psych unit 0 mcq

Why is an operational definition necessary when reporting research findings? a. An operational definition allows others to replicate the study. b. An operational definition provides many examples of the concept. c. An operational definition uses more scientific language than a dictionary definition. d. An operational definition considers contextual elements that may affect the study's results.

a. An operational definition allows others to replicate the study.

Which of the following questions is best investigated by means of a survey? a. Are people more likely to vote Republican or Democrat in the next U.S. election? b. Does extra sleep improve memory? c. What is the most effective study technique for AP exams? d. What role does exercise play in heart health?

a. Are people more likely to vote Republican or Democrat in the next U.S. election?

Which of the following best illustrates a skeptical attitude? a. Evelyn believes that all animals turn into balloons at night because her older brother told her that he saw their dog floating around the house at night. b. After Matsuo's mother told him that chewing on his fingernails might make him sick, Matsuo asked her to provide an explanation of how he might get sick from chewing his nails. c. Hayden argues with all her teachers when they lecture because she doubts how they can possibly remember all the information from the textbooks they have read. d.After reading a blog post online about the dangers of walking near busy streets, Beck decided to avoid walking near busy streets for the next five years.

b. After Matsuo's mother told him that chewing on his fingernails might make him sick, Matsuo asked her to provide an explanation of how he might get sick from chewing his nails.

Researchers wanted to find out if eating sugary foods would increase a person's ability to remember the names of U.S. presidents. The experiment involved 30 female and 30 male participants. A third of the participants (Group A) were given cookies while studying the names. Another third (Group B) were given nothing while studying the names. The final third (Group C) were given mint-flavored candy while studying the names. They were tested on the names a day later. The researchers found that Group A did substantially better than Group B, but about the same as Group C. Which of the following is the best conclusion for this study? a. Only eating cookies tends to improve memory recall. b. Eating cookies or mint candy tends to improve memory recall. C. Eating nothing tends to improve memory recall. d. Only eating mint-flavored candy tends to improve memory recall.

b. Eating cookies or mint candy tends to improve memory recall.

Which method should a psychology researcher use if she is interested in testing whether a specific reward in a classroom situation causes students to behave better? a. Case study b. Experiment c. Survey d. Correlation

b. Experiment

Researchers wanted to find out if eating sugary foods would increase a person's ability to remember the names of U.S. presidents. The experiment involved 30 female and 30 male participants. A third of the participants (Group A) were given cookies while studying the names. Another third (Group B) were given nothing while studying the names. The final third (Group C) were given mint-flavored candy while studying the names. They were tested on the names a day later. The researchers found that Group A did substantially better than Group B, but about the same as Group C. Which of the following is/are the control group(s) of this study? a. Group A b. Group B c. Groups A & B d. Groups B & C

b. Group B

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a control group in an experimental design? a. Having a control group allows researchers to reduce the effect of confounding variables on the dynamic between the independent variable and the dependent variable. b. Having a control group allows researchers to determine a cause-and-effect relation between the independent variable and dependent variable. С.Having a control group allows researchers to better generalize their results to the population of interest. d. Having a control group allows researchers to replicate the results from past research.

b. Having a control group allows researchers to determine a cause-and-effect relation between the independent variable and dependent variable.

"Monday morning quarterbacks" rarely act surprised about the outcome of weekend football games. This tendency to believe they knew how the game would turn out is best explained by which psychological principle? a. Overconfidence b. Hindsight bias C.Illusory correlation d. Random sampling

b. Hindsight bias

After the student council election, a friend tells you he could have guessed who would be elected president. Which psychological phenomenon might this scenario best illustrate? a. Common sense b. Hindsight bias c. Overconfidence d. Perceiving order in random events

b. Hindsight bias

A journalism student is writing an article about her school's new cell-phone policy, and she'd like to interview a random sample of students. Which of the following is the best example of a random sample? a. The writer arrives at school early and interviews the first five students who come through the main entrance. b. The writer pulls the names of five students from a hat that contains all students' names. She interviews the five selected students. c. The writer asks her teacher if she can distribute a brief survey to the students in her Ap® Psychology class. d. The writer passes out brief surveys to 50 students in the hall and uses the 18 surveys returned to her as the basis of her article.

b. The writer pulls the names of five students from a hat that contains all students' names. She interviews the five selected students.

A researcher calculates statistical significance for her study and finds a 5 percent possibility that the results are due to chance. Which of the following is an accurate interpretation of this finding? a. This result is highly statistically significant. b. This result reflects the minimum standard typically considered statistically significant. C.This result is not statistically significant. d.This result cannot be evaluated on statistical significance without replication of the study.

b. This result reflects the minimum standard typically considered statistically significant.

There is a negative correlation between TV watching and grades. What can we conclude from this research finding? a. We can conclude that this is an illusory correlation. b. We can conclude that TV watching leads to lower grades. c. We can conclude that IV watching leads to higher grades. d. We can conclude that a student who watches a lot of IV is likely to have lower grades.

b. We can conclude that TV watching leads to lower grades.

A testable prediction that drives research is known as a(n) a. theory. b. hypothesis. c. operational definition. d. random sample.

b. hypothesis.

The tendency to exaggerate the correctness or accuracy of our beliefs and predictions is called a. hindsight bias. b. overconfidence. c. critical thinking. d. skepticism.

b. overconfidence.

The laboratory environment is designed to a. exactly re-create the events of everyday life. b. re-create psychological forces under controlled conditions. c. re-create psychological forces under random conditions. d. provide the opportunity to do case study research.

b. re-create psychological forces under controlled conditions.

Researchers wanted to find out if eating sugary foods would increase a person's ability to remember the names of U.S. presidents. The experiment involved 30 female and 30 male participants. A third of the participants (Group A) were given cookies while studying the names. Another third (Group B) were given nothing while studying the names. The final third (Group C) were given mint-flavored candy while studying the names. They were tested on the names a day later. The researchers found that Group A did substantially better than Group B, but about the same as Group C. The dependent variable in this study is a. the mint candy. b. the test scores. c. the cookies. d. the list of presidents.

b. the test scores.

A social psychology researcher operationally defines aggression as loudness of a noise blast (ranging from 0 to 105 decibels) supposedly delivered to a stranger. This research method is best described as a. inferential. b. qualitative. c. quantitative. d. replication.

b.qualitative.

In a normal distribution, what percentage of the scores in the distribution falls within one standard deviation on either side of the mean? a. 34 percent b. 50 percent c. 68 percent d. 95 percent

c. 68 percent

Which of the following is an example of hindsight bias? a. Armend is certain that electric cars will represent 80 percent of vehicles in 20 years and only reads research studies that support his hypothesis. b. Liza underestimates how much time it will take her to finish writing her college application essays and fails to meet an important deadline. c. Alliyah, after reading a definition on one of her flashcards, turns the card over to see the term and then tells herself she knew what the answer was all along. d. Dr. Grace overestimates the effectiveness of her new treatment method because she fails to seek out any evidence refuting her theory.

c. Alliyah, after reading a definition on one of her flashcards, turns the card over to see the term and then tells herself she knew what the answer was all along.

Which ethical principle requires that participants be tol about the true purpose of the research at the end of the study? a. Informed consent b. Informed assent c. Debriefing d. Protection from physical harm

c. Debriefing

Researchers wanted to find out if eating sugary foods would increase a person's ability to remember the names of U.S. presidents. The experiment involved 30 female and 30 male participants. A third of the participants (Group A) were given cookies while studying the names. Another third (Group B) were given nothing while studying the names. The final third (Group C) were given mint-flavored candy while studying the names. They were tested on the names a day later. The researchers found that Group A did substantially better than Group B, but about the same as Group C. Which of the following is/are the experimental group(s) of this study? a. Group B b. Group C c. Groups A & C d. Groups B & C

c. Groups A & C

Kai scored in the 90th percentile in a math competition in her state. Which of the following statements is true of Kai's score? a. Her score is higher than 10 percent of others in the competition. b. Her score is lower than 89 percent of others in the competition. c. Her score is higher than 90 percent of others in the competition. d. Her score is an outlier in this competition.

c. Her score is higher than 90 percent of others in the competition.

If Harrison wanted to increase his use of critical thinking, which of the following questions might he ask? a. How can I share my results with more people? b. How can I sell my ideas to make a profit? c. How can I interpret this result? d. How can I minimize the impact of this result?

c. How can I interpret this result?

Which element of the scientific attitude should Harrison improve if he wants to engage in scientific inquiry more effectively? a. Curiosity b. Skepticism c. Humility d. Questioning

c. Humility

While taking a standardized test with randomly scrambled answers, you notice that your last four answers have been "c." Which of the following is true concerning the probability of the next answer being "c"? a. It is higher because previous answers have been "c." Once a streak begins, it is likely to last for a while. b. It is lower since prior answers have been "c." Since answers are distributed randomly, "c" answers become less common c. It is unaffected by previous answers. It is as likely to be "c" as any other answer. d. It is higher based on previous answers being "c." Test constructors default answer choice is "c."

c. It is unaffected by previous answers. It is as likely to be "c" as any other answer.

Which of the following describes the placebo effect? a. Students in art class are not told that their work will be evaluated for a scholarship so they do not submit their best work. b. Participants in an experiment do not know if they are in the experimental or control group so their attitudes about the study are unaffected c. Participants in a drug study are given an inert pill instead of the drug and behave as though they were given the drug. d. Only women are chosen for a study, even though the population included men.

c. Participants in a drug study are given an inert pill instead of the drug and behave as though they were given the drug.

While sitting at a stoplight, Nancy believes that the next car she sees will be blue because the previous three cars have been blue. Which psychological concept best explains her belief? a. Hindsight bias b. Critical thinking c. Perceiving order in random events d. Overconfidence

c. Perceiving order in random events

What must a researcher do to fulfill the ethical principle of informed consent? a. Keep information about participants confidential. b. Protect participants from potential harm and compensate them for participation in a study. c. Provide participants with enough information about a study to enable them to make a rational decision about whether to participate. d. Explain the purpose of study and any deception in the study to participants after they participate.

c. Provide participants with enough information about a study to enable them to make a rational decision about whether to participate.

What is the name of the approach that uses observation and testing to draw conclusions? a. Qualitative b. Quantitative c. Scientific d. Critical

c. Scientific

Which of the following is a potential problem with case studies? a. They provide too much detail, and the researcher is likely to lose track of the most important facts. b. They are generally too expensive to be feasible. c. The information learned may not apply to the wider population. d. The dependent variable is difficult to operationally define in a case study.

c. The information learned may not apply to the wider population.

Which of the following is a positive correlation? a. As study time increases, students achieve lower grade b. As levels of self-esteem decline, levels of depression increase. c. The more people exercise, the better they sleep. d. Gas mileage decreases as vehicle weight increases.

c. The more people exercise, the better they sleep.

Dr. Buzz wanted to understand the impact of stressful life events on irritability. He asked college students to reflect on three major stressors in their lives, and then he asked the students how many times in a week they yelled at other people. Which of the following captures how Dr. Buzz operationally defined irritability? a. Reflecting on three major stressors b. Irritability c. The number of times the students yelled in a week d. Stressful life events

c. The number of times the students yelled in a week

In a drug study, neither the participants nor the person distributing the pills knows who is receiving the new drug and who is receiving the placebo. This type of research design is said to be an) study. a. correlational b. confounding c. double-blind d.single-blind

c. double-blind

Researchers wanted to find out if eating sugary foods would increase a person's ability to remember the names of U.S. presidents. The experiment involved 30 female and 30 male participants. A third of the participants (Group A) were given cookies while studying the names. Another third (Group B) were given nothing while studying the names. The final third (Group C) were given mint-flavored candy while studying the names. They were tested on the names a day later. The researchers found that Group A did substantially better than Group B, but about the same as Group C. The independent variable in this study is a. the list of presidents. b. the test scores. c. food given. d. gender.

c. food given.

What is the mean of the data? 33, 40, 12, 25, 80 a. 68 b.98 C.33 d. 38

d. 38

Which of the following animal studies is most likely to meet ethical principles and receive Institutional Review Board approval? a. Do monkeys that smoke get cancer? b. Will rats deprived of food for one week survive? c. What are the effects of raising kittens in isolation? d. Can dolphins learn simple language?

d. Can dolphins learn simple language?

An individual with an exceptional memory is identified. For any given date, she is capable of recalling major events, the weather, and what she did that day. Which research method is being used if a psychologist conducts an in-depth investigation of this individual using questionnaires, brain scans, and memory tests? a. Naturalistic observation b. Survey c. Interview d. Case study

d. Case study

Which of the elements of a scientific attitude is most associated with the question, "Does it work?" a. Humility b. Skepticism c. Argumentation d. Curiosity

d. Curiosity

Which of the following accurately illustrates the correct order of the scientific process in psychological research? a. First, researchers interpret their results, and then they measure their variables, after which they identify hypotheses that align with their research design. b. First, researchers choose the best design, and then they interpret their results, after which they measure their variables. C. First, researchers measure their variables, and then they identify their hypotheses, after which they choose the best design for their study. d. First, researchers create hypotheses, and then they design their study to measure their variables, after which they interpret their results.

d. First, researchers create hypotheses, and then they design their study to measure their variables, after which they interpret their results.

Which of the following represents naturalistic observation? a. Researchers go to the mall and distribute surveys about the stores in the mall. b. Researchers bring participants into a laboratory to see how they respond to a puzzle with no solution. c. A principal looks at the relationship between the number of student absences and their grades. d. Researchers observe students' seating patterns in the cafeteria.

d. Researchers observe students' seating patterns in the cafeteria.

A student is interested in knowing how widely the academic aptitude of college-bound students varies at her school. Which of the following statistical methods should she use to determine how much students' SAT scores vary from the school's average SAT score? a. Correlation coefficient b. Mean C.Percentile rank d. Standard deviation

d. Standard deviation

What is the mode of the data? 33, 40, 12, 25, 80 а. 33 b. 25 c. 12 d. There is no mode.

d. There is no mode.

Descriptive statistics - while inferential statistics - a. describe data from experiments; describe data from surveys and case studies b. are measures of central tendency; are measures of variance c. determine whether data can be generalized to other populations; summarize data d. summarize data; assess if data can be generalized

d. summarize data; assess if data can be generalized

In an experiment to test the effects of room temperature on test performance, the independent variable is a. the scores on the test before the experiment begins. b. the scores on the test at the end of the experiment. c. the role of the teacher. d. the temperature of the room.

d. the temperature of the room.

Paulette is taking a survey. Instead of being honest, she is answering it in a way that she thinks will please the researchers. Paulette is showing an) a. hindsight bias. b. sampling bias. c. experimenter bias. d.social desirability bias.

d.social desirability bias.

Which of the following correlation coefficients represents the strongest relationship between two variables? a. +0.75 b. +1.3 с. -0.85 d. -0.05

с. -0.85

Which of the following groups of scores would have the smallest standard deviation? a. 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 b. 5, 15, 25, 35, 45 с. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 d. 100, 200, 300, 400, 500

с. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10

Town City is considering installing new street lamps. Which question might Town City officials ask to ensure that they do not bias respondents? a."How much do you want to replace the broken, old lamps with working, new lamps?" b. "Are you in favor of the inflated taxes associated with the installation of the existing street lamps?" C."To what extent are you in favor of installing street lamps throughout Town City?" d. "When should we replace the street lamps?"

C."To what extent are you in favor of installing street lamps throughout Town City?"

The purpose of random assignment is to a. give every member of the population an equal chance to participate in the research. b. eliminate the placebo effect. C.reduce potential confounding variables. d. generate operational definitions for the independent and dependent variables.

C.reduce potential confounding variables.

Dr. Tazurphase asked 100 people who were in line to ride the largest roller coaster in the world if they would be willing to purchase and drive a flying car. He also gave each person a survey asking questions about their personalities. Based on his results, he claimed that people who are efficient and open to new things were the most willing to purchase and drive a flying car. Which of the following describes one issue with Dr. Tazurphase's study? a. Dr. Tazurphase did not choose a representative sample, so he is unable to make claims about the larger population's willingness to purchase a flying car. b. Dr. Tazurphase did not choose a large enough sample, so he is unable to make claims about the larger population's willingness to buy a flying car. c. Dr. Tazurphase did not include a control group to compare his results against, so he cannot determine the cause of someone's willingness to purchase a flying car. d. Dr

a. Dr. Tazurphase did not choose a representative sample, so he is unable to make claims about the larger population's willingness to purchase a flying car.

Which measure of central tendency is most influenced by skewed data or extreme scores in a distribution? a. Mean b. Median C.Mode d. Percentile rank

a. Mean

Which of the following is an example of negative correlation? a. People who spend more time exercising tend to experience less depression. b. Students with lower IQ scores tend to have lower grades. c. As hours studying for a test decrease, so do grades on that test. d. Students' shoe sizes are not related to their grades.

a. People who spend more time exercising tend to experience less depression.

Why is psychology considered a science? a. Psychological researchers rely on observation and experimentation when testing claims. b. Psychological researchers ask questions about behavior and mental processes. c. Psychological researchers speculate about how and why people act as they do. d. Psychological researchers utilize critical thinking.

a. Psychological researchers rely on observation and experimentation when testing claims.

Researchers are interested in finding out if voters are more likely to vote for candidates who have more pleasant facial expressions. The researchers contact every hundredth person on the voter list to ask about candidate facial expressions. Which method are the researchers using in choosing the people they will call? a. Random sample b. Biased sample c. Survey d. Population

a. Random sample

Which of the following is an ethical principle regarding experimental research on humans? a. Researchers must protect participants from needless harm and discomfort. b. Regardless of the research design, all participants sign an informed consent form. c. Personal information about individual participants can only be revealed in peer-reviewed journals. d. Participants should always be informed of the hypothesis of the study before they agree to participate.

a. Researchers must protect participants from needless harm and discomfort.

In a perfectly normal distribution of scores, which of the following statements is true? a. The mean, median, and mode are all the same number. b.The mode is equal to the standard deviation. c. The scores are positively correlated d. There is a positive skew to the distribution of data.

a. The mean, median, and mode are all the same number.

Which of the following statements best describes the graph below?( going straight up) a. This is a scatterplot of a perfect positive correlation. b. This is a scatterplot of a weak negative correlation. c. This is a histogram of a weak positive correlation. d. This is a histogram of a perfect positive correlation.

a. This is a scatterplot of a perfect positive correlation.

Researchers have discovered that individuals with lower income levels report having fewer hours of total sleep Therefore, a. income and sleep levels are positively correlated. b. income and sleep levels are negatively correlated. C.income and sleep levels are not correlated d. lower income levels cause individuals to have fewer hours of sleep.

a. income and sleep levels are positively correlated.

What is the median of the data? 33, 40, 12, 25, 80 a.33 b.68 C.38 d. 80

a.33

Why is random assignment of participants to groups an important aspect of a properly designed experiment? a.If the participants are randomly assigned, the researcher can assume that each group is similar to each other at the beginning of the study. b. By randomly assigning participants, the researcher knows that whatever is learned from the experiment will also be true for the population from which the participants were selected. c. If participants are not randomly assigned, it is impossible to replicate the experiment. d. Statistical analysis cannot be performed on an experiment if random assignment is not used.

a.If the participants are randomly assigned, the researcher can assume that each group is similar to each other at the beginning of the study,