Cultural Comparison of the United States and the United Kingdom

Question #1 

In an experimental study, there is random assignment of participants to either the control group or the treatment group. In a quasi-experiment, there is no random assignment of participants. For instance, quasi experiment has treatment and control groups, which are different in terms of the experimental treatment they get and in other often-unknown ways (Shaughnessy & Zechmeister, 2000). Therefore, the researchers have the role of ensuring statistical control for these differences as much as possible. In cases where the researchers cannot use quasi-experimental and experimental studies, they can opt for pre-experimental study designs, which are conducted before a true experiment is done (Shaughnessy & Zechmeister, 2000). They are conducted for the establishment of the evidence to be used against or for an intervention. 

Question #2 

Between-subjects and within-subjects are the only ways of comparing different user interfaces in a single study by assigning the test participants to the various different conditions. Between-subjects is a study design where different people are permitted to test every condition to ensure exposure of only one individual to a single user interface (Shaughnessy & Zechmeister, 2000). Within-subjects is a study design where the same individuals tend to test all the available conditions including all the user interfaces (Howitt, 2019). Every type of research that requires more than a single test has to determine whether to use within-subjects or between-subjects test design. 

Question #3 

Single blind and double blind studies are the major models commonly used while undertaking a clinical trial. Selection of the right clinical trial model is vital since it influences the outcomes of the trial and even goes to the extent of introducing different errors. Therefore, a model can be selected based on the type of different variables and trials. In a single blind study, the participants do not necessarily know if they are getting the actual treatment of placebo, to reduce the risk of errors since some participants may end up producing spurious outcomes when they are informed of the medication or placebo (Howitt, 2019). In a double blind study, both the experimenters and participants do not understand which group were given the placebo, and which group received the experimental treatment. It is understood to be a superior clinical research model due to its ability to eliminate the consequences that are produced because of the placebo effect and the experimenter’s observer bias. 

References 

Howitt, D. (2019). Introduction to qualitative research methods in psychology: Putting theory into practice. Pearson UK. 

Shaughnessy, J. J., Zechmeister, E. B., & Zechmeister, J. S. (2000). Research methods in psychology. McGraw-Hill.