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Evaluate whether the variable 'student motivation' in this study functions as an independent variable under a true experimental design. Justify your answer using the criteria of active manipulation and cause-and-effect relationships.
Case context: A researcher wants to study the relationship between student motivation and exam scores. Instead of assigning motivation levels, the researcher distributes a questionnaire to measure each student's self-reported motivation before the exam and compares these scores with their final exam grades.
Question: Evaluate whether the variable 'student motivation' in this study functions as an independent variable under a true experimental design. Justify your answer using the criteria of active manipulation and cause-and-effect relationships.
Sample answer: No, student motivation does not function as an independent variable under a true experimental design in this scenario. According to experimental design, an independent variable must be a factor that researchers actively manipulate or systematically vary to observe its effects. In this study, the researcher only measures pre-existing, self-reported motivation rather than actively manipulating it, which fails to meet the criteria for a manipulated cause in a cause-and-effect relationship.
Key points:
- An independent variable must be actively manipulated or systematically varied by the researcher.
- In this scenario, student motivation is measured rather than manipulated.
- Without active manipulation, the variable does not meet the definition of an independent variable in a cause-and-effect experimental design.
Rubric: The response must correctly state that student motivation is not an independent variable in this design and justify it by pointing out that the researcher only measured the variable rather than actively manipulating or systematically varying it.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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