In: Math
Imagine that you are conducting an experiment in which each participant is randomly assigned to one and only one level of the independent variable throughout the course of the experiment. Which term below would best describe this experimental design?
A correlational study
A between-groups research design
A within-groups research design
A confounding variable design
A between-groups research design is best describe this experimental design.
Since in between-subjects experimental designs, we randomly assign different subjects to each of the levels of the independent variable. That is, for an experiment with one IV with two levels or conditions, half of the subjects are exposed to the first level of the independent variable and the other half of subjects are exposed to the second level of the independent variable. For each participant, his/her score on the dependent variable is collected following exposure to the independent variable. Dr. Z's examination of the effects of type of course material on grades in the course is a between-subjects design, in that, one set of students were assigned to receive traditional course materials while a second set of students were assigned to receive the traditional materials accompanied by interactive tutorials. In other words, subjects could only belong to one level of the independent variable.