Unit 2: Research Methods
Responding to a substance like a sugar pill as if it were a drug is called A) The Placebo Effect B) An Extraneous Factor C) Variability D) Psychosomatic illness
A
Students will be able to read a statement printed in the Comic Sans font faster than the same statement written in the Lucida Calligraphy font. This statement is a(n) A) Hypothesis B) Theory C) Replication D) Operational Definition E) Correlation
A
The arithmetic average of a distribution of scores is called what? A) Mean B) Mode C) Median D) Standard Deviation E) Range
A
The observation in a classroom that the higher the room temperature, the lower student performance would be an example of: A) Negative Correlation B) Zero Correlation C) Positive Correlation D) Independent Correlation E) Dependent Correlation
A
The problems of observers seeing only what they expect to see is called A) Observer Bias B) The Experimenter Effect C) The Effects of The Observer D) The Halo Effect
A
The story of Clever Hans, the mathematical horse, illustrates the use of controlled observation to test a series of A) Hypotheses B) Theories C) Axioms D) Learning Strategies
A
In order to determine the cause of behavior, the questions we ask must be A) Tentative B) Testable C) Based On Theory D) Novel
B
In my experiment, I am going to investigate how sleep affects anxiety. The number of hours of sleep the subjects have is called the __________ variable. A) Control B) Experiential C) Dependent D) Independent
D
In order to summarize or organize a series of observations in some meaningful way, psychologists may develop A) Hypotheses B) Experiments C) Surveys D) Theories
D
In terms of critical thinking and testing, results should A) Be Incredible B) Be Repeatable C) Be Subjective D) Be Meta-Analytical
D
In the hypothesis, "Students who study a list of terms while listening to classical music will recall more terms than students who study the list while listening to rap music", which of the following is the dependent variable? A) Rap Music B) List of Terms C) Type of Music D) Number of items recalled on the list E) Students
D
correlation
a measure of the extent to which two variables change together, and thus of how well either variable predicts the other. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 046)
statistical significance
a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 060)
random assignment
assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 051)
Let's say a psychology researcher is interested in testing whether a particular parenting technique would lead adolescents to feel more satisfied with their lives. What method should be used?
b. Experiment
A student is writing an article for her school newspaper the school's new cell-phone policy, and she'd like to include survey results from a random sample of students in her article. Which of the following constitutes a random sample?
b. The writer pulls the names of five students from a hat that contains all students' names. She interviews the five selected students.
Andrew Whiten and Richard Byrne
saw one young baboon pretending to gets its mother to drive the other baboon away from its food. Concluded, the more developed a primate species brain, the more likely it is animals display deceptive behaviors. Used naturalistic observation
Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky
saw that most people believe that the sequence HTTHTH, was the most likely sequence to happen, though each has the same chance to be landed it on
median
the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 057)
mode
the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 057)
histogram
a bar graph depicting a frequency distribution. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 057)
operational definition
a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 039)
standard deviation
a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 058)
"Monday morning quarterbacks" rarely act surprised about the outcomes of weekend football games. Their tendency to believe that they knew how the game would turn out is explained by
b. hindsight bias
Which of the following demonstrates the need for psychological science?
c. Intuition and common sense are not always correct
A case study is: A) A primary tool for investigation into a client's unconscious through dream analysis and free association B) A study done over an entire life span of one individual, giving the psychologist detailed information of one's psyche C) A study that exposes the subject to some event and measures coping skills D) An independent study used outside the natural environment of the subject E) A comparative study of various people of different ages at the same time
A
A common method for selecting representative samples is to select them A) Randomly from the larger population B) Strictly from volunteers C) By threatening or coercing institutionalized populations D) From confidential lists of mail order firms
A
A correlation coefficient is best characterized as a(n) A) Measure of the extent of the relationship between two variables B) Index of the causal direction between an independent and dependent variable C) Indication of the likelihood that an experimental finding will be replicated by others D) Measure of the likelihood that observed differences may be attributed to chance
A
A field experiment is one that A) Uses the "real world" as a laboratory B) Tests a field or "range" of independent variables C) Differs little from naturalistic observation D) Requires no measurement of dependent variables
A
A friend states that since he has been taking vitamin C, he has not had a single cold. His observation has little value in assessing the effects of vitamin C because A) There was no control group for comparison B) He has not calculated a correlation coefficient C) Of the effect of the observer on the observed D) He does not specify his dosage of vitamin C
A
A random sample can best be defined as: A) A sample in which each potential participant has an equal chance of being selected B) A sample that is carefully chosen so the characteristics of participants correspond to the larger population C) A selection of cases from a larger population D) A selection of cases from the control group E) A sample of a larger population from the experimental group
A
A representative sample is an essential element of the A) Survey Method B) Psychoanalytic Method C) Natural Experiment or Case Study D) Clinical Method
A
A teacher believes that one group of children is very bright and that a second is below average in ability. Actually, the groups are identical, but the first group progresses more rapidly than the second. This demonstrates A) The self-fulfilling prophecy B) The placebo effect in a natural experiment C) Observer bias in naturalistic observation D) The ethical problems of field experiments
A
A variable, such as the personality of a subject, that might affect the outcome of an experiment would be controlled by A) Random assignment of subjects. B) Assuming the effects of the variable are negligible. C) Manipulating the dependent variables simultaneously. D) Repeating the experiment several times until the results are consistent.
A
An advantage of the experimental method in psychology is A) The identification of a cause- and-effect relationship B) Similar to the correlational method in that causality is determined C) That the surroundings are always similar to real life experiences D) That it is an informal way to investigate behavior
A
An observation that the higher the air temperature, the lower the activity of test animals would be an example of a A) Negative Correlation B) Positive Correlation C) Causal Relationship D) Zero Correlation
A
Because she had a serious traffic accident on the night of a full moon of last month, Angela is convinced that all nights with a full moon will bring bad luck. Angela's belief best illustrates what phenomenon? A) Illusory Correlation B) Hindsight Bias C) The Illusion of Control D) Hawthorne Effect E) Placebo Effect
A
Hypotheses are best described as which of the following? A) Predictions B) Assumptions C) Theories D) Confirmations E) Explanations
A
In a distribution of test scores, which measure of central tendency would likely be the most affected by a couple of extremely high or low scores? A) Mean B) Mode C) Median D) Standard Deviation E) Range
A
In an experiment designed to study the effectiveness of a new drug, research participants who receive a placebo are participating in which condition? A) Control B) Experimental C) Confounding D) Operational E) Research
A
In the simplest experiment, the two groups of subjects are treated exactly alike except for the __________ variable. A) Independent B) Dependent C) Extraneous D) Control
A
Karthik and Sue are lab partners assigned to research who is friendlier, girls or boys. After conversing with their first 10 participants, they find that their friendliness ratings often differ. With which of the following should they be most concerned? A) Reliability B) Confounding Variables D) Validity C) Ethics E) Assignment
A
Ms. Costas owns a business with nine other employees. Ms. Costas's annual salary is $90,000. Her manager's salary is $60,000. Of her other employees, three earn $25,000 each and five earn $15,000 each. The range of this distribution is A) $75,000 B) $50,000 C) $25,000 D) $20,000 E) $15,000
A
Of the following, which can establish a cause and effect relationship? I. Controlled experiment II. Quasi-experiment III. Correlational research A) I only B) II only C) I and II only D) I and III only E) I, II, III
A
One of the characteristics of the scientific method is A) Repeatable Results B) Top-Secret Information C) Analysis Measurement D) Emotive Reasoning
A
Research on the benefit of aspirin to prevent heart attacks used only male subjects in the sample. Both men and women are given this advice. The problem with this recommendation reflects A) Gender Bias B) Courtesy Bias C) Cultural Bias D) Age Bias
A
To learn about the TV viewing habits of all the children attending Elm Elementary school, Professor Fries randomly selected and interviewed 50 of the school's students. In this instance, all the children attending the school are considered to be the A) Population B) Sample C) Independent Variable D) Dependent Variable E) Control Condition
A
To prevent ethical abuse in psychological research, the APA has suggested that A) Psychologists must treat all subjects with respect and concern for the subject's dignity. B) Psychologists must avoid deception with using human subjects C) All data collected from a person must be made public. D) All psychological harm to subjects must be corrected by counseling.
A
Which makes finding statistical significance more likely? A) The difference between the sample averages is large B) Small Sample Size C) Operational Definitions D) P > .05 E) A high correlation coefficient
A
Which of the following accurately describes a normal curve? A) The mean, the mode, and the median are all the same B) The standard deviation is located at the highest point of the curve C) The median is at the highest point, while the mode and the mean are one standard deviation away from the median D) It is positively skewed E) It is negatively skewed
A
Which of the following coefficients of correlation indicates the strongest relationship between two sets of variables? A) -0.98 B) 0.90 C) 0.00 D) 1.20
A
Which of the following coefficients of correlation indicates the weakest relationship between two sets of variables? A) 0.08 B) -0.29 C) 0.48 D) -1.00
A
Which of the following defines ethical principles that should guide human experimentation? A) Confidentiality, debriefing, protection from harm, and informed consent B) Control group, random sampling, random assignment, and experimental group C) Sample size, statistical significance, measures of central tendency, and variation D) Correlation, case study, naturalistic observation, and survey E) Ability to withdraw from study, volunteer participants only, no deception, and incentives for participation
A
Which of the following demonstrates a positive correlation? A) As study time decreases, students tend to achieve lower grades B) As levels of self-esteem decline, levels of anxiety increases C) Gas mileage increases as the weight of a vehicle decreases D) The ability to drive a car decreases as the amount of alcohol in one's body increases E) As levels of aerobic exercise increase, obesity rates decreases
A
With respect to astrology, palmistry, and phrenology, it can be said that A) All are pseudo-psychology's B) None is subject to the P. T. Barnum effect C) They rarely appear to "work" due to the fallacy of positive instances D) Astrology is the only system with a scientific basis
A
__________ is an ability to evaluate, compare, analyze, critique, and synthesize information. A) Critical Thinking B) Transductive Thinking C) Deductive Thinking D) Creative Thinking
A
__________ is an inherent part of the scientific method. A) Observation B) Common Sense C) Reinforcement D) Analysis
A
A common sense approach to psychology is A) The most reliable B) Often contradicted by empirical evidence C) The basis for most psychological theories D) The basis for collecting data (observed facts)
B
A major problem with the survey method is A) Identifying the group to be questioned B) Obtaining a representative sample of subjects to be questioned C) Obtaining enough information in a short amount of time D) That it cannot reveal very much about significant psychological events in the lives of the people tested
B
A psychologist observes the confrontation between two rival neighborhood gangs from the window of an abandoned building. This method of collecting observations is best described as A) Experimental Regression B) Naturalistic Observation C) Controlled Experimentation D) Clinical Case Study
B
A quasi-experiment cannot be considered a controlled experiment because A) Subjects cannot be randomly selected B) Subjects cannot be randomly assigned C) Experimenter bias is unavoidable D) Demand characteristics are unavoidable E) Too few subjects participate in the procedure
B
A researcher determines that the crime rate in a large city fluctuates with the phases of the moon. He concludes that the gravitational pull of the moon influences human behavior. He has committed what error? A) He incorrectly inferred correlation from causation B) He incorrectly inferred causation from correlation C) He failed to measure the gravitational pull to test his hypothesis D) He has overlooked the placebo effect
B
A set of exact procedures that represent particular variables is called a(n) A) Abstract Definition B) Operational Definition C) Case Study D) Defining Characteristic
B
A study to determine the degree of relationship between two events is called A) Naturalistic Observation B) The Correlational Method C) A Controlled Experiment D) The Survey Method
B
An educated guess about what is controlling some behavior is called A) Experimental Control B) A Hypothesis C) An Experimental Variable D) A Theory
B
An experiment is designed to discover if vitamin C increases memory. In this experiment, what is vitamin C? A) Control Variable B) Independent Variable C) Dependent Variable D) Operational Definition E) Confounding Variable
B
An experiment is performed to test the effects of sleep deprivation on rote memory. In this experiment, the dependent variable is the A) Number of hours subjects go without sleep B) Rote memory scores C) Number of subjects deprived of sleep in the experimental group D) Correlation between hours of sleep and fatigue
B
Characteristics of the scientific method include A) Anecdotal Definition B) Controlled Observation C) Analysis Formulation D) Adherence to inductive thinking or common sense reasoning
B
Collection of observable evidence, precise definition, and replication of results all form the basis for A) Scientific Observation. B) The Scientific Method. C) Defining A Scientific Problem D) Hypothesis Generation
B
I work at a university, and my research is designed to be of immediate use in the classroom. My research would be called A) Basic B) Applied C) Impractical D) Ethical
B
If psychologists discovered that wealthy people have lower life satisfaction than poor people, what would this would indicate about the relationship between wealth and life satisfaction? A) They are positively correlated B) They are negatively correlated C) They are both independent variables D) They are both dependent variables E) They are both causal factors
B
If you're trying to establish a causal relationship between a reinforcer and increased performance, you should use a(n) __________ method. A) Clinical Study B) Experimental C) Survey D) Correlational
B
In an experiment, Sydney is going to investigate how alcohol affects aggression. The number of alcoholic drinks the subject has is called: A) Controlled Variable B) Independent Variable C) Dependent Variable D) Experimental Variable E) Positive Variable
B
In preparation for the AP Psychology Exam, Sara and Ivan each studied for two hours. Sam studied for 9, Alice 12, and Marvin studied for 25 hours. What was the median number of hours studied by these individuals? A) 2 B) 9 C) 10 D) 12 E) 50
B
Jen collects survey data that indicates that students who spend more time preparing for the AP test tend to score better than other students. Jen can now conclude that A) Studying improves exam grades. B) A relationship exists between studying and exam grades. C) A significant correlation exists between studying and exam grades. D) Anyone who does not study will do poorly on the exam. E) Better students tend to study more.
B
Marc, a psychology major, collected survey data about the number of hours that college students study for finals and their grades on those finals. His data indicates that students who spend more time studying for finals tend to do better than other students. What can Marc now conclude? A) Studying improves a student's grade on a final exam. B) A relationship exists between studying and exam grades. C) A significant relationship exists between studying and grades. D) Students who do not study for final exams will not do well on those exams. E) Students with higher IQs tend to study more than those with lower IQs.
B
Ms. Costas owns a business with nine other employees. Ms. Costas's annual salary is $90,000. Her manager's salary is $60,000. Of her other employees, three earn $25,000 each and five earn $15,000 each. The frequency polygon for this distribution resembles a A) Normal Curve B) Positively Skewed Line Graph C) Negatively Skewed Line Graph D) Bar Graph E) Scatterplot
B
Of the following, the strongest positive correlation would most likely be shown between A) An adult's weight and running speed B) Close friendships and happiness C) Sense of humor and years of education D) Poverty and good health E) Visual acuity and salary
B
One of the limitations of the case study is that A) There are few subjects for which it is applicable B) There are no control groups C) It is not applicable to the study of bizarre behavior D) It requires a large and expensive sample size
B
One of the principal differences between the ethical guidelines for human and animal research is: A) Human subjects can be deceived for experimental purposes and animals cannot. B) Animal subjects can be placed at much greater physical risk than human subjects can. C) Human subjects must be chosen much more carefully than animal subjects. D) If humans might physically suffer because of the study, the suffering must be minimal, in contrast to animal studies where any amount of suffering is ethical if it helps to further a clear scientific purpose. E) Environmental conditions for human studies must be monitored much more closely than they are in an animal study.
B
Psychologists generally prefer the experimental method to other research methods because A) Experiments are more likely to support psychologists' hypotheses. B) Experiments can show cause-effect relationships. C) It is easier to obtain a random sample for an experiment. D) Double-blind designs are unnecessary in an experiment. E) Experiments are more likely to result in statistically significant findings.
B
Some psychologists consider Stanley Milgram's obedience studies to be unethical because of which ethical consideration? A) Improper Sampling Procedure B) Risk of Long-Term Harm C) Clear Scientific Purpose D) Debriefing E) Anonymity
B
Subjects are said to be assigned randomly when A) They are assigned to experimental and control groups from a sample which is representative of the larger population. B) They each have an equal chance of being assigned to either the experimental or control group. C) They are assigned to experimental and control groups so that the groups differ on some critical variable before the experiment begins. D) Neither the experimenter nor the subject knows whether the subject is in the experimental or control group.
B
The chief function of the control group in an experiment is that it A) Allows mathematical relationships to be established B) Provides a point of reference against which the behavior of the experimental group can be compared C) Balances the experiment to eliminate all extraneous variables D) Is not really necessary
B
The control group and the experimental group in an experiment are treated exactly the same except for the A) Dependent Variable B) Independent Variable C) Extraneous Variables D) Replication Variables
B
The effects of brain injury on personality would usually be investigated by the use of the A) Experimental Method B) Case Study Method C) Naturalistic Observation Method D) Survey Method
B
The following type of method can be used in order to create a real world laboratory. A) Correlational Coefficients B) Field Experiment C) Case Study D) Random Assignment
B
The most powerful research tool is a (an) A) Clinical Study B) Experiment C) Survey D) Correlational Study
B
The phrase "a theory must also be falsifiable" means A) Researchers misrepresent their data B) A theory must be defined so it can be disconfirmed C) Theories are a rich array of observations regarding behavior but with few facts to support them D) Nothing
B
Theories explain results, predict future outcomes, and A) Rely only on naturalistic observations B) Guide research for future studies C) Rely only on surveys D) Rely only on case studies
B
To assess clients' abilities, a phrenologist would want to A) Read their handwriting B) Examine their skulls C) Study their palms D) Record their EEGs
B
To investigate the effects of a particular study method on student performance, two different methods are tried, each with a different group of subjects. If only the experimenter knows which method is under investigation, the procedure being used is described as A) Double-Blind B) Single-Blind C) Self-Fulfilling Prophesy D) Representative Sampling
B
Two variables may be said to be causally related if A) They show a strong positive correlation B) All extraneous variables are controlled, and the independent variable creates consistent differences in behavior of the experimental group C) They are observed to co-vary on many separate occasions D) They have been observed in a laboratory setting
B
What is the median of the following distribution: 6, 2, 9, 4, 7, 3? A) 4 B) 5 C) 5.5 D) 6 E) 6.5
B
Which of the following is an example of random sampling? I. Picking out of a hat to assign each of three classes to an experimental condition. II. Having a computer generate a random list of 100 high school students. III. Approaching any 50 students during sixth-period lunch. A) I only B) II only C) III only D) I and II E) I, II, and III
B
A major disadvantage of the experimental method is that A) Private funding can never be obtained B) APA Ethical Review Committees often do not approve of the research techniques C) There is a certain amount of artificiality attached to it D) Subjects are difficult to find for research projects
C
A psychologist using the method of naturalistic observation would A) Carefully design controlled situations in which to observe behavior B) Rely on observations of subjects' responses to questionnaires C) Observe behavior as it happens outside the laboratory or clinic D) Make records of the behavior of clients treated in therapy
C
A psychologist watches the rapid eye movements of sleeping subjects and wakes them to find they report that they were dreaming. She concludes that dreams are linked to rapid eye movements. This conclusion is based on A) Pure Speculation B) Direct Observation. C) Deduction From Direct Observation. D) Prior Prediction.
C
A researcher who deceives participants about the goals of the research needs to fully inform them of the true nature of the study later, according to which ethical principle of human experimentation? A) Confidentiality B) Informed Consent C) Debriefing D) Protection From Harm E) Truthfulness
C
A scientific explanation that remains tentative until it has been adequately tested is called a(n) A) Theory B) Law C) Hypothesis D) Experiment
C
A scientist wants to find out if there is empirical evidence for a relationship between caffeine and aggressive behavior. She would A) Interview people to get their opinions B) Correlate newspaper accounts and the types of beverages consumed C) Test the idea by conducting an experiment D) Research what other experts had thought
C
An example of the "experimenter effect" would be a situation in which the experimenter A) Acts out the proper behavior for the subjects B) Deceives the subject as to the real purpose of the experiment C) Unknowingly hints to subjects what is expected of them D) Overtly tells the subjects how to respond
C
An experimenter conducts an experiment on the effects of a drug to control hallucinations. He declares the results to be "statistically significant," which usually means that A) Even though appropriate statistics were used, no differences could be detected between experimental and control groups. B) The results have important implications for theory or practice C) Differences between experimental and control groups of this size occur by chance only 5 times out of 100 (or less) D) Differences between experimental and control groups were so large they could never occur by chance alone
C
Dr. Young wants to see if drinking alcohol causes violent behavior. Dr. Young would be best advised to use which research method? A) Case Study B) Correlational Research C) Experiment D) Survey E) Naturalistic Observation
C
Following a correlation study that shows a specific gene is associated with violent individuals, but not non-violent ones, a news headline announced, "Murder Gene Triggers Violent Acts". Why is this headline misleading? A) It explains phenomenon in hindsight B) It sees illusory correlations as being real C) It is confusing correlation with causation D) It is trying to make order in a series of random events E) It is making sweeping generalizations from an unrepresentative sample
C
Giving placebos in drug experiments is necessary to A) Counteract the random assignment of subjects B) Counteract the side effects of the drug C) Control for the effects of suggestion and expectation D) Keep control subjects from knowing they have been given the drug
C
If a researcher is trying to establish a causal relationship between eating breakfast and work performance, the researcher should use which of the following methods of research? A) Case Study B) Correlational Research C) Experimental Research D) Survey E) Statistics
C
In a group of five individuals, two report annual incomes of $50,000, and the other three report incomes of $25,000, $35,000, and $40,000, respectively. What is the mode of the distribution of these five individuals' salaries? A) $25,000 B) $40,000 C) $50,000 D) $20,0000 E) 250,000
C
In the hypothesis, "Students who study a list of terms while listening to classical music will recall more terms than students who study the list while listening to rap music", which of the following is the independent variable? A) Memory B) List of Terms C) Type of Music D) Number of items recalled on the list E) Students
C
In the method of naturalistic observation, psychologists A) Haphazardly encounter behavior as it naturally occurs B) Set up controlled experiments by which they uncover causal elements in behavior C) Set out to actively observe subjects in their natural environments D) Interview subjects at different ages
C
In the traditional learning experiment, the effect of practice on performance is investigated. Performance is the __________ variable. A) Independent B) Extraneous C) Dependent D) Control
C
One of the limitations of the survey method is A) Observer Bias B) That it sets up an artificial situation C) That replies may not be accurate D) The self-fulfilling prophecy
C
Rasheed rolls six games at his bowling tournament. His scores are 150, 167, 178, 180, 190, 210, and 220. What is the range of his scores? A) 10 B) 20 C) 70 D) 179 E) 216
C
Sandy scores a perfect 100 on a test that everyone else fails. If we were to graph this distribution, it would be A) Symmetrical B) Normal C) Positively Skewed D) Negatively Skewed E) A Straight Line
C
Set A Set B 60 60 56 56 59 35 62 78 61 86 63 66 65 65 58 58 58 36 59 88 60 33 Which of the following is true about the two sets of data as seen above? A) Set A has a higher median score than Set B B) Set A has a higher standard deviation C) Set B has a higher standard deviation D) The range of Set A is higher than Set B E) Set B has a higher mean than Set A
C
Students who do better in high school tend to do better in college. This is an example of A) A Negative Correlation B) A Zero Correlation C) A Positive Correlation D) A Perfect Correlation
C
Students will be able to read a statement printed in the Comic Sans font faster than the same statement written in the Lucida Calligraphy font. The dependent variable in an experiment based on the statement would be A) The statement written in the Comic Sans font B) The statement written in the Lucida Calligraphy font C) The length of time it takes students to read the statements D) The students who read the statements written in the Comic Sans font E) The number of students who participate in the experiment
C
The Hawthorne effect is best defined as: A) Expectations by the experimenter that can influence the results of an experiment B) The change in the results of an experiment when it is "blind" versus "double blind" C) The idea that people will alter their behavior because of the researchers' attention and not because of actual treatment D) Specific, testable predictions derived from a theory E) The idea that subjects in an experiment will lie if the researcher tells them to
C
The conditions that a researcher wishes to prevent from affecting the experiment are called A) Constants B) Dependent Variables C) Extraneous Variables D) Independent Variables
C
The fortune teller who studies your palm carefully before announcing that "great fortune lies in your immediate future" is practicing __________ psychology. A) Applied B) Commonsense C) Pseudo- D) Forensic
C
The independent variable in an experiment is A) The subject himself B) A measure of the subject's behavior C) The variable that the experimenter chooses to manipulate D) Any unwanted variable that may adversely affect the subject's performance
C
The results of carefully controlled observations of Clever Hans and his ability to solve math problems showed A) He could do math B) He could add, but he could not subtract C) He was cued by the owner looking up or down D) None of these could be determined by observation
C
The statistical technique that combines results of a large number of studies is called A) Experimental Correlation B) Statistical Linear Analysist C) Meta-Analysis D) Hypothetical Analysis
C
The steps involved in the scientific method include? A) Axioms B) Common Sense C) Experimentation D) Hypothetical Theory Formulation
C
To be confident that a cause-and-effect relationship exists, it is necessary to A) Engage in naturalistic observation B) Develop a positive correlation C) Perform a controlled experiment D) Test for a negative correlation
C
To choose a representative sample for a survey on the attitudes of drug use among students attending Sunshine University, what would a researcher need to do? A) Advertise in the campus newsletter, soliciting volunteers who are concerned about campus drug use B) Make efforts to include in the sample every single student attending the university C) Use random sampling from a list of all registered students on the campus D) Make sure to use random assignment E) Make sure that there are many different people of differing racial groups and religions represented in the sample
C
To estimate the degree of the relationship between birth order and achievement motivation, a researcher would do a(n) __________ study. A) Naturalistic B) Inventory C) Correlational D) Experimental
C
To minimize the extent to which outcome differences between experimental and control conditions can be attributed to placebo effects, researchers make use of which safeguard? A) Random Assignment B) Random Sampling C) Double-Blind Procedure D) Operational Definitions E) Replication
C
Vincenzo conducts an experiment to see whether fear makes mice run through mazes faster. He first selected a sample of 60 mice and then divided them into a control group and an experimental group. Which cannot be a confounding variable? A) How fast the mice are at the start B) When the mice run the maze C) The population from which he selected his subjects D) How frightened the mice are before the experiment E) Where the mice run the maze
C
We wish to test the hypothesis that music improves learning. We compare test scores of students who study to music with those who study in silence. Which of the following is an extraneous variable in this experiment? A) The presence or absence of music B) The students' test scores C) The amount of time allowed for the studying D) Silence
C
When subjects in an experiment are chosen so that each has an equal chance of being in either the experimental group or the control group, we say that the subjects have been assigned A) Alternately B) Hypothetically C) Randomly D) Consecutively
C
When subjects in the experimental group put a puzzle piece in the wrong place, the experimenter unconsciously winced. The experimenter did not wince when subjects in the control group put a piece in the wrong place. One method to eliminate the wincing of the experimenter is by instituting A) The experimenter expectancy effect B) The single-blind procedure C) The double-blind procedure D) The placebo effect E) Counterbalancing
C
Which of the following best describes a double-blind experimental procedure? A) All subjects get the experimental procedure B) Half the subjects get the experimental procedure, half the placebo; which they receive is known only to the experimenter C) Half the subjects get the experimental procedure, half the placebo; which they receive is not known to subjects or experimenters D) All subjects get the control procedure
C
Which of the following coefficients of a correlation indicate the weakest relationship between two variables? A) 0.51 B) −0.28 C) 0.08 D) −1.00 E) 1.00
C
Which of the following could serve as an experimental hypothesis? A) Although 25% of U.S. drivers say that they use the seatbelts in their cars, only 14% really do B) A case history of multiple personality appeared to be caused by traumatic childhood experiences C) College women who are anxious tend to want to be together D) As the temperature increases, the number of hit batters in baseball increases
C
A correlation coefficient of -1.09 indicates a(n) A) Strong Positive Correlation B) Strong Negative Correlation C) Cause/Effect Relationship D) Error in Computation
D
A correlation coefficient of 0 means that there is A) A strong negative relationship between the two variables B) A strong positive relationship between the two variables C) A perfect positive relationship between the two variables D) No relationship between the two variables
D
A correlational study is one that determines A) The relationship between the independent and the dependent variable B) The effects of the observer on the observed C) Cause-Effect Relationships D) The relationship between two events.
D
A researcher wants to investigate the impact of aerobic exercise on life satisfaction. The researcher decides to define aerobic exercise as 90 minutes a week of light jogging and defines life satisfaction as the raw score on a self-reported survey. The researcher's decision to define these two variables highlights the importance of what? A) Independent and Dependent variables B) Random selection of participants C) Experimental and Control Conditions D) Operational Definitions E) Confounding Variables
D
A simple experiment has two groups of subjects called A) The dependent group and the independent group B) The extraneous group and the independent group C) The before group and the after group D) The control group and the experimental group
D
A survey is conducted to assess racial prejudice among its responders. Often, responders will report less prejudice than what would be expected based on other types of research. This finding can be best explained by which phenomenon? A) Experimental Bias B) Sampling Bias C) Placebo Effect D) Social Desirability Bias E) Bystander Effect
D
All of the following are reasons why psychologists use animals in research EXCEPT: A) Animals' lives are easier to control than the lives of humans B) It is much easier to see the effect of a manipulation in simple animals, like sea slugs or rats, than in humans C) Long-term effects are more immediately observed in animals than in humans D) There are no ethical guidelines that need to be adhered in the case of animal experimentation E) Researchers can treat animals in such ways that cannot be used to treat humans
D
All of the following can be determined by using descriptive statistics EXCEPT: A) Mean B) Measures of Variability C) Frequency Distributions D) Statistical Significance E) Central Tendencies in Data
D
An experiment is performed to see if background music improves learning. Two groups study the same material, one while listening to music and another without music. The independent variable is A) Learning B) The Size Of The Group C) The Material Studied D) Music
D
Basic ethical guidelines for psychological researchers include A) Ensuring that participation is involuntary. B) Harming the subjects when necessary. C) Minimizing confidentiality. D) Providing results and interpretations to participants.
D
Charlotte, a nursery school student, hypothesizes that boys have fights with the finger paints more than girls do. She tests her hypothesis by casually watching the finger-painting table for three days of nursery school. What method is she using? A) Field Experiment B) Informal Survey C) Case Study D) Naturalistic Observation E) Ethnography
D
If scores on a verbal test are normally distributed, with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 10, what percentage of scores will fall between 80 and 120? A) 34 B) 50 C) 68 D) 95 E) 99
D
If scores on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) are normally distributed, with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, what percentage of scores will fall between 85 and 115? A) 34 B) 45 C) 50 D) 68 E) 95
D
In a study of effects of alcohol on driving ability, the control group should be given A) A high dosage of alcohol B) One-half the dosage given the experimental group C) A driving test before and after drinking alcohol D) No alcohol at all.
D
In a weight-reduction experiment, an overweight individual was given what the researcher called a new type of diet pill that would help curb the desire to eat. In fact, the pill really contained powdered milk, but ever since the individual started taking the diet pill, he has reported that his desire to eat has decreased. This illustrates the A) Curvilinear Relationship B) Effect of Extraneous Variables C) Natural Experiment D) Placebo Effect
D
In an experiment to find out if taking ginseng increases IQ scores, the IQ scores would be A) The Independent Variable B) A Control Variable C) An Extraneous Variable D) The Dependent Variable
D
John wants to study the effects of alcohol on the behavior of college students. For his study, he spends 5 hours ever night for 2 weeks at a bar near a college watching how the patrons act before and after drinking alcoholic beverages. The research method John is employing is a A) Controlled Experiment B) Quasi-Experiment C) Test D) Naturalistic Observation E) Case Study
D
Jose hypothesizes that a new drug he has just invented will enhance mice's memories. He feeds the drug to the experimental group and gives the control group a placebo. He then times the mice as they learn to run through a maze. In order to know whether his hypothesis has been supported, Jose would need to use A) Scatter Plots B) Descriptive Statistics C) Histograms D) Inferential Statistics E) Means-End Analysis
D
Ms. Costas owns a business with nine other employees. Ms. Costas's annual salary is $90,000. Her manager's salary is $60,000. Of her other employees, three earn $25,000 each and five earn $15,000 each. For this distribution, the mean is A) Lower than both the median and the mode B) Lower than the median, but higher than the mode C) Lower than the mode, but higher than the median D) Higher than both the median and the mode E) The same as the median
D
Of the following, which research method would be most appropriate for investigating the relationship between political party membership and attitude toward the death penalty? A) Controlled Experiment B) Quasi-Experiment C) Test D) Survey E) Case Study
D
Organized sets of concepts that explain phenomena are A) Independent Variables B) Dependent Variables C) Hypotheses D) Theories E) Statistics
D
Professor Ma wants to design a project studying emotional response to date rape. He advertises for participants in the school newspaper, informs them about the nature of the study, gets their consent, conducts an interview, and debriefs them about the results when the experiment is over. If you were on the IRB, which ethical consideration would you most likely have the most concern about in Professor Ma's study? A) Coercion B) Deception C) Confounding Variables D) Anonymity E) Clear Scientific Purpose
D
The essence of the experimental method is A) Accurate calculation of correlation's B) Obtaining direct reports from subjects about their subjective experiences C) Careful measurement and record keeping D) Using control to identify cause-and-effect connections
D
The products of naturalistic observation are best described in terms of A) Explanation B) Theory C) Prediction D) Description
D
The study of unusual events is to __________ as information from a large number of people is to __________. A) Clinical Method; Naturalistic Observation B) Correlational Method; Survey Method C) Experimental Method; Naturalistic Observation D) Clinical Method; Survey Method
D
The survey method involves A) An in-depth study of the opinions and attitudes of a selected individual B) An overview of the attitudes and backgrounds of selected groups C) Direct observation and recording of a representative sample of behavior D) Careful questioning of a representative sample of people
D
Theoretically, random assignment should eliminate A) Sampling error. B) The need to use statistics. C) Concerns over validity. D) Many confounding variables. E) The need for a representative sample.
D
Three major ethical concerns of psychological researchers are deception, lasting harm to subjects, and A) Morality of the question under investigation B) Loss of future research possibilities C) Falsified results D) Invasion of privacy
D
To replicate an experiment means to A) Use control groups and experimental groups B) Use statistics to determine the effect of chance C) Control for the effects of extraneous variables D) Repeat the experiment using either identical or improved research methods
D
What does it mean when the results of a research are statistically significant? A) Results of the test are positively correlated with another factor B) Most scores are one standard deviation from the mean C) Results were likely due to chance D) The researcher accepts a 5 percent likelihood that the results occurred by chance E) The data formed a negative skewed distribution
D
Which of the following accurately describes the scores in a skewed distribution? A) Scores are concentrated at both sides of the mean B) Scores are evenly distributed around the mean C) Scores demonstrate a large standard deviation D) Scores are concentrated on one side of the distribution E) The mean, the mode, and the median are all the same
D
Which of the following is considered a disadvantage of naturalistic observation? A) It provides an overabundance of information B) It deals with behavior not tampered with by outside influences C) It limits biased observations through careful record keeping D) It does not identify the cause of observed behavior
D
Which of the following is considered by the text to be a pseudo-psychology? A) Cognitive Psychology B) Behaviorism C) Gestalt Psychology D) Astrology
D
Which of the following is the main disadvantage of the case study? A) Information obtained is very superficial and not detailed B) Information is rarely scientifically valid C) Such research tends to violate ethical guidelines D) Results may not be applicable to other people or cases E) It is difficult to conduct due to the large number of subjects used in such studies
D
Which of the following research methods does not permit researchers to draw conclusions regarding cause-and-effect relationships? A) Experimental Research B) Surveys C) Case Studies D) Correlational Research E) Naturalistic Observations
D
Why is replication important in scientific research? A) It helps to create a representative sample of cases to study B) The natural setting eliminates the artificial environment of a lab C) Researchers can test the impact of beliefs on behavior D) Repeated research with similar results increases confidence in the reliability of the original findings E) Replication minimizes preexisting between groups; therefore, it increases validity of such research
D
A researcher who publishes the results of a case study might be most worried about violating which ethical principle of human experimentation? A) Debriefing B) Informed Consent C) Protection From Harm D) Double-Blind E) Confidentiality
E
Dr. Bisell conducts an experiment to see whether hunger makes mice run faster through a maze. He randomly assigns 25 mice to a control group or an experimental group. Which cannot be a confounding variable? A) Where the experiment takes place B) How hungry the mice were before the experiment C) How fast the mice are before the race D) When the experiment takes place E) The population from which he selected the mice
E
Jordan runs an experiment testing the effects of sugar consumption on aggression levels in children. He randomly assigns 20 subjects either to a control group given sugar-free candy or to the experimental group that was given the same candy that did contain sugar. He then tests the subjects' response to several different puzzles, each with increasing difficulty. Jordan hypothesizes that sugar levels do play a role in aggression in children. In order to know whether his hypothesis has been supported, Jordan will need to use: A) Descriptive Statistics B) Means-to-end Statistics C) Experimental Research D) Scatter Plots E) Inferential Statistics
E
Of the following, which research method is most effective for studying unusually complex or rare phenomena? A) Controlled Experiment B) Quasi-Experiment C) Test D) Survey E) Case Study
E
Tamar scored 145 on an IQ test with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. What is her z score? A) −3 B) −1.5 C) +0.67 D) 1.5 E) +3
E
The hindsight bias refers to people's tendency to do which of the following? A) Dismiss the value of replication B) Overestimate the extent to which others share their opinions C) Assume that correlation proves causation D) Dismiss the possibility that the experimenter bias is a legitimate concern in research E) Exaggerate their ability to have foreseen the outcome of past event
E
To describe the behavior of chimpanzees in their native habitat, researchers are most likely to make use of which research method? A) Experiment B) Case Study C) Correlation D) Survey E) Naturalistic Observation
E
When subjects in the experimental group put a puzzle piece in the wrong place, the experimenter unconsciously winced. The experimenter did not wince when subjects in the control group put a piece in the wrong place. The wincing of the experimenter must be eliminated because it is A) Fraudulent B) A demand characteristic C) A placebo effect D) A confabulation E) A confounding variable
E
Which measure of variation is most affected by extreme scores? A) Mean B) Mode C) Median D) Small Sample Size E) Range
E
Which of the following hypotheses would be most difficult to test experimentally? A) People exposed to the color red will be more aggressive than those exposed to the color blue. B) Exercise improves mood. C) Exposure to violent television increases aggression. D) Studying leads to better grades. E) Divorce makes children more independent.
E
Which of the following is the best example of the use of a random sample? A) You ask your fellow students in your high school to be participants in a memory study B) You ask every student in your 4th period class to participate in a survey on drunk driving C) You ask people in a religious group to participate in a study on moral values D) You ask people shopping in an upscale store to complete a survey on shopping preferences E) You place all of the names of members of your school in a giant box and select 100 of them to particate in a survey on school uniforms
E
case study
a descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 040)
confounding variable
a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 052)
sampling bias
a flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 043)
scatterplot
a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation). (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 046)
James Randi
a magician who uses skepticism a lot, and has tested and "debunked" variety of psychic phenomena
skewed distribution
a representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 058)
experiment
a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant variables. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 051)
random sample
a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 043)
correlation coefficient
a statistical index of the relationship between two variables (from -1 to +1). (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 046)
normal curve (normal distribution)
a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (about 68 percent fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer and fewer near the extremes. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e pp. 059, 621)
survey
a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 042)
hypothesis
a testable prediction, often implied by a theory. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 038)
Which of the following is a positive correlation?
a. As study time decreases, students achieve lower grades
Which of the following represents naturalistic observation?
a. From a third floor window, researchers watch how elementary school children interact on a playground.
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 the people in each of the groups are pretty similar.
There is a negative correlation between TV watching and grades. What can we properly conclude from this discovery?
a. We cannot conclude anything on cause and effect
Researchers studying gender have found that
a. there are more similarities than differences between the genders.
population
all those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn. (Note: Except for national studies, this does not refer to a country's whole population.) (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 043)
informed consent
an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 068)
double-blind procedure
an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 051)
theory
an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 038)
A researcher wants to conduct an experiment to determine if eating a cookie before class each day improves students' grades. He uses two psychological classes for the experiment, providing daily cookies to one and nothing to the other. At the end of the semester, the researcher compares the final grades of the students in the two classes. What is the independent variable for this experiment?
b. the presence or absence of cookies
Which of the following is a potential problem with case studies?
c. They may be misleading because they don't fairly represent other cases
A scientist's willingness to admit that she is wrong is an example of
c. humility
Robert Lvine and Ara Norenzayan
compared the pace of life in 31 countries and concluded life is fast paced in Japan and Western Europe, and slower paced in economically less developed countries.
Robert Vallone and Philip Tetlock
created experiments that outlined that hindsight bias and overconfidence often lead us to overestimate our intuition.
What statistical technique would be appropriate for a researcher to use in trying to determine how consistent intelligence scores are over time?
d. Standard Deviation
When a distribution of scores is skewed, the best representation of central tendency is the
d. median
Which of the following is not an ethical principle regarding research on humans?
e. It is never acceptable for a researcher to deceive a participant during the research
Matthias Mehl and James Pennbaker
equipped 52 students with belt worn tape recorders. Concluded: 28 and 9 percent
placebo effect
experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 052)
Standard Deviation
from -1 to 1: 65 from -2 to 2:95 from -3 to 3: 99
Kenneth Clark and Mamie Phipps Clark
in 1947, with the issue of integration in schools, they testified as psychologists, and reported that if given the choice of white vs black dolls, african american children preferred the white doll
experimental group
in an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 051)
control group
in an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 051)
inferential statistics
numerical data that allow one to generalize—to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 060)
descriptive statistics
numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups. Includes measures of central tendency and measures of variation. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 057)
naturalistic observation
observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 040)
replication
repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 039)
mean
the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 057)
range
the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 058)
culture
the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e pp. 065, 776)
independent variable
the experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 052)
validity
the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to. (See also content validity and predictive validity.) (Myers Psychology for AP 2e pp. 053, 622)
dependent variable
the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 052)
illusory correlation
the perception of a relationship where none exists. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 050)
debriefing
the postexperimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 068)
hindsight bias
the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.) (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 031)
critical thinking
thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, assesses the source, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions. (Myers Psychology for AP 2e p. 035)
correlation and causation
● It is important to remember that just because two variables seem to be related, it does not mean that one causes the other