Research Methods Unit 1

Salma conducts a study and finds that her data do not completely support her theory. Which of the following statements should she AVOID saying? a. "My data is inconsistent with my theory." b. "My data disproves my theory." c. "My theory needs amending." d. "I may need to collect more data."

"My data disproves my theory."

Destiny concluded that her new white noise machine helped her fall asleep last night. She based this conclusion on personal experience, which might have confounds. In this context, a confound means: a. Another thing might have also occurred last night to help Destiny fall asleep. b. Destiny's experience has left her puzzled or confused. c. Destiny has not compared last night to times she didn't use the white noise machine. d. Destiny will have trouble thinking of counter examples.

Another thing might have also occurred last night to help Destiny fall asleep

To be an empiricist, one should: a. Base one's conclusions on direct observations. b. Strive for parsimony. c. Be sure that one's research can be applied in a real-world setting. d. Discuss one's ideas in a public setting, such as on social media.

Base one's conclusions on direct observations.

Why is publication an important part of the empirical method? a. Because publication enables practitioners to read the research and use it in applied settings. b. Because publication contributes to making empirical observations independently verifiable. c. Because journalists can make the knowledge available to the general public. d. Because publication is the first step of the theory-data cycle.

Because publication contributes to making empirical observations independently verifiable.

Yasmine believes that attractive people make more money because among her four friends who work at a local restaurant, the most attractive of the four makes the most in tips. A controlled study by Judge, Hurst, and Simon (2009) found that attractive people make more money. Why should Yasmine be MORE convinced about the relationship between attractiveness and income by the Judge, Hurst, and Simon paper than by her personal experience? a. controlled studies have comparison groups b. controlled studies can avoid confounds c. both a & b d. neither a nor b

Both a & b

Which of the following research questions best illustrates an example of basic research? a. Has our company's new marketing campaign led to an increase in sales? b. How satisfied are our patients with the sensitivity of the nursing staff? c. Does wearing kinesio-tape reduce joint pain? d. Can 2-month-old human infants tell the difference between four objects and six objects?

Can 2-month-old human infants tell the difference between four objects and six objects?

Although Charlotte's thesis study is focused on the effects of exposure to subliminal messages, she collects also data from people NOT exposed to subliminal messages. It is very important for Charlotte to include this group. What is this group called? a. Study group b. Comparison group c. Research group d. Subliminal group

Comparison group

A psychiatrist is testing a drug that treats depression. He has given the drug to ALL his patients and all of them have experienced a decrease in depressive symptoms. Although this is interesting, his experience is limited because he does not have a: a. Reliable way to measure depressive symptoms b. Comparison group that did not receive the drug c. Hypothesis d. Psychotherapy to supplement the drug

Comparison group that did not receive the drug

All of the following are components of a good theory EXCEPT a. Falsifiable b. Parsimonious c. Supported by data d. Complicated

Complicated

________ is the approach of collecting data and using it to develop, support, and/or challenge a theory. a. Falsifiability c. Empiricism b. Theorizing d. Application

Empiricism

You and your friends go listen a guest speaker on campus, Dr. Darian, an "expert" on getting into graduate school. Which of the following should make you LESS skeptical about his advice? a. His recommendations are based on techniques that have worked for his students. b. His recommendations are based on the techniques that helped him get into graduate school. c. His recommendations are based on research he conducted for his dissertation. d. His recommendations are similar to what you knew before you came to the talk.

His recommendations are based on research he conducted for his dissertation.

Which of the following is true of the relationship between hypotheses and theories? a. Hypotheses are used to determine if a theory is accurate. b. Theories are used to determine if a hypothesis is accurate. c. Multiple theories are needed to test whether a hypothesis is accurate. d. Hypotheses and theories are synonymous terms.

Hypotheses are used to determine if a theory is accurate.

Which of the following is not a place where psychological scientists publish their research? a. Scientificjournals b. Online podcasts c. Chapters in edited books d. Full-length books

Online podcasts

James is asked about what is the best way to study for an exam. He responds that the best way to study is by making flash cards. He easily thinks of all the times he used flash cards and he made As. However, he fails to take into consideration all the times he made As and did not use flash cards and the times he used flash cards and did not do well. His faulty thinking is an example of: a. Cherry-picking evidence c. Present/present bias b. Availability heuristic d. Asking biased questions

Present/present bias

What does it mean to say that research is probabilistic? a. Researchers refer to the probability that their theories are correct. b. Research predicts all possible results. c. Research conclusions are meant to explain a certain proportion of possible cases, but may not explain all. d. If there are exceptions to a research result, it means the theory is probably incorrect.

Research conclusions are meant to explain a certain proportion of possible cases, but may not explain all.

Edward believes that there are a lot of differences between men and women on a variety of different dimensions. He believes this because when he thinks about books that have been written on men and women, he can recall ONLY books that say men and women are different (e.g., Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus) and cannot recall any that say men and women are the same. His reliance on what readily comes to mind is an example of which of the following? a. The availability heuristic c. Confirmatory hypothesis testing b. Cherry-picking of evidence d. Overconfidence

The availability heuristic

The following are examples of biases of intuition EXCEPT: a. being swayed by a good story b. the present/present bias c. the correspondence bias d. the availability heuristic

The correspondence bias

Susan's hypothesis was not completely supported by her data. What does this mean? a. Susan must have collected the data incorrectly. b. Susan must have analyzed the data incorrectly. c. The theory may need to be amended. d. The theory is completely wrong.

The theory may need to be amended.

A statement, or set of statements, that describes general principles about how variables relate to one another is a(n): a. prediction b. hypothesis c. empirical observation d. theory

Theory

Which of the following jobs most likely involves producer-of-research skills rather than consumer-of-research skills? a. Police officer b. University professor c. Physician d. Journalist

University professor

In reading an empirical journal article, what are the two questions you should be asking as you read? a. What is the argument?What is the evidence to support the argument? b. Why was this research done? Were there any significant findings? c. How reputable is (are) the author(s)? Did the findings include support for the hypotheses? d. How does this research relate to other research? What are ways to extend this research further?

What is the argument?What is the evidence to support the argument?

When is it a good idea to base conclusions on the advice of authorities? a. When authorities have an advanced degree, such as a Ph.D. or a master's degree. b. When authorities based their advice on research that systematically and objectively compares different conditions. c. It is never a good idea to base conclusions on the advice of authorities. d. When authorities have several years of experience in their specialty area.

When authorities based their advice on research that systematically and objectively compares different condition.

After two students from his school commit suicide, Marcelino concludes that the most likely cause of death in teenagers is suicide. In fact, suicide is not the most likely cause of death in teens. What happened? a.Marcelino was probably a victim of the bias blind spot. b. Marcelino was probably influenced by the availability heuristic; he was too influenced by cases that came easily to mind. c. Marcelino thought about too many examples of teens who died from other causes besides suicide. d. Marcelino did not consider possible confounds.

b. Marcelino was probably influenced by the availability heuristic; he was too influenced by cases that came easily to mind.

Three of the following are reasons why we never want to say that a single study disproves a theory. Which of the following in NOT one of those reasons? a. the single study does not allow a researcher to test a hypothesis b. although a single study today may not find support for a theory, a study done tomorrow may find support for that theory c. the single study may have been poorly conducted d. a disconfirming single study may mean that the theory may need to be amended or altered, rather than completely dismissed

the single study does not allow a researcher to test a hypothesis