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A researcher is studying the effect of a new cognitive training app on memory recall. If they want to apply experimental control to the situational context of room temperature, what concrete action must they take, and why is this action necessary according to the concept of experimental control?
Question: A researcher is studying the effect of a new cognitive training app on memory recall. If they want to apply experimental control to the situational context of room temperature, what concrete action must they take, and why is this action necessary according to the concept of experimental control?
Sample answer: To apply experimental control, the researcher must hold the room temperature constant at a specific level (e.g., 70 degrees Fahrenheit) for all participants across both the training and control conditions. This action is necessary to prevent room temperature from fluctuating, ensuring that any differences in memory recall can be isolated and confidently attributed to the training app rather than temperature differences.
Key points:
- Hold the room temperature constant across all participants and conditions.
- Prevent room temperature from fluctuating as an extraneous situational factor.
- Isolate the independent variable (training app) to confidently attribute changes in memory recall to it.
Rubric: The response must apply the concept of experimental control to the scenario: 1) Specify that room temperature should be kept constant for all conditions. 2) Explain that this prevents the temperature from fluctuating across groups. 3) Connect this control to isolating the independent variable (the app) and attributing changes in memory recall to it.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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A researcher is studying the effect of a new cognitive training app on memory recall. If they want to apply experimental control to the situational context of room temperature, what concrete action must they take, and why is this action necessary according to the concept of experimental control?