In a repeated measures design, one participant scores exceptionally low on a mem
ID: 3457219 • Letter: I
Question
In a repeated measures design, one participant scores exceptionally low on a memory test the first time, but then improves on the second test. Most of the participants did worse on the second test. This participant was likely exhibiting which potential threat to internal validity?
a. Maturation Threat
b. History Threat
c. Regression to the Mean
d.Demand Characteristic
In another experiment, some of the participants were told by their friends (who had already taken the experiment) what it was all about and what the manipulation was. Which threat to internal validity is this?
a.Demand Characteristic
b.Testing Threat
c.Instrumentation Threat
d.Maturation Threat
Explanation / Answer
Q.In a repeated measures design, one participant scores exceptionally low on a memory test the first time but then improves on the second test. Most of the participants did worse on the second test. This participant was likely exhibiting which potential threat to internal validity?
Ans (c). Regression to the Mean
In case of regression toward the mean, individuals who score extremely high on a measure during the first testing are likely to score lower on the second testing, and the same is true for individuals who score extremely low on a measure during the first testing are likely to score higher on the second testing. This happens because of the tendency for extreme scores on any measurement to move toward the mean (regress) when the measurement procedure is repeated. The reason statistical regression occurs is that the score of an individual depends on stable factors such as skill and unstable factors such as chance. The skill (Stable factor) remains constant from one measurement to another whereas the chance or luck (unstable factors) can change substantially resulting in the disparity. This is referred to as regression toward the mean. The phenomenon of regression toward the mean threatens the internal validity of a research study as it opens up the possibility that inhibits the understanding to clearly predict that the observed scores are the result of regression and not the treatments.
Q. In another experiment, some of the participants were told by their friends (who had already taken the experiment) what it was all about and what the manipulation was. Which threat to internal validity is this?
Ans.(d) Maturation Threat
The phenomenon of maturation refers to any systematic change that occurs in the physiology or psychology of the participant during a research study and ends up affecting the score of the participant. This phenomenon threatens the internal validity of a research study. It becomes difficult for us to clearly understand that the different
treatment conditions are responsible for observed changes in the participants' scores. Maturation becomes a concern particularly in studies in which the series of treatments extends over a relatively long time.
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