Which of the following are the means of control in experimental research? (A)…
2022
Which of the following are the means of control in experimental research?
(A) Controlling Physical Settings
(B) Choice of participants
(C) Statistical analysis
(D) Focussing on Short-term effects
(E) Sidetracking the causal factors
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer: A. A, B and C only — ConceptExperimental control reduces alternative explanations by keeping extraneous influences constant, balancing them across groups, or adjusting for them…
- A.
A, B and C only
- B.
B, C and D only
- C.
C, D and E only
- D.
A, D and E only
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
Experimental control reduces alternative explanations by keeping extraneous influences constant, balancing them across groups, or adjusting for them analytically.
Control may therefore be built into the setting, participant selection or assignment, and the statistical treatment of observations.
Application
Controlling physical settings standardises environmental conditions that could otherwise affect the outcome.
Choosing or assigning participants helps balance participant-related influences and reduces selection-based confounding.
Statistical analysis can adjust for measured extraneous variation and separate the treatment effect from rival influences.
Contrast
Focusing on short-term effects changes the observation period; it does not by itself hold an extraneous influence constant.
Sidetracking causal factors removes relevant causes from consideration rather than controlling their influence.
Thus, the means of control are controlling physical settings, choosing participants, and statistical analysis.