PSYC 200 (LearningCurve 1d) Using the Scientific Method and Cautions and Challenges

The longer Shelley works, the less sleep she gets. For Shelley, there is _____ correlation between hours worked and hours slept.

a negative

In a study on the effects of noise on test performance, noise would be the _____ variable.

independent

In a study on the effects of nutrition on school performance, nutrition would likely be a(n) _____ variable.

independent

A researcher finds a moderate effect of heat stress on problem solving performance among a sample of elementary school children. Which of the following effect sizes did the researcher probably find?

.53

Which significance level indicates that chance alone would produce the results obtained in a study once in 100 times?

0.01

Juvenile homicides are nearly _____ times as likely at high schools as at elementary or middle schools.

20

_____ is a method of testing a hypothesis by unobtrusively watching and recording participants' behavior in a systematic and objective manner in a natural setting or in a laboratory.

Scientific observation

To protect the integrity of their studies, developmental researchers are required to follow:

a code of ethics.

A researcher hands out a series of questions to parents to determine their parenting style. Which type of research design is this?

a survey

Which research method's primary data source is information gained from interviews and questionnaires?

a survey

Research has found that a person's activity level affects body weight. Which is the dependent variable?

body weight

Which is an example of unethical research behavior?

changing the data to support the hypothesis

The textbook describes a study in which Chicago high school students were divided into a group offered a part-time job and a group offered no job. The group offered no job is called the _____ group.

comparison or control

The comparison group is also called the _____ group.

control

Of the following research designs, which one does NOT necessarily yield information about change over time?

correlational

A research team wishes to examine whether a county's potential investment in perinatal care programs is likely to yield savings in health care and public assistance costs over the coming decades. The research team is MOST likely to perform a:

cost-benefit analysis.

Mark is a graduate student who is studying identity formation. He interviews a group of 5-year-olds, a group of 10-year-olds, and a group of 15-year-olds and asks them what they plan to be when they finish school. In this example, Mark is using a _____ research design.

cross-sectional

To find out whether people's attitudes regarding an issue vary with their ages, Karen distributes the same survey to groups of people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. What kind of research is Karen conducting?

cross-sectional research

Dr. Queen has been adjusting light intensity in the presence of birds to see how it affects their perception of colors. Which type of variable is "perception of color?"

dependent

In a study on the effects of nutrition on school performance, test scores would likely be a(n):

dependent variable.

As compared with their likelihood at public schools, child homicides are _____ likely at private schools.

equally

Which of the following is one of the three basic research designs used by psychologists?

experiment

A developmental scientist is investigating impulsivity in adolescents. She wishes to determine whether impulsivity is part of a cluster of related traits. The scientist will probably conduct a:

factor analysis.

Dr. Snodgrass has been adjusting light intensity in the presence of birds to see how it affects their perception of colors. Which type of variable is light intensity?

independent

In a study on the effects of activity level on body weight, activity level would be the _____ variable.

independent

Scientific observation:

involves systematically and objectively recording behavior.

Dr. Lynn finds an effect size of .81 when she analyzes her experimental data. Dr. Lynn's effect is BEST described as:

large.

The proportion of child homicides occurring at school is _____ percent.

less than 1

In order to investigate the effects of a new technique for teaching math, Dr. Miller studies a group of first graders over the course of the next five years. What kind of research is Dr. Miller conducting?

longitudinal research

Dr. Irwin is testing the same people repeatedly over time as part of a research study, whereas Dr. Jenner is comparing the performance of different people of various ages at the same time. Dr. Irwin is using a _____ research design; Dr. Jenner is using a _____ design.

longitudinal; cross-sectional

Which of the following is NOT among the three basic research designs used by psychologists?

meta-analysis

As compared to their likelihood at high schools, juvenile homicides are _____ likely at elementary and middle schools.

much less

A researcher finds that the more students party, the lower their grades. This is an example of a:

negative correlation

Dr. Ling is studying altruism. He visits a local playground and records how often children help each other. Which type of research design is this?

observational

Before she begins an experiment, Dr. Yang is describing the potential risks to participants and is ensuring that their participation is voluntary. Dr. Yang is:

obtaining informed consent.

One reason it is difficult to get valid data from a survey is that:

people lie or change their minds.

Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalytic theory largely on the basis of open-ended, narrative analyses of individuals. Sigmund Freud did not perform significance tests or compute correlation coefficients. Sigmund Freud's research thus exemplifies _____ research.

qualitative

Lorena is collecting data on the frequency of auto collisions at a particular intersection. The data she is collecting are:

quantitative

Elsa wants to research preschoolers' eating habits. She is reviewing video footage taken during snack time and lunch hour at four preschools. Her method of study is:

scientific observation.

Which research method would be MOST appropriate for investigating the relationship between parents' religious beliefs and their attitudes toward middle-school sex education?

the survey

When there is no relationship between two variables, the correlation coefficient is:

zero.

Which coefficient expresses the STRONGEST correlation?

−0.5