In matched Pairs Design, which statement is true?

In matched Pairs Design, which statement is true?

• A. Participants are randomly assigned to groups.
• B. Participants are matched on key characteristics. One participant does control condition and the other does the experimental condition.
• C. One participant completes all tasks.
• D. Each participant experiences both conditions.

Answer: (B)

Matched pairs design works by pairing participants on important characteristics and then assigning one member of each pair to the experimental condition and the other to the control condition. This makes the groups more alike on those characteristics, so differences in outcomes are more likely due to the manipulation rather than individual differences. The statement that best describes this is that participants are matched on key characteristics and one participant from each pair goes to the control condition while the other goes to the experimental condition. The other ideas don’t fit because random assignment to groups alone doesn’t capture the essential pairing step, and a single participant completing all tasks or experiencing both conditions describes designs where one person is exposed to multiple conditions, not the paired, between-subjects structure.

Matched pairs design works by pairing participants on important characteristics and then assigning one member of each pair to the experimental condition and the other to the control condition. This makes the groups more alike on those characteristics, so differences in outcomes are more likely due to the manipulation rather than individual differences. The statement that best describes this is that participants are matched on key characteristics and one participant from each pair goes to the control condition while the other goes to the experimental condition.

The other ideas don’t fit because random assignment to groups alone doesn’t capture the essential pairing step, and a single participant completing all tasks or experiencing both conditions describes designs where one person is exposed to multiple conditions, not the paired, between-subjects structure.