Complex Experimental Designs

Directions:
Select the BEST response alternative for each of the questions below.

1. Which of the following is a good reason why researchers design experiments with more than two levels of an independent variable?

A) Two levels of an independent variable only provide linear information. More levels are needed to get a more exact form of the relationship between independent and dependent variables.

B) The relationship between an independent and dependent variable cannot be described with a straight line with only two levels to an independent variable.

C) Experiments with only two levels of an independent variable can only show positive relationships. More levels are needed in case there are negative relationships.

D) Designs using two levels of an independent variable can only detect curvilinear relationships between independent and dependent variables.

2. Factorial designs involve:

A) more than one independent variable.

B) specifying the overall effect of a dependent variable.

C) having multiple dependent measures.

D) using one independent variable or factor.

E) All of the above.

3. The simplest factorial design described below is the one with:

A) six conditions and three possible main effects.

B) one independent variable with three levels.

C) four possible interactions and eight conditions.

D) two independent variables with two levels each.

4. An experiment was conducted in which food quality was measured ubder self-serve vs. waiter served conditions. Participants in each group were randomly assigned to either a hot or a cold meal. The independent variable(s) in this study:

A) was food quality.

B) were food preference and food temperature.

C) were serving method and food temerature.

D) were food quality, serving method, and food temerature.

5. An advantage of factorial designs, and a reason they are so often used is because:

A) few variables tend to affect behavior.

B) they represnt the real-world better than single factor studies.

C) multiple variables cannot operate simultaneously.

D) more variables in a single study is always a less expensive option than single variables across multiple studies.

6. In factorial designs, main effects are the effect each ________ variable has by itself.

A) independent

B) dependent

C) confounded

D) measured

7. A researcher studies the effect of room color (red, white, blue) and room cleanliness (tidy, untidy) on algebra performance. How many main effects are possible?

A) 1

B) 2

C) 5

D) 6

8. A researcher studies the effect of room color (red, white, blue) and room cleanliness (tidy, untidy) on algebra performance. How many interactions are possible?

A) 1

B) 2

C) 5

D) 6

9. An interaction occurs whenever:

A) the differences among the differences are different.

B) the effect of one independent variable changes across levels of a second independent variable.

C) what is concluded about performance across the levels of one independent variable depends on the levels of another independent variable.

D) All of the above.

10. In factorial designs, main effects are the:

A) outcomes of one independent variable at each level of another independent variable.

B) outcomes of one independent variable averaged over the levels of the other independent variables.

C) only (or primary) effects of interest.

D) effects of the dependent variable on any single independent variable.

11. Line graphs are more likely to be used than bar graphs whenever:

A) the dependent variables are infinite.

B) the levels of the independent variable are quantitative.

C) there are more than one dependent variables.

D) independent variables represent different categories of measurement.

12. Dr. Dataman performed a study that showed that for psychology majors, the likelihood of being hired soon after graduation increased as their grades in a research methods course increased. However, for non-psychology majors, the likelihood of being hired after graduation decreased as their grades in a research methods course increased. This finding reflects:

A) a main effect of major.

B) a main effect of research methods grade.

C) an interaction between major and research methods grade.

D) that major and research methods grades are unrelated to hiring.

13. Which of the following statements is true regarding statistically significant interactions?

A) Such outcomes (interactions) are both relatively complex and relatively rare, so they are seldom used.

B) The interactions can also describe the main effects; however, had the interaction not been significant, it would not be able to describe the main effects.

C) Researchers must carefully examine the means to fully understand why the significant interaction occurred.

D) Such interactions show that at least one of the independent variables does not depend on the particular level of at least one other independent variable.

14. Which of the following is LEAST likely to be true of a 2 � 2 factorial design?

A) There may or may not be a significant main effect for independent variable A.

B) There may or may not be a significant main effect for independent variable B.

C) There are two independent variables, each with two levels.

D) If the two main effects are significant, then the interaction must also be significant.

15. With ________, the independent variable outcomes are analyzed as if the researcher had performed separate experiments at each level of the other independent variable.

A) a main effect

B) an interaction

C) an analysis of variance

D) a simple main effect

16. A mixed factorial design:

A) always assigns different groups of participants to each of the conditions.

B) typically assigns the same individuals to participate in all the conditions.

C) uses both independent groups as well as repeated measures.

D) uses a between-subjects design or a within-subjects design.

17. A researcher designs an experiment in which the following variables are manipulated: type of movie (sci-fi, comedy), gender of participants (male, female), and snack type (sweet, salty). For a completely independent groups design with 30 participants per group, how many participants would the researcher need?

A) 30

B) 90

C) 180

D) 240

18. A researcher designs an experiment in which the following variables are manipulated: type of movie (sci-fi, comedy), and snack type (sweet, salty, none). For a repeated measures design with 30 participants per group, how many participants would the researcher need?

A) 30

B) 60

C) 150

D) 180

19. The design notation for a study manipulating room temperature (60, 70, 80, 90 degrees) between subjects, course material (math, history) within subjects, and time of day (8am, noon, 8pm) between subjects would be:

A) 2 x 3 x 4

B) 3 x 4 x 2

C) 4 x 2 x 3

D) 4 x 3 x 2

20. A researcher designed an experiment in which the following variables were manipulated: room temperature (cold, warm, hot), noise level (quiet, loud), and room color (red, white, blue). In this study there are ________ possible main effects to examine.

A) 1

B) 2

C) 3

D) 8

21. A researcher designed an experiment in which the following variables were manipulated: room temperature (cold, warm, hot), noise level (quiet, loud), and room color (red, white, blue). In this study there are ________ possible interactions to examine.

A) 3

B) 4

C) 8

D) 18

22. A 4 x 5 within subjects factorial design would have ________ unique conditions.

A) 1

B) 2

C) 9

D) 20

23. A 3 x 3 between subjects factorial design would have ________ unique conditions.

A) 9

B) 6

C) 2

D) 1

24. A 4 x 2 x 2 mixed factorial design, would have ________ main effects to examine and ________ interaction effect to examine.

A) 8; 1

B) 3; 4

C) 16; 3

D) 3; 3

25. In a 3 � 4 � 2 mixed factorial design study, how many independent variables are being manipulated?

A) 3

B) 9

C) 12

D) 24

26. A 2 � 2 � 2 design means that there are ________ unique experimental conditions.

A) 2

B) 3

C) 6

D) 8

End of Quiz!

Your score out of 100%: %

The correct answers are marked by a "C" in the box before each question. The incorrect questions are marked by an "X".

1.	Which of the following is a good reason why researchers design experiments with more than two levels of an independent variable?
	A)	Two levels of an independent variable only provide linear information. More levels are needed to get a more exact form of the relationship between independent and dependent variables.
	B)	The relationship between an independent and dependent variable cannot be described with a straight line with only two levels to an independent variable.
	C)	Experiments with only two levels of an independent variable can only show positive relationships. More levels are needed in case there are negative relationships.
	D)	Designs using two levels of an independent variable can only detect curvilinear relationships between independent and dependent variables.
2.	Factorial designs involve:
	A)	more than one independent variable.
	B)	specifying the overall effect of a dependent variable.
	C)	having multiple dependent measures.
	D)	using one independent variable or factor.
	E)	All of the above.
3.	The simplest factorial design described below is the one with:
	A)	six conditions and three possible main effects.
	B)	one independent variable with three levels.
	C)	four possible interactions and eight conditions.
	D)	two independent variables with two levels each.
4.	An experiment was conducted in which food quality was measured ubder self-serve vs. waiter served conditions. Participants in each group were randomly assigned to either a hot or a cold meal. The independent variable(s) in this study:
	A)	was food quality.
	B)	were food preference and food temperature.
	C)	were serving method and food temerature.
	D)	were food quality, serving method, and food temerature.
5.	An advantage of factorial designs, and a reason they are so often used is because:
	A)	few variables tend to affect behavior.
	B)	they represnt the real-world better than single factor studies.
	C)	multiple variables cannot operate simultaneously.
	D)	more variables in a single study is always a less expensive option than single variables across multiple studies.
6.	In factorial designs, main effects are the effect each ________ variable has by itself.
	A)	independent
	B)	dependent
	C)	confounded
	D)	measured
7.	A researcher studies the effect of room color (red, white, blue) and room cleanliness (tidy, untidy) on algebra performance. How many main effects are possible?
	A)	1
	B)	2
	C)	5
	D)	6
8.	A researcher studies the effect of room color (red, white, blue) and room cleanliness (tidy, untidy) on algebra performance. How many interactions are possible?
	A)	1
	B)	2
	C)	5
	D)	6
9.	An interaction occurs whenever:
	A)	the differences among the differences are different.
	B)	the effect of one independent variable changes across levels of a second independent variable.
	C)	what is concluded about performance across the levels of one independent variable depends on the levels of another independent variable.
	D)	All of the above.
10.	In factorial designs, main effects are the:
	A)	outcomes of one independent variable at each level of another independent variable.
	B)	outcomes of one independent variable averaged over the levels of the other independent variables.
	C)	only (or primary) effects of interest.
	D)	effects of the dependent variable on any single independent variable.
11.	Line graphs are more likely to be used than bar graphs whenever:
	A)	the dependent variables are infinite.
	B)	the levels of the independent variable are quantitative.
	C)	there are more than one dependent variables.
	D)	independent variables represent different categories of measurement.
12.	Dr. Dataman performed a study that showed that for psychology majors, the likelihood of being hired soon after graduation increased as their grades in a research methods course increased. However, for non-psychology majors, the likelihood of being hired after graduation decreased as their grades in a research methods course increased. This finding reflects:
	A)	a main effect of major.
	B)	a main effect of research methods grade.
	C)	an interaction between major and research methods grade.
	D)	that major and research methods grades are unrelated to hiring.
13.	Which of the following statements is true regarding statistically significant interactions?
	A)	Such outcomes (interactions) are both relatively complex and relatively rare, so they are seldom used.
	B)	The interactions can also describe the main effects; however, had the interaction not been significant, it would not be able to describe the main effects.
	C)	Researchers must carefully examine the means to fully understand why the significant interaction occurred.
	D)	Such interactions show that at least one of the independent variables does not depend on the particular level of at least one other independent variable.
14.	Which of the following is LEAST likely to be true of a 2 � 2 factorial design?
	A)	There may or may not be a significant main effect for independent variable A.
	B)	There may or may not be a significant main effect for independent variable B.
	C)	There are two independent variables, each with two levels.
	D)	If the two main effects are significant, then the interaction must also be significant.
15.	With ________, the independent variable outcomes are analyzed as if the researcher had performed separate experiments at each level of the other independent variable.
	A)	a main effect
	B)	an interaction
	C)	an analysis of variance
	D)	a simple main effect
16.	A mixed factorial design:
	A)	always assigns different groups of participants to each of the conditions.
	B)	typically assigns the same individuals to participate in all the conditions.
	C)	uses both independent groups as well as repeated measures.
	D)	uses a between-subjects design or a within-subjects design.
17.	A researcher designs an experiment in which the following variables are manipulated: type of movie (sci-fi, comedy), gender of participants (male, female), and snack type (sweet, salty). For a completely independent groups design with 30 participants per group, how many participants would the researcher need?
	A)	30
	B)	90
	C)	180
	D)	240
18.	A researcher designs an experiment in which the following variables are manipulated: type of movie (sci-fi, comedy), and snack type (sweet, salty, none). For a repeated measures design with 30 participants per group, how many participants would the researcher need?
	A)	30
	B)	60
	C)	150
	D)	180
19.	The design notation for a study manipulating room temperature (60, 70, 80, 90 degrees) between subjects, course material (math, history) within subjects, and time of day (8am, noon, 8pm) between subjects would be:
	A)	2 x 3 x 4
	B)	3 x 4 x 2
	C)	4 x 2 x 3
	D)	4 x 3 x 2
20.	A researcher designed an experiment in which the following variables were manipulated: room temperature (cold, warm, hot), noise level (quiet, loud), and room color (red, white, blue). In this study there are ________ possible main effects to examine.
	A)	1
	B)	2
	C)	3
	D)	8
21.	A researcher designed an experiment in which the following variables were manipulated: room temperature (cold, warm, hot), noise level (quiet, loud), and room color (red, white, blue). In this study there are ________ possible interactions to examine.
	A)	3
	B)	4
	C)	8
	D)	18
22.	A 4 x 5 within subjects factorial design would have ________ unique conditions.
	A)	1
	B)	2
	C)	9
	D)	20
23.	A 3 x 3 between subjects factorial design would have ________ unique conditions.
	A)	9
	B)	6
	C)	2
	D)	1
24.	A 4 x 2 x 2 mixed factorial design, would have ________ main effects to examine and ________ interaction effect to examine.
	A)	8; 1
	B)	3; 4
	C)	16; 3
	D)	3; 3
25.	In a 3 � 4 � 2 mixed factorial design study, how many independent variables are being manipulated?
	A)	3
	B)	9
	C)	12
	D)	24
26.	A 2 � 2 � 2 design means that there are ________ unique experimental conditions.
	A)	2
	B)	3
	C)	6
	D)	8