Question

(Case evaluation, Questions 26-39)

            In a study, the researchers were interested in seeing whether if Ariana Grande’s music can be sexually stimulating to men. The researchers decided to include male students from Hunter College, age ranging from 18-20, without pre-diagnosed sexual dysfunctions. Out of the possible N=10,538 students who meet the criteria for participation, 200 men were randomly selected by computer to participate. After having the participants sign the informed consent, the researchers randomly assigned these subjects into 4 groups (N=50 per group): Group A would listen to Ariana Grande’s music for 2 hours, Group B would watch without the sound of Ariana’s music videos for 2 hours, Group C would watch Ariana’s music videos with sound, and finally, Group D would not listen to any music nor watching any video, but instead they were told to “relax with their eyes open”. Every group consisted of 30% Caucasian, 30% African Americans, 30% Asian Americans, and 10% from a variety of ethnical background. All testing cubicles were sound proof and without windows. Due to the restraining number of cubicles, Group A and B were tested in the morning from 8-10am while Group C and D were tested in the afternoon from 2-4pm. All participants were told that they should not eat too much, nor should they drink any beverage containing caffeine before the experiment. After the 2 hours testing segment, participants took a survey and answered about how sexually excited they feel. Last, participants were given a one-question short survey asking whether if they noticed that it was Ariana Grande’s music/video (or “relaxing with eyes open”) that they were entertained with. Since the Group D was not entertained with anything, the researchers felt bad and therefore decided to compensate them with $100. Group A, B, & C, however, were not compensated for their time. After participants were finished with the experiment, they were given a brief pamphlet letting them know the true purpose of the experiment.

26. This study is a:
    1. Correlational study
    2. Quasi-experiment
    3. Cohort study
    4. True experiment
    5. Meta-Analysis

27. The independent variable of this study was:
    1. The type of treatment received during the testing segment
    2. Amount of people in the group
    3. How sexually excited the men felt after listening to music
    4. The sex survey
    5. The men with sexual dysfunctions

28. How many levels are there in this study’s independent variable?
    1. One                              c) Three
    2. Two                              d) Four

29. What type of data was the independent variable?
    1. Discrete             c) On-going                   e) Could be any of the above
    2. Continuous        d) Identical spectrum     

30. What was the dependent variable?
    1. The group that the participants are in
    2. The music/video
    3. The sexual feeling
    4. Result received on the survey

31. What type of measurement scale was the dependent variable?
    1. Ratio                             c) Nominal                    e) Could be any of the above
    2. Interval                         d) Ordinal                     

32. Any person who participated in this study is a:
    1. Sample                          c) Subject/Participant
    2. Selection criteria             d) Population

33. Which variable of the study was not controlled and might be a confounding variable?
    1. Gender of the participants
    2. Everybody was told not to eat too much or drink anything with caffeine before the study commenced
    3. Age of the participants
    4. Time of the day that the participants were tested

34. Age ranging from 18-20, with no previously diagnosed sexual dysfunctions, was this study’s
    1. Subject selection criteria / parameter
    2. Random assignment
    3. Population
    4. Participants

35. Every possible male out there would be this study’s:
    1. Sample             
    2. Population
    3. External validity
    4. Control group

36. Which group was the empty control group?
    1. Group A
    2. Group B
    3. Group C
    4. Group D

37. Which group was the treatment group?
    1. Group A & C
    2. Group B
    3. Group D
    4. Group E

38. The type of sampling technique described in the study is:
    1. Liberate appointment sampling
    2. Convenience sampling
    3. Random/probability sampling
    4. Non-random sampling

39. Which of the following is not considered as a confounding factor of this study?
    1. Participants’ difference of perception in what “eating too much” is
    2. Sexual orientation (homo, bi, heterosexuality) of the participants
    3. Whether the participants find Ariana Grande attractive or not
    4. Time of the day tested.
    5. The soundproof cubicle.

Answer 1

1. D. This is a true experimental study. It involves all the essential features of an experiment: the manipulated of an independent variable, random selection and random assignment.

2. A. The type of treatment received during the testing segment is the independent variable. There were four conditions in total.

3. c) The independent variable had three levels. These were listening to Ariana Grande’s music for 2 hours, watching without the sound Ariana’s music videos for 2 hours, watching Ariana’s music videos with sound.

4. The independent variable generated continuous data.