Which term refers to the measurement of the dependent variable prior to the administration of the experimental treatment?

Which term refers to the measurement of the dependent variable prior to the administration of the experimental treatment?

• A. Pre-test
• B. Post-test
• C. Baseline assessment
• D. Pilot measurement

Answer: (A)

Measuring the dependent variable before any experimental manipulation sets the starting point to compare against after the treatment. This pre-treatment measurement is called a pre-test, because it captures data before the intervention is applied. A post-test would be taken after the treatment, not before. Baseline assessment is related—it's the initial level usually considered as the starting point—but the standard label for the act of measuring before manipulation in this context is pre-test. Pilot measurement is a preliminary check of procedures or instruments, not the actual pre-treatment measurement of the outcome variable.

Measuring the dependent variable before any experimental manipulation sets the starting point to compare against after the treatment. This pre-treatment measurement is called a pre-test, because it captures data before the intervention is applied. A post-test would be taken after the treatment, not before. Baseline assessment is related—it's the initial level usually considered as the starting point—but the standard label for the act of measuring before manipulation in this context is pre-test. Pilot measurement is a preliminary check of procedures or instruments, not the actual pre-treatment measurement of the outcome variable.