Ch.2 Research Method Test

Independent Variable

the experimental factor that is manipulated the variable whose effect is being studied

Dependent variable

the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable

experimental research

used to find relationships btw 2 variables

Case Study

when a research studys on an individual or group in depth in hoping to reveal a unniversal principle

naturalistic observation

when a subject is observed and notes are taken w/o invading or manipulating the environment

Surveys

self-reported answers to questionnaires to receive people's opinions

Operational definintion

a statement of procedures used to define research describes in detail w/ precise procedures or measures

ethical guidelines

confirm coercion,privacy, informed consent, safty, and debreifing

Thinking that she had outperformed most of her classmates, Glenda was surprised to receive just an average grade on her psychology test. Glenda's experience best illustrates a. overconfidence b. the hindsight bias c. the placebo effect d. negative correlation e. illusory correlation

a. overconfidence

A researcher interested in investigating the attitudes or opinions of a large sample of ppl is most likely to use which research method? a. survey b. correlation c. experiment d. case study e. naturalistic observation

a. survey

In a group of 5 individuals, 2 report annual incomes of $10,000 and the other 3 report incomes of $14,000, $15,000, and $31,000, respectively. The mode of this group's distribution of annual incomes is a.$10,000 b.$15,000 c.$16,000 d.$31,000 e.$ 80,000

a.$10,000

Random assignment

assigning participants to experimental and control group by chance, thus minimizing preexisting difference btw those assigned to the different groups

Which of the following is the best definition of illusory correlation? a. a statistical relationship btw 2 variable b. a perceived but nonexistent correlation c. any independent varibale that does not truly cause a dependent variable d. a scatterplot indicating the likelihood that a variable will or will not change e. a predication about the relationship btw 2 variables

b. a perceived but nonexistent correlation

To determine whether the strength of ppl's self-esteem is related to their income levels, researchers would most likely make use of a. case studies b. correlational research c. experimentation d. naturalistic observation e. double-blind

b. correclational research

To minimize the extent to which outcome differences btw experimental and control conditions can be attributed to placebo effects, researchers make use of a. random sampling b. double-blind procedure c. random assignment d. operational definition e. replication

b. double-blind procedure

Which is most likely to inhibit critical thinking? a. operational definitions b. overconfidence c. random assignment d. naturalistic observation e. double-blind procedure

b. overconfidence

The complete set of cases from which samples may be drawn is called a(n) a. control condition b. population c. case study d. independent variable e. survey

b. population

The difference btw the highest and lowest scores in a distribution is the a. mean b. range c. median d. standard deviation e. correlation coeffiecient

b. range

The explanatory power of a scientific theory is most closely linked to its capacity to generate testable a. assumptions b. correlations c. predictions d. variables e. hypotheses

c. predictions

To understand the unusual behavior of an adult client, a clinical psychologist carefully investigates the client's current life situation and his physical, social-cultural, and educational history. Which research method has the psychologist used? a. the survey b. the case study c. experimentation d. naturalistic observation e. coorelation

b. the case study

Basing decisions or conclusions on observable evidence describes which? a. hindsight bias b. confirmation bias c. empirical approach d. overconfidence e. operational definition

c. empirical approach

Giving half the members of a group some purported psychological finding and the other half an opposite result is an easy way to demonstrate the impact of a. overconfidence b. illusory correlation c. hindsight-bias d. random sampling e. the double blind procedure

c. hindsight-bias

Political officials who have no doubt that their own economic and military predictions will come true most clearly demonstrate a. illusory correlation b. random sampling c. overconfidence d. the placebo effect e. operational definition

c. overconfidence

In a study of the effects of alcohol consumption, some participants drank a nonalcoholic beverage that actually smelled and tasted like alcohol. This nonalcoholic drink was a a. dependent variable b. replication c. placebo d. random sample e. double blind

c. placebo

Why is replication important to science? a. It allows you to obtain a representative sample of cases to study b. the natural setting eliminates the artificial environment of a lab c. repeated research w/ similar results increases confidence in the reliability of the original findings d. researchers can test the impact of belief on behavior e. Minimizing preexisting differences btw groups increases confidence in the findings

c. repeated research w/ similar results increases confidence in the reliability of the original findings

Replication involves a. the selection of random samples b. perceiving order in random events c. repeating an earlier research study d. rejecting ideas that cannot be scientifically tested e. overestimating the extent to which others share our view

c. repeating an earlier research study

Which is a measure of the degree of variation among a set of events? a. mean b. scatterplot c. standard deviation d. median e. correlation coefficient

c. standard deviation

The healing power of positive expectations is best illustrated by a. overconfidence b. illusory correlation c. the placebo effect d. hindsight bias e. replication

c. the placebo effect

In a test of the effects of sleep deprivation on problem-solving skills, research participants are allowed to sleep either 4 or 8 hours on each 3 consecutive nights. This research is an example of a. naturalistic observation b. survey research c. a case study d. an experiment e. a correlational study

d. an experiment

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. informed consent b. protection from harm c. confidentiality d. debriefing e. coercion

d. debriefing

In 1920, behaviorist John B. Watson conditioned an 8-moth-old infant, Albert. He was turned over to Dr. Watson w/o permission. This violates which ethical principle developed by American Psychological Association? a. coercion b. confidentiality c. debriefing d. informed consent e. protection from harm

d. informed consent

The arithmetic average of a distribution of scores is the a. mode b. median c. standard deviation d. mean e. range

d. mean

A specification of how a researcher measures a research variable is known as a(n) a. standard deviation b. control condition c. replication d. operational definition e. observation

d. operational definition

What technique do researchers use to reduce the impact of confounding variables? a. hindsight bias b. naturalistic observation c. scatterplots d. random assignment e. measures of central tendency

d. random assignment

Mr. and Mrs. Klostreich have 6 children aged 5,6,7,8, and 16. The mean age of Klostreich children is a. 5 b. 6 c. 6 1/2 d. 7 e. 8

e. 8

According to Professor Fayad, we like ppl who like us b/c their affection for us boosts our own self-esteem. His idea is an example of a. naturalistic observation b. illusory correlation c. hindsight bias d. replication e. a theory

e. a theory

In an experiment designed to study the effectiveness of a new drug, research participants who receive a placebo are participating in the ___condition a. dependent variable b. correlational c. experimental d. replication e. control

e. control

When you question whether anecdotal evidence can be generalized to all ppl, you are applying a. overconfidence b. the placebo effect c. the hindsight bias d. random assignment e. critical thinking

e. critical thinking

In an experiment, researchers manipulate one factor to see its effects on another factor, called the a. confounding variable b. operational definition c. control group d. placebo effect e. dependent variable

e. dependent variable

Hypotheses are best described as a. assumptions b. replications c. explanations d. confirmations e. predictions

e. predictions

Which procedure helps to ensure that the participants in a survey are representative of a larger population? a. random assignment b. replication c. correlation d. naturalistic observation e. random sampling

e. random sampling

The hindsight bias leads ppl to perceive research findings as a. invalid b. unpredictable c. inexplicable d. unreplicable e. unsurprising

e. unsurprising

A majority of respondents in a national survey agreed that "classroon prayer should not be allowed in public schools." Only 33% of respondents in a similar survey agreed that "classroom prayer in public schools should be banned." These divergent findings best illustrate the importance of a. operational definition b. the hindsight bias c. overconfidence d. random assignment e. wording effects

e. wording effects