Experimental Research in Social Work: Principles, Types, and Ethics

Question 1

In experimental design, which principle involves randomly assigning participants to different groups?

Accepted Answer

Randomly assigning participants to different groups

Answer

Assigning participants to groups based on their preferences

Answer

Using only one group of participants

Answer

Matching participants on key characteristics before assigning them to different groups

Question 2

Precisely, what is the primary purpose of conducting experimental research?

Accepted Answer

Establish cause-and-effect relationships

Answer

Generate hypotheses

Answer

Gather qualitative data

Answer

Describe a phenomenon

Question 3

Ethical considerations must be taken into account by researchers when conducting experiments. Which of the following is NOT one of these considerations?

Accepted Answer

Researcher's personal beliefs

Answer

Informed consent

Answer

Protection from harm

Answer

Confidentiality

Question 4

Independent and dependent variables: What is the difference?

Accepted Answer

Independent variable: cause; Dependent variable: effect

Answer

Independent variable: effect; Dependent variable: cause

Answer

Both are independent of each other

Answer

Both are dependent on each other

Question 5

Define a quasi-experiment and state when it might be used.

Accepted Answer

Limited control over the independent variable, used when true experiments are not feasible

Answer

Large sample size to increase statistical power

Answer

Only qualitative data, used for exploratory purposes

Answer

Multiple independent variables manipulated simultaneously, used to examine complex relationships

Question 6

Identify and describe the various types of biases that can arise in experimental research, explaining how they can impact the validity of the findings.

Accepted Answer

Selection bias, confounding variables, and researcher bias

Answer

Sampling error, measurement error, and random error

Question 7

How does external validity affect the ability to apply experimental results to different groups and situations?

Accepted Answer

It allows for the generalization of findings to a broader range of populations and settings.

Answer

It controls for the influence of confounding variables on the results.

Answer

It increases the statistical significance of the experiment.

Answer

It reduces the likelihood of bias in the results.

Question 8

How does random assignment strengthen the internal validity of experiments? Give an example to support your explanation.

Accepted Answer

Random assignment reduces bias by ensuring equal chances of being assigned to any group.

Answer

Random assignment is mainly used in experiments with many participants.

Answer

Random assignment ensures the experimental and control groups are identical in every way.

Answer

Random assignment is not needed in experiments with strong hypotheses.

Question 9

In an experiment, what is the primary purpose of a control group?

Accepted Answer

To provide a comparison baseline against which the effects of the experimental manipulation can be evaluated

Answer

To ensure the ethical treatment of participants

Answer

To eliminate bias from the research

Answer

To increase the sample size

Question 10

Which type of experiment involves randomly allocating participants to different levels of an independent variable to test its effects?

Accepted Answer

True experiment

Answer

Natural experiment

Answer

Field experiment

Answer

Quasi-experiment

Question 11

In an experimental design, what is the purpose of a hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

To make a prediction about the expected outcome of the experiment

Answer

To explain the observed results of the experiment

Answer

To justify the need for further research

Answer

To provide a general theory about the research topic

Question 12

Design an experiment to assess the effectiveness of a novel educational intervention. How would you incorporate randomization?

Accepted Answer

Randomly assign students to either receive the new intervention or a control group receiving the standard intervention, followed by a comparison of their learning outcomes

Answer

Conduct a survey of students' attitudes towards the new intervention

Answer

Observe students' behavior in a natural classroom setting

Answer

Analyze existing data on student achievement

Question 13

Identify a prevalent challenge encountered in conducting experimental research.

Accepted Answer

Controlling for extraneous variables that may influence the results

Answer

High costs associated with experimental designs

Answer

Lack of access to participants

Answer

Difficulty in obtaining informed consent

Question 14

What is the fundamental purpose of random assignment in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that the treatment and control groups start out as comparable.

Answer

To control for confounding variables

Answer

To enhance the generalizability of the study's results

Question 15

In the context of experimental research, what is the primary ethical consideration?

Accepted Answer

Safeguarding the rights, dignity, and well-being of participants.

Answer

Ensuring the precision of the research findings

Answer

Eliminating bias in the study's design

Question 16

In an experimental study, what is the defining characteristic that distinguishes the treatment group from the control group?

Accepted Answer

The treatment group receives the experimental intervention, whereas the control group does not.

Answer

The size of the treatment group is larger than the control group.

Answer

The control group is more diverse than the treatment group.

Question 17

What is a significant advantage of employing an experimental design?

Accepted Answer

It permits researchers to establish a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Answer

It is less demanding in terms of time and resources compared to other research designs.

Question 18

In experimental research, what is the primary role of a control group?

Accepted Answer

To serve as a basis for comparison against the treatment group

Answer

To mitigate the potential impact of bias

Answer

To augment the statistical power of the study

Question 19

What is the definition of a confounding variable?

Accepted Answer

A variable that affects both the independent and dependent variables, potentially compromising the accuracy of the study's findings

Answer

A variable that is controlled for in the research design

Question 20

Explain the distinction between internal validity and external validity.

Accepted Answer

Internal validity refers to the degree to which the study design allows for causal conclusions, while external validity pertains to the extent to which the results can be generalized to wider populations and settings.

Answer

Internal validity is prioritized over external validity

Question 21

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of experimental research?

Accepted Answer

Control over variables and conditions

Answer

Qualitative analysis of observations

Answer

Naturalistic setting

Answer

Retrospective data collection

Question 22

When conducting experiments with human participants, what ethical consideration should be prioritized?

Accepted Answer

Protecting the rights and well-being of participants

Answer

Ensuring scientific rigor

Answer

Maximizing the number of participants

Question 23

What is the main role of the independent variable in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

It is the variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher.

Answer

To describe the sample characteristics

Answer

To measure the outcome variable

Answer

To control for potential confounds

Question 24

What is the difference between internal and external validity in experimental research?

Accepted Answer

Internal validity focuses on controlling for confounding variables to ensure the observed effect is due to the independent variable. External validity focuses on the generalizability of findings to other settings and populations.

Answer

Internal validity refers to the consistency of the results across multiple studies, while external validity refers to the relevance of the results to real-world situations.

Question 25

What is the primary purpose of hypothesis testing in experimental research?

Accepted Answer

To determine if the observed results are statistically significant and support or refute the research hypothesis.

Answer

To generate new hypotheses for further research