BHS Vocab 1-3

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Which of the following is not a good example of a research hypothesis? a. There is no relationship between fatigue and reaction time. b. Increased sugar consumption leads to an increased level of activity. c. Smaller class size is related to better academic performance. d. A person's level of self-esteem is related to how long he or she will persist at a difficult task.

a. There is no relationship between fatigue and reaction time.

Which of the following is usually the initial factor for determining whether a specific article is relevant to your research question? a. Title b. Abstract c. Discussion section d. Results section

a. Title

Use the ___ of the article as your second screening device for screening in/out relevancy to your research

abstract

a brief summary of the publication, usually about 100 words

abstract

An elementary school teacher separates students into high, medium, and low reading skill groups. What scale of measurement is being used to create the groups? a. Nominal b. Ordinal c. Interval d. Ratio

b. Ordinal

Which method of knowing is used when you find the address and phone number of a restaurant by googling the name of the restaurant? a. Method of empiricism b. Rational method c. Method of authority d. Scientific method

c. Method of authority

What is meant by saying that "science is objective"? a. Scientific answers are based on direct observation. b. Scientific answers are based on logical reasoning. c. Scientific answers are obtained without influence by the researcher's biases or beliefs. d. Scientific answers are made available for evaluation by others.

c. Scientific answers are obtained without influence by the researcher's biases or beliefs.

A researcher conducts a study in which 50 college students are assigned to different treatments and tested. In the study, the students are called a. research associates. b. research cohorts. c. research participants. d. research subject

c. research participants

ordinal scale

categories that have different names and are organized in an ordered series

hypothetical attributes or mechanisms that help explain and predict behavior in a theory

constructs

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using an operational definition? a. The operational definition may not be an accurate reflection of the construct. b. The operational definition may leave out important components of the construct. c. The operational definition may include extra components that are not part of the construct. d. All of the other options are disadvantages.

d. All of the other options are disadvantages.

a statement that describes or explains a relationship between or among variables

hypothesis

involves using a relatively small set of specific observations as the basis for forming a general statement about a larger set of possible observations

induction/inductive reasoning

uses specific examples to generate general conclusions or hypotheses

induction/inductive reasoning pt.2

the degree of agreement between the two observers

inter-rater reliability

what discusses previous research that forms the foundation for the current research study and presents a clear statement of the problem being investigated

introduction

an approach to acquiring knowledge that involves formulating specific questions and then systematically finding answers

scientific method

a method of acquiring knowledge that uses observations to develop a hypothesis, and then uses the hypothesis to make logical predictions that can be empirically tested by making additional, systematic observations

scientific method pt.2

a description or summary of another person's work.Itiswritten by someone who did not participate in the research or observations being discussed

secondary source

a method of measuring a variable in which people answer questions about themselves in a questionnaire or interview

self-report measure

Which of the following is a brief summary of a psychology article? a. Abstract b. Synopsis c. Key word d. Author name

a. Abstract

A researcher is intrigued by an explanation of children's problem-solving strategies found in a journal article and develops a research study to determine whether the article's ideas are correct. How would this study be classified? a. Basic research b. Applied research c. Systematic research d. Necessary research

a. Basic research

What term is used for a variable that cannot be observed or measured directly but is useful for describing and explaining behavior? a. Construct b. Operational variable c. Theoretical variable d. Hypothetical variable

a. Construct

What kind of reasoning uses a few specific observations to produce a general hypothesis? a. Inductive reasoning b. Deductive reasoning c. Scientific reasoning d. Predictive reasoning

a. Inductive reasoning

Why is the range effect known as a "ceiling effect" a problem for researchers? a. The scores are already so high that there is no chance of measuring improvement. b. The scores are already so low that there is no chance of measuring a decrease. c. There is so much room for improvement that the measurements are almost certain to increase. d. There is so much room for lower performance that the measurements are almost certain to decrease

a. The scores are already so high that there is no chance of measuring improvement.

The first step in the research process is a. identifying a topic area and searching the literature to find a research question. b. forming a hypothesis. c. deciding which individuals should participate in the study. d. selecting a research strategy

a. identifying a topic area and searching the literature to find a research question

the degree to which the measurement conforms to the established standard

accuracy

intended to answer practical questions or solve practical problems

applied research

These participants are overly concerned that their performance in the study will be used to evaluate their abilities or personal characteristics

apprehensive subject role

a set of premise statements that are logically combined to yield a conclusion

argument

a nonnatural feature accidentally introduced into something being observed

artifact

How would research studies that are intended to answer practical problems be classified? a. Basic research b. Applied research c. Systematic research d. Necessary research

b. Applied research

What is typically included in the introduction section of a research article? a. It provides interpretation of the findings. b. It describes the overall purpose and rationale of the research. c. It includes the results of statistical analyses. d. It provides the details of the methodology used in the study.

b. It describes the overall purpose and rationale of the research.

Last year Tim and his friend Jack were both too short to ride the roller coaster. Jack went to the park this year and was tall enough to ride. Tim knows that he is taller than Jack, so he knows that he will be able to ride the roller coaster as well. Which method of knowing is Tim using? a. Method of empiricism b. Rational method c. Method of authority d. Scientific method

b. Rational method

Which of the following describes participants taking on the negativistic subject role? a. They are concerned that their performance in the study will be used to evaluate them. b. They try to act so that their data are in contrast to the hypothesis. c. They try to act so that their data are consistent with the hypothesis. d. They try to avoid acting on the basis of their suspicions.

b. They try to act so that their data are in contrast to the hypothesis.

While shopping, you observe the behavior of adolescents at the mall and get some ideas about what may be causing the behavior. This is an example of getting research ideas from a. theory. b. casual observation. c. systematic observation. d. secondhand information.

b. casual observation.

research studies intended to answer theoretical questions or gather knowledge simply for the sake of new knowledge are classified

basic research

measures based on systematic observation of people's actions, either in their normal environment or in a laboratory setting

behavioral measures

Which of the following is the best description of the scientific method? a. A circular process that leads to a final answer b. A linear process that moves directly to a final answer c. A circular process that leads to a tentative answer d. A linear process that leads to a tentative answer

c. A circular process that leads to a tentative answer

Counting the number of times a third-grade student leaves his or her seat without permission during a 30-minute observation period is an example of using what modality of measurement? a. Self-report b. Survey c. Behavioral d. Physiological

c. Behavioral

Research results indicate that the more time individuals spend watching educational television programs as preschool children, the higher their high school grades will be. What kind of relationship exists between educational TV and high school grades? a. Cause-and-effect b. Coincidental c. Positive d. Negative

c. Positive

What additional information is obtained by measuring on an interval scale compared to an ordinal scale? a. Whether the measurements are the same or different b. The direction of the differences c. The size of the differences d. None of the above

c. The size of the differences

What is the goal of an operational definition? a. Simply to provide a definition of a hypothetical construct b. Simply to provide a method for measuring a hypothetical construct c. To provide a definition and a method for measuring a hypothetical construct d. None of the other options describe the purpose of an operational definition

c. To provide a definition and a method for measuring a hypothetical construct

For which of the following questions would the scientific method be an appropriate method for seeking an answer. a. How many angels can stand on the head of a pin? b. Is abortion moral or immoral? c. What conditions promote student learning in an elementary classroom? d. How would life be different if the computer had never been invented?

c. What conditions promote student learning in an elementary classroom?

A hypothesis is a __________ statement and a prediction is a __________ statement. a. specific; general b. specific; specific c. general; specific d. general; general

c. general; specific

A research study reports that participants who scored high on a new test measuring self- esteem made eye contact during an interview, whereas participants who scored low on the test avoided eye contact. Assuming that more eye contact is associated with higher self-esteem, what kind of validity is being demonstrated? a. face b. concurrent c. predictive d. convergent

c. predictive

demonstrated when scores obtained from a new measure are directly related to scores obtained from an established measure of the same variable

concurrent validity

requires that the scores obtained from a measurement procedure behave exactly the same as the variable itself

construct validity

demonstrated by a strong relationship between the scores obtained from two (or more) different methods of measuring the same construct

convergent validity

What questions should you ask when reading an introduction to a research article? a. Is the literature review up-to-date? b. Is the hypothesis related to the literature reviewed? c. Does the prediction logically follow the hypothesis? d. All of the above.

d. All of the above.

Which of the following is typical of quantitative research? a. It involves measuring variables for each individual. b. It usually involves numerical scores. c. It uses statistical analysis to summarize and interpret results. d. All of the above.

d. All of the above.

Which of the following is a distinction between science and pseudoscience? a. Pseudoscience tends to dismiss or refuse to accept negative results. b. Pseudoscience tends to rely on testimonials and selected results. c. Pseudoscience tends to treat criticism as a personal attack. d. All of the other options are differences between science and pseudoscience.

d. All of the other options are differences between science and pseudoscience.

What is typically included in the method section of a research article? a. It provides interpretation of the findings. b. It describes the overall purpose and rationale of the research. c. It includes the results of statistical analyses. d. It provides the details of the methodology used in the study

d. It provides the details of the methodology used in the study.

Using a PET scan to measure brain activity while participants solve mathematics problems is an example of using what modality of measurement? a. Self-report b. Survey c. Behavioral d. Physiological

d. Physiological

After measuring a set of individuals, a researcher finds that Bob's score is three times greater than Jane's score. What scale of measurement is being used? a. Nominal b. Ordinal c. Interval d. Ratio

d. Ratio

what begins by summarizing the results of the study, stating the conclusions, and noting any potential application

discussion section

a variant of the method of authority in which people have unquestioning trust in the authority figure and, therefore, accept information from the authority without doubt or challenge

method of faith

what occurs when participants modify their natural behavior in response to the fact that they are participating in a research study or the knowledge that they are being measured

reactivity

Which of the following accurately describes the relationship between validity and reliability? a. Measurement cannot be valid unless it is reliable. b. Measurement cannot be reliable unless it is valid. c. If a measurement is reliable, then it also must be valid. d. None of the above is an accurate description.

a. Measurement cannot be valid unless it is reliable.

A restaurant chef tried replacing rice with pasta in one of her recipes to see what would happen. Which method of acquiring knowledge is she using? a. Method of empiricism b. Rational method c. Method of authority d. Scientific method

a. Method of empiricism

Using an anonymous questionnaire to determine how many times students send or receive text messages during class is an example of using what modality of measurement? a. Self-report b. Survey c. Behavioral d. Physiological

a. Self-report

Why is an artifact like experimenter bias a threat to the validity of measurement? a. The measurements may be distorted by the artifact. b. Different measurements may be obtained under the same conditions if the artifact were not present. c. The artifact may provide an alternative explanation for the results. d. None of the other options accurately describes the threat.

a. The measurements may be distorted by the artifact.

the clustering of scores at the high end of a measurement scale, allowing little or no possibility of increases in value

ceiling effect

Which method of knowing is being used by a student who believes that his performance on tests is influenced by wearing a lucky hat? a. The method of empiricism b. The method of faith c. The method of tenacity d. The method of authority

d. The method of tenacity

Which of the following would be a danger of relying upon a primary source? a. The author of the primary source may describe or interpret research results incorrectly. b. Primary sources typically do not contain the details of methodology that are required for critical evaluation. c. The author may describe results incorrectly and the source does not contain details of methodology. d. There is no danger because you can rely on primary sources for accurate information.

d. There is no danger because you can rely on primary sources for accurate information.

contains about 1 million publications, or records, that are all cross-referenced by subject words and author names

database

uses a general statement as the basis for reaching a conclusion about specific examples

deduction/deductive reasoning

these refer to any of the potential cues or features of a study that (1) suggest to the participants what the purpose and hypothesis is and (2) influence the participants to respond or behave in a certain way

demand characteristics

demonstrated by showing little or no relationship between the measurements of two different constructs

divergent validity

if both the researcher and the participants are unaware of the predicted outcome it is called

double-blind

attempts to answer questions by direct observation or personal experience

empirical method/empiricism

occurs when the measurements obtained in a study are influenced by the experimenter's expectations or personal beliefs regarding the outcome of the study

experimenter bias

2 potential artifacts include

experimenter bias and participant reactivity

the superficial appearance, or face value, of a measurement procedure

face validity

These participants attempt to follow instructions to the letter and avoid acting on any suspicions they have about the purpose of the study

faithful subject role

a place that the participant or subject perceives as a natural environment

field study

the clustering of scores at the low end of a measurement scale, allowing little or no possibility of decreases in value

floor effect

These participants have identified the hypothesis of the study and are trying to produce responses that support the investigator's hypothesis

good subject role

Reactivity is especially a problem in studies conducted in a ___

laboratory

any setting that is obviously devoted to the discipline of science. It can be any room or any space that the subject or participant perceives as artificial

laboratory

to find a set of published research reports that define the current state of knowledge in an area and to identify an unanswered question

literature search

a person relies on information or answers from an expert in the subject area

method of authority

information is accepted on the basis of a hunch or "gut feeling."

method of intuition

information is accepted as true because it has always been believed or because superstition supports it.

method of tenacity

what presents details concerning the participants and the procedures used in the study

method section

ways in which a person can know things or discover answers to questions

methods of acquiring knowledge

when two measurements change in opposite directions so that people who score high on one measurement tend to score low on the other it is called

negative relationship

These participants have identified the hypothesis of the study and are trying to act contrary to the investigator's hypothesis

negativistic subject role

categories that simply represent qualitative (not quantitative) differences in the variable measured

nominal scale

a procedure for indirectly measuring and defining a variable that cannot be observed or measured directly

operational definition

categories that are organized sequentially, and all categories are the same size

ordinal and ratio scales

when different versions of the instrument are used for the test and the retest

parallel-forms reliability

the individuals who take part in research studies that are human

participants

measures of bodily responses, such as blood pressure or heart rate, used to determine changes in psychological state

physiological measures

an association between two variables in which they increase or decrease together is called

positive relationship

demonstrated when scores obtained from a measure accurately predict behavior according to a theory

predictive validity

describe facts or assumptions that are presumed to be true

premise statements

a firsthand report of observations or research results written by the individual(s) who actually conducted the research and made the observations

primary source

a system of ideas often presented as science but actually lacking some of the key components that are essential to scientific research (ex. aromatherapy, astrology, and intelligent design)

pseudoscience

based on making observations that are summarized and interpreted in a narrative report

qualitative research

based on measuring variables for individual participants to obtain scores, usually numerical values, which are submitted to statistical analysis for summary and interpretation

quantitative research

the measurement procedure is insensitive to changes that may occur in one direction

range effect

seeks answers by the use of logical reasoning

rational method/rationalism

what lists complete references for all items cited in the report

reference section

what is one that can be demonstrated to be false. that is, it is possible for the outcome to be different from the prediction

refutable hypothesis

____ is a prerequisite for validity

reliability

the stability or consistency of the measurement

reliability

repetition of observation

replication

what presents the details of the statistical analysis and usually is not important for generating a new research idea

results section

the three categories of measurement are

self-report, physiological, and behavioral

In general, if we expect fairly small, subtle changes in a variable, then the measurement procedure must be ____ enough to detect the changes, and the scale of measurement must have enough different categories to allow ____ among individuals.

sensitive; discrimination

if the researcher does not know the predicted outcome it is called

single-blind

obtained by splitting the items on a questionnaire or test in half, computing a separate score for each half, and then calculating the degree of consistency between the two scores for a group of participants

split-half reliability

correct terms used to identify and describe the variables in the study and the characteristics of the participants

subject words

the individuals who take part in research studies that are nonhuman

subjects

(t/f) the distinction between quantitative and qualitative research is not as simple as numbers versus no numbers.

t

the reliability estimate obtained by comparing the scores obtained from two successive measurements

test-retest reliability

what is one for which all of the variables, events, and individuals can be defined and observed

testable hypothesis

what is a set of statements about the mechanisms underlying a particular behavior

theory

Use the ___ of the article as your first basis for screening in/out relevancy to your research

title

when the degree to which the measurement process measures the variable that it claims to measure it is called

validity of a measurement procedure

characteristics or conditions that change or have different values for different individuals

variables

The characteristic that differentiates interval and ratio scales is the ____

zero point