Random assignment is important to an experiment to ensure that
a. any differences found between the groups are caused by the independent variable.
b. any differences found between the groups are caused by the dependent variable.
c. the subjects in a study are a good representation of the larger population.
d. experimenter bias does not contaminate the results.
Answer: a.
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Sid is taking part in research on the effects of sleep deprivation; he has been without sleep for 75 hours. Right now researchers have asked him to sit in front of a computer screen and hit a button each time he sees the letter "S" on the screen
A few days ago, Sid was a whiz at this task; however, he is doing very poorly today. How would sleep researchers explain Sid's poor performance? a) Due to the sleep deprivation, Sid does not understand the task. b) Microsleeps are occurring due to the sleep deprivation and he is asleep for brief periods of time. c) He is determined to ruin the research because of the suffering he is enduring at the hands of the researchers. d) He is probably dreaming that he is somewhere else and has no interest in responding to the "here and now."
Both men and women view the following qualities as necessities in a potential mate:
a. attractiveness and status. b. intelligence and status. c. intelligence and kindness. d. attractiveness and kindness.