Instructions
Part A: Read the following description of a study to answer questions 1-6.
A researcher wants to know if memory is better for written words or spoken words. The researcher presents on a computer screen a list of 20 words to the first 30 volunteers/participants to arrive to the lab. The words are presented at a rate of one word per second. After the presentation of the list, each participant of the group is given 5 minutes to write down as many words from the list in any order. The researcher then presents the same list of words at the same rate over headphones to the next 30 volunteers/participants to arrive to the lab. After the auditory presentation of the list, each participant of the group is provided 5 minutes to write down as many words they can recall in any order.
1. What is the independent variable of this study?
2. What is the dependent variable of this study?
3. Describe one control variable in the study.
4. Describe one extraneous/confounding variable in the study.
5. How would you eliminate the extraneous/confounding variable to improve the experiment?
6. Discuss one way that naturalistic observation is superior than and one way it is inferior to the laboratory experiment?
Part B:
Answer (2)
The study examines word recall based on presentation mode, with the independent variable being how the words are presented (written vs. spoken) and the dependent variable being the number of words recalled. Control variables include the recall time, while prior word familiarity is an extraneous variable that could be managed by using unfamiliar words. Naturalistic observation allows for authentic behavior but lacks the control necessary to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
;
The study examines whether memory recall is better for written or spoken words, with the independent variable being the presentation mode and the dependent variable being word recall. Controlling extraneous variables, like prior knowledge of words, can improve validity. Naturalistic observation offers authentic insights but lacks control compared to laboratory conditions. ;
