Select the best option to complete this statement: _______ and _______ are among the _______ of non-experimental designs in social psychological research.

Question

Select the best option to complete this statement: _______ and _______ are among the  _______ of non-experimental designs in social psychological research.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks us to identify which items complete the statement about non-experimental designs in social psychology.
Option A discusses 'Lack of a manipulation; non-random assignment; disadvantages.' This aligns with non-experimental designs, which typically do not include experimental manipulation and often rely on pre-existing groups or non-random assignment, leading to disadvantages such as limited causal inference and potential confounds. The phrasing captures a core characteristic and a consequence.
Option B states 'Ethical concerns; weak manipulations; disadvantages.' While ethical concerns can arise in research generally and weak manipulations may be relevant to some experiments, this option emphasizes manipulation and ethics in a way that is not uniquely or primarily descriptive of non-experimental designs. In many non-experimental studies, there is no manipulation at all, and the emphasis on ethical concerns is not a defining feature that distinguishes non-experimental designs from experimental ones.
Option C offers 'Powerful effects; real-life variables; advantages.' Real-life (or ecological) variables are indeed often examined in non-experimental research, and there can be advantages to studying natural settings. However, the phrase 'Powerful effects' is not a general hallmark of non-experimental designs; such designs typically face challenges with establishing strong causal effects due to lack of manipulation and random assignment. This makes the claim less consistent as a defining feature.
Option D combines A and C by saying 'Both A and C are correct.' Given that A accurately describes a key aspect and C captures the use of real-life variables and associated advantages (despite the caveat about causal strength), the composite statement is coherent with many descriptions of non-experimental designs in the literature. The overall interpretation supports selecting both components as correct in the context of the question.
In summary, A correctly highlights fundamental traits and consequences of non-experimental designs, B misattributes aspects more typical of experimental concerns, C presents a partial fit by noting real-life variables and advantages but overstates the presence of 'powerful effects' in such designs, and D acknowledges that both A and C contribute valid points in this context. Therefore, the combined option D reflects the best fit according to the provided choices.

PSYC20009_2025_SM2 Exam: Personality and Social Psychology (PSYC20009_2025_SM2)- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

Select the best option to complete this statement: ___ and _ are among the _____ of non-experimental designs in social psychological research.

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