A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Which type of experiment design is used in Raine et al.'s study?

1. Experimental

2. Quasi-experimental

3. Observational

4. Descriptive

The correct answer is: Quasi-experimental

The study conducted by Raine et al. utilized a quasi-experimental design, which is characterized by the lack of random assignment to different groups. In this particular research, the participants were not randomly assigned to conditions; instead, they were selected based on pre-existing characteristics, specifically individuals diagnosed with a particular condition (in this case, those with antisocial personality disorder). This type of design allows researchers to draw comparisons between groups while maintaining a degree of control over variables, making it suitable for examining the effects of specific independent variables on a dependent variable without full experimental control typically found in true experiments. The other types of design mentioned, such as experimental, observational, and descriptive, do not fit the structure of Raine et al.'s approach. An experimental design involves random assignment and manipulation of variables, which is absent here. Observational designs focus on watching and recording behavior without manipulation, while descriptive designs summarize characteristics without drawing causal relationships, both of which do not apply to Raine et al.'s method.