Question

Researchers are interested in whether there is a difference in spatial reasoning between males and females. To test this, they randomly select 30 males and 30 females from the population and have all 60 participants person perform a spatial reasoning task. They find that the males perform three times as high on the task as the females perform. This is an ________ design that allows the researchers to conclude that one's sex _____ one's spatial reasoning performance.

Answer 1

The study uses an experimental design to investigate gender differences in spatial reasoning, but it is actually quasi-experimental, making cause-and-effect conclusions difficult. Cultural, social, and educational factors may significantly influence these abilities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The study described involves randomly selecting 30 males and 30 females to perform a spatial reasoning task where males outperformed females. This setup is an experimental design that allows the researchers to assess differences in performance between genders. However, concluding that one's sex causes differences in spatial reasoning performance can be problematic due to the study's quasi-experimental nature, which does not allow for cause-and-effect claims. Cultural and social factors, evidenced in cross-cultural studies and variations in play and education, can influence the development of spatial skills. Therefore, any observed differences may not solely be attributed to biological sex but also to social and cultural factors, as well as other lurking variables such as educational experience.