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525 solutions
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525 solutions
Studies can't always take place. Perfect studies would include clean manipulations, large samples of participants and perfect random assignments, however, this is not always the case.
When a quasi-experiment includes an appropriate comparison group and the right pattern of results, researchers can often support causal claims--even when participants cannot be randomly assigned to conditions and the researchers do not
have complete experimental control of the IV.
In quasi experiments, researchers need to balance the need for complete internal validity with other priorities such as opportunities to study a real world situation or to take advantage of a historical event, or to conduct an ethical investigation of a new program or some other intervention.
By examining the results and design of a quasi-experiment, you can interrogate whether it is vulnerable to alternative explanations such as selection,
maturation, attrition, testing, instrumentation, observer bias, experimental demand, and placebo effects.
-These are threats that can occur in true experiments.
In a quasi-experiment by Minke (2011), the effectiveness of a Danish halfway house (a place for people with criminal backgrounds to learn skills for reintegrating into society) that mixes offenders with nonoffenders was compared with that of the control condition of halfway houses housing only offenders. The measurement of effectiveness was based on rate of recidivism (relapse in criminal behavior) in former inmates.
Identify the threat to internal validity in each scenario
that might have occurred in this study.
Inmates in the mixed halfway house were provided with job training opportunities, while inmates in the only-offenders halfway house were not.selection-history threat
Correct label: selection-history threat
Inmates in the mixed halfway house showed lower rates of recidivism only because they understood the purpose of the study.demand characteristics
Correct label: demand characteristics
Inmates were allowed to choose their own halfway
house.selection effects
Correct label: selection effects
In their measurement of recidivism, researchers did not include inmates who were sent directly to prison from their halfway house for violations.attrition threat
Correct label: attrition threat