Experimental Design FRQ

Professor Jackson believes that frustration increases the need for achievement. She decides to test her hypothesis with her introductory psychology class of about 100 students. The first 50 students who arrive for class one day are taken to a separate room and given a series of easy puzzles to complete. Professor Jackson then asks each student about his or her professional goals. She rates the statement of each on a 7-point scale for strength of achievement motivation. When they arrive, the remaining students are taken to another room and given a series of difficult puzzles by Professor Jackson’s teaching assistant Jim. Jim also asks each student about his or her professional goals and, like Professor Jackson, then rates the statement of each on a 7-point scale. The group given the difficult puzzles has, on average, higher achievement motivation scores than the group given easy puzzles. Professor Jackson concludes that her hypothesis is supported.


Show how each of the following aspects of Professor Jackson’s experimental design is flawed. Indicate how you would correct each problem.


Sampling
Assignment of participants
Dependent variable
Control for experimental bias
Control of confounding variables (You need cite only one)