Question

For the following four scenarios, identify whether the research design is Independent Groups (between subjects) or Repeated Measures (within subjects):

a. A bicyclist wants to know if a new composite wheel will lower the time taken to finish a riding course. Thirty bicyclists are randomly selected to ride their bikes on the riding course with their current wheels in place, and their time to finish the course is recorded. One week later the same 30 bicyclists return and ride the course again, however this time their wheels have been replaced with the new composite wheels. Once again, their finish times are recorded, and the two finish times are compared.
What is the research design? (1 Point):
b. A cognitive psychologist would like to examine the process of forgetting. A group of 20 participants are instructed to use rote rehearsal to study a list of words. Another group of 20 participants are instructed to use elaborative rehearsal to study the same list of words. A recall test is given 20 minutes after each participant has studied the list. What is the research design? (1 Point):
c. An educator would like to assess the effectiveness of a new instructional program for reading. A random sample of 30 students are selected and given a standardized reading test, and then they are given the new instructional program. After completing the instructional program, they are given the reading test again. What is the research design? (1 Point):
d. A researcher wants to examine the effects of caffeine on exam performance in college students. 100 students are randomly selected from various higher education institutions to participate in the study. 50 students are randomly assigned to consume 1 cup of coffee prior to taking a math exam, and the other 50 students are randomly assigned to drink only water before the exam. Afterwards the differences in exam scores are examined.
What is the research design? (1 Point):

Answer 1

Identifying whether the research design is Independent Groups (between subjects) or Repeated Measures (within subjects):

a. Repeated Measures (within subjects)

b. Independent Groups (between subjects)

c. Repeated Measures (within subjects)

d. Independent Groups (between subjects)

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference between Independent Groups (or between-subjects or between-groups) experimental design is that the independent group research design is where different participants are used in each condition of the independent variable so that each group tests only one of the conditions. On the other hand, the Repeated Measures (or Within-subjects or within-groups) study design is a research design where the same person or group tests all the conditions.