Why Is It Important to Make Sure That Different Participant

question 172

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to make sure that different participant groups are roughly equivalent in terms of personal characteristics (e.g., age, gender) before any independent variable is introduced?

• A) Because it is important to treat all research participants equally so that they feel that they are not being manipulated.
• B) Because research ethics forbid any experiment to take place when the participant groups are fundamentally different from each other.
• C) So that no major differences between the groups unduly bias the results of the experiment.
• D) Because it threatens the integrity of a within-group experimental design.

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Definitions:

Liver

A vital organ involved in metabolism, detoxification, protein synthesis, and several other important biological processes.

Thyroid Gland

An endocrine gland located in the neck, that produces hormones regulating metabolism, energy generation, and growth.

Lymphocytes

A type of white blood cell that is an integral part of the immune system, responsible for the body's defense against pathogens.

White Blood Cells

Cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders.