Question

A researcher was interested in the effects of sexual arousal on the ability to concentrate, and also wondered whether gender and age were important factors. The researcher had participants read passages that were low, medium, or high in arousal content. The participants included both males and females and were divided into three age categories (18-24, 25-35, and 36-50 years). After reading the passage, participants were asked to perform a proofreading task. The researcher measured the number of errors detected on the task.

Identify the design:
a. Cross-sectional design
b. Longitudinal design
c. Experimental design
d. Quasi-experimental design

Answer 1

The correct answer is option a. Cross-sectional design.

Step-by-step explanation:

The study design described is an experimental design. This can be identified as such because the researcher is manipulating an independent variable, which in this case is the arousal content of the passages. The dependent variable is the number of errors detected in the proofreading task. Furthermore, the study involves different groups (males and females) and different age categories, adding layers of complexity to the design.

Cross-sectional design refers to comparing different segments of the population at one time, which is also being utilized here since multiple age groups are compared simultaneously. However, the clear manipulation of an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable signifies that this is primarily an experimental study.

Lurking variables, such as prior exposure to similar content, individual differences in cognitive abilities, and external factors affecting concentration, could influence the results. Such variables can potentially be controlled for by employing random assignment, ensuring that participants are equally likely to be placed in any condition regardless of their characteristics, thus minimizing biases.