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Jenny is studying how different neurotransmitters (chemical signals in the brain) affect learning and memory. Based on prior scientific research that shows that disrupting a

Jenny is studying how different neurotransmitters (chemical signals in the brain) affect learning and memory. Based on prior scientific research that shows that disrupting a neurotransmitter called glutamate impairs memory, she hypothesizes that increasing glutamate function might cause the opposite effect. She plans to conduct an animal research study where mice are placed in a maze 5 times. The mice have to go through the maze to find half an Oreo (Yes, mice like Oreos better than cheese!) at the end of the maze. The mice will be divided into three groups. One group of mice will be administered a placebo injection each time they are placed in the maze. A second group will get a drug that increases glutamate (i.e., a glutamate agonist), and a third group of mice will get a drug that decreases glutamate (i.e., a glutamate antagonist). Then she will measure learning by giving all the mice a 6th time in the maze without any injections, and on this time, she will measure how long it takes the mice to complete the maze with shorter times corresponding to stronger/better learning. Based on prior research, she predicts that mice given the drug that increases glutamate will have stronger learning and be the fastest on the 6th time through the maze than the other groups, and the mice given the drug that decreases glutamate will have weaker learning and will be the slowest at completing the maze.

  1. Critically evaluate the researcher's hypothesis based upon the properties of a good, scientific hypothesis.
  2. What are the two variables the researcher is looking at? Identify both of their constructs and operational definitions.
  3. Describe the design and methodology of the research as thoroughly as possible on a conceptual level. Be sure to identify any key elements of the design as applicable (independent variable, sampling technique, counterbalancing, measurement modality, etc.)
  4. Evaluate the internal validity of this study. What threats to internal validity are present? What steps, if any, could be taken to improve the internal validity of this study?
  5. Evaluate the external validity of this study. What aspects may be decreasing the external validity of the study? What steps, if any, could be taken to improve the external validity of this study?
  6. What inferential statistical tests should be used to evaluate the results and why? If the results end up being statistically significant, how would you interpret them?
  7. What are the basic ethical concerns this researcher should be aware of, and what should the researcher do to ensure this research is conducted ethically and legally?

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