affect the participant to preform differently in the post-test. Instrument decay refers to observers becoming better or worse at measuring the dependent variable. Regression towards the mean is an effect that is the result of a tendency for subjects selected on the bases of extreme scores to regress towards the mean on subsequent tests. Selection differences refers to selecting participants for the various groups and not undergo random assignment, the groups may not be equal to begin with.
3. Why does a control group eliminate the problems associated with the one-group pre-test-post-test design?
A control groups eliminates the problems associated with the one-group pre-test-post-test design because there are two groups (control and experimental) and both groups are exposed to the pre-test and the differences between the groups is not due to testing effect.
4. Give an example of a situation in which you might need to use matched random
Please answer the questions below. Each response should be in paragraph form. When done please submit your assignment to the Canvas drop box.
1. Describe how the scientific method differs from other ways of knowing.
Scientific method utilizes a series of facts, hypotheses, laws, and the theories to explain observations in the natural world. It involves observing, coming up with a hypothesis and make predictions, test those predictions and repeat to find the similar results.
2. Describe the threats to internal validity discussed in the text: history, maturation, testing, instrument decay, regression toward the mean, and selection differences.
History is a treat to internal validity for the one group design due to some unanticipated event that can occur during the experiment and may affect the dependent variable. Maturation is where change occurs in the dependent variable due to normal developmental processes operating within the subject as a function of time. Testing is a threat because the pre-test can affect the participant to preform differently in the post-test. Instrument decay refers to observers becoming better or worse at measuring the dependent variable. Regression towards the mean is an effect that is the result of a tendency for subjects selected on the bases of extreme scores to regress towards the mean on subsequent tests. Selection differences refers to selecting participants for the various groups and not undergo random assignment, the groups may not be equal to begin with.
3. Why does a control group eliminate the problems associated with the one-group pre-test-post-test design?
A control groups eliminates the problems associated with the one-group pre-test-post-test design because there are two groups (control and experimental) and both groups are exposed to the pre-test and the differences between the groups is not due to testing effect.
4. Give an example of a situation in which you might need to use matched random