When research results are not consistent with a theory, the researcher's next step usually involves ________.
a) replacing the theory with a different one
b) modifying the theory and collecting additional data
c) modifying the results to be consistent with the theory
d) shifting to a different paradigm
Question 2
A researcher wants to know whether writing an essay on a controversial topic will have an effect on the attitudes held by people. First, she administers an attitude survey that covers a number of topics, including electronic voting machines.
She then randomly assigns subjects to write an essay either supporting or opposing electronic voting machines. One week later, she administers the same attitude survey and compares those responses to the responses from the first time the survey was administered. In this experiment, the independent variable (IV) is the ________. a) attitude survey
b) essay
c) controversial topic
d) students' attitudes