Psychology Chapter 2 Questions

What are the steps in the scientific method?

1) identify the problem 2) gather information 3) hypothesis 4) design and conduct experiments 5) data analysis and conclusions 6) restart the process

What does the word 'Hawthorne' refer to? A) a factory called Hawthorne Works Electric Company B) a researcher with the name Hawthorne C) an employee at the factory with the name Hawthorne D) none of the above

A) a factory called Hawthorne Works Electric Company

In a research survey, you have no particular opinion on the topic of discussion. Uncertain of how to respond, you tend to agree with most of the questions that the survey is asking. This is an example of: A) acquiescence B) social desirability bias C) extreme survey bias D) moderated survey bias

A) acquiescence

What type of random sampling first divides members of a population into different groups before selection? A) stratified random sampling B) simple random sampling C) group random sampling D) pseudo random sampling

A) stratified random sampling

Students attending a class are asked to listen to a lecture under three different levels of illumination while researcher record signs of attention. What is the independent variable in this statement? A) three different levels of illumination B) asked to listen C) attention D) researcher records

A) three different levels of illumination

In which part of the scientific method does a scientist propose a problem to solve? A) when asking a question B) during the observation C) during the experiment D) during the analysis

A) when asking a question

Which of the following questions would address the internal validity of an experiment? A) who can the results be generalized to? B) can changes in the DV be explained only by manipulation of the IV? C) is the sample representative of the population? D) can we reproduce the same findings with a different sample?

B) can changes in the DV be explained only by manipulation of the IV?

An investigator tests a hypothesis about personal space by measuring (unobtrusively) the distance between a speaker and a listener as they are observed conversing in pairs or in groups of three on a college campus. What is the dependent variable in this statement? A) pairs or groups of three B) distance between speaker and listener C) tests a hypothesis D) personal space

B) distance between speaker and listener

Which of the following numbers appears in the middle of a data set? A) mean B) median C) mode D) standard deviation

B) median

In what type of sampling do all members of a population have an equal chance of being selected? A) stratified random sampling B) simple random sampling C) group random sampling D) pseudo random sampling

B) simple random sampling

An employer completes a survey on how they agree or disagree with social equality in the work place. Not wanting his employer to think that he is sexist, the employee decides to answer "agree" to all questions. This is an example of: A) acquiescence B) social desirability bias C) extreme survey bias D) moderated survey bias

B) social desirability bias

Psychologists use statistical analysis to ______________. A) test whether there is a better hypothesis than the one they were using B) test whether the data from an experiment rejects or fails to reject their hypothesis C) make sure the data rejects all previous hypotheses D) make sure the data supports their hypothesis E) draw conclusions from the hypothesis used

B) test whether the data from an experiment rejects or fails to reject their hypothesis

What is not true of the following data set: {3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 10}? A) the mean is 6 B) the median is 7 C) the mode is 7

B) the median is 7

Which of the following is not a part of the scientific method? A) identify the problem B) theory C) hypothesis D) data analysis and conclusion

B) theory

What is one major purpose of correlational research? A) to study the changes in behavior after exposure to an intervention or treatment B) to identify relationships between two variables C) to make people aware of what has happened from past failures or accomplishments D) to track changes in people's behavior over time

B) to identify relationships between two variables

Extraneous variables are: A) additional variables that the researcher can collect to identify relationships researcher measures B) unwanted variables that can affect the measurements we are interested in C) the variable the researcher controls during the experiment D) things that can affect the experimenter's attempts to interpret findings

B) unwanted variables that can affect the measurements we are interested in

It has been determined that approximately 1.6 standard deviations away from the mean represent the most extreme ___% of a population on one side of the distribution: A) 1 B) 2 C) 5 D) 50

C) 5

Students attending a class are asked to listen to a lecture under three different levels of illumination while researcher record signs of attention. What is the dependent variable in this statement? A) three different levels of illumination B) asked to listen C) attention D) researcher records

C) attention

Using the scientific method, in what stage does a scientist 'test' their hypothesis? A) identify the problem B) hypothesis C) design and conduct experiments D) data analysis and conclusions

C) design and conduct experiments

How well the experimenter can generalize to the population of interest is called _________. A) reliability B) scientific method C) external validity D) internal validity E) the Hawthorne effect

C) external validity

A correlation coefficient equal to +1.00 between scores on a written driver's license test and performance on a practical driving test means that: A) written test performance causes better performance on a practical test B) higher practical test scores are associated with lower written performance C) written test performance predicts performance on a practical test D) there is no relationship between written and practical performance

C) written test performance predicts performance on a practical test

Damon Brown's work found that the change in the working environment was not the important factor. Rather, it was simply that they were being observed. Which step in the scientific method does this address? A) gathering information B) hypothesis C) conducting experiments D) data analysis

D) data analysis

A researcher is conducting an experiment to test if meditation helps improve focus and attention in class. During one of the meditation sessions, the fire alarm disrupts the amount of time some students have to meditate. In this example, the fire alarm is what type of variable? A) dependent variable B) independent variable C) disruptive variable D) extraneous variable E) confusing variable

D) extraneous variable

The goal of a descriptive study is to: A) establish causation between two or more variables B) perform research by experiments C) find the correlation between two or more variables D) gather data about a given subject

D) gather data about a given subject

All members that belong to a group is called a ______________? A) sample B) family C) subset D) population E) cluster

D) population

Based on your knowledge of correlations, which of the following correlation coefficient is the strongest? A) r = +0.78 B) r = +0.66 C) r = +0.01 D) r = -0.87 E) r = +1.25

D) r = -0.87

Which of the following is not a measure of central tendency? A) mean B) median C) mode D) standard deviation

D) standard deviation

Which of the following is an example of the Hawthorne effect? A) students failed to respond to a class survey they were sent because they didn't think it mattered B) a researcher failed to make note of a behavior because they thought it didn't matter C) a researcher only looked for instances that would affirm their research hypothesis D) students came to more classes when they knew attendance would be taken

D) students came to more classes when they knew attendance would be taken

Observation of behavior in real world settings is best described as ______________ observation

naturalistic

true or false: a case study can include more than one person

true

true or false: the location where the data are collected may create alternative explanations for any results that are obtained

true

Complete this sentence. Ideally, if a study concluded that eating ice cream caused violence, it would have to: A) assign participants to groups of high and low violence and compare their ice cream eating habits B) measure how ice cream consumption and rates of violence varies over a period of time C) show a correlation between ice cream consumption and violent behavior in participants D) randomly assign participants to groups eating more and less ice cream and compare rates of violence

C) show a correlation between ice cream consumption and violent behavior in participants

In the Hawthorne study, what was one change that was mentioned? A) the number of breaks given to employees B) how often a foreman would check in with his employees C) the amount of lighting in the work environment D) the number of hours employees had to work

C) the amount of lighting in the work environment

Experimental research is the only type of research that enables researchers to make conclusions about: A) group differences B) the change of variables over time C) relationships among variables D) cause and effect

D) cause and effect

Which measure represents the most frequently observed score in a data set? A) average B) mean C) median D) mode

D) mode

true or false: a major purpose of all surveys is to predict future performance

false

A study found a Correlation coefficient of .85 between spatial navigation skills and scores on a driving test. What would this suggest? A) as spatial navigation scores increase, so do scores on a driving test B) as spatial navigation scores increase, scores on a driving test decrease C) the correlation between spatial navigation and intelligence is insignificant D) spatial navigation and intelligence are not related

A) as spatial navigation scores increase, so do scores on a driving test

You perform an experiment and carefully ensure that only the independent variable caused changes to the dependent variable. In this case, our experiment has A) internal validity B) external validity C) integrity D) reproducibility

A) internal validity

What is a measure of central tendency? A) multiple values to describe how a group of data is clustered around a central value B) a way of summary some data with a series of numbers C) multiple values that describe the distribution of data D) a single point to describe the center of data

A) multiple values to describe how a group of data is clustered around a central value

An investigator tests a hypothesis about personal space by measuring (unobtrusively) the distance between a speaker and a listener as they are observed conversing in pairs or in groups of three on a college campus. What is the independent variable in this statement? A) pairs or groups of three B) distance between speaker and listener C) tests a hypothesis D) personal space

A) pairs or groups of three

Which of the following is the strongest possible correlation? A) r = -0.8 B) r = +0.5 C) r = +1.5 D) r = -1.3 E) r = -0.05

A) r = -0.8

Three commonly used measures of the spread of data are: A) range, variance, standard deviation B) average deviation, range, variance C) spread, variance, average deviation D) mode, spread, average deviation

A) range, variance, standard deviation

Experiments are different from other forms of research because: A) a variable must always be measured B) the independent variable must be manipulated C) it is the only instance that we can compare groups D) there are no confounds in experiments

B) the independent variable must be manipulated

Why are control groups important in experiments? A) to ensure that all the population is accurately represented B) to allow for comparison with the experimental group C) to disprove the hypothesis D) to test the effect of more than one treatment

B) to allow for comparison with the experimental group

The story of Henry Moliason is a good example of a case study because: A) researchers treated his memory impairment by researching many similar studies B) researchers manipulated the independent variables to determine the cause of his injury C) researchers studied him and gained valuable information about memory that could be used to formulate hypotheses and generate future research D) researchers determined that brain injuries do cause limited memory impairment

C) researchers studied him and gained valuable information about memory that could be used to formulate hypotheses and generate future research

To definitively support a hypothesis, researchers must demonstrate that the results have ______________. A) central tendancy B) standard deviation C) statistical significance D) mean. median, and mode

C) statistical significance

When is a case study the most useful? A) when studying behavior change B) when research requires a substantial sample to be worthwhile or effective C) when a participant has a rare condition D) when you are studying yourself

C) when a participant has a rare condition

If the number of "hours spent studying" is positively correlated with the "test score," what can conclude? A) spending more time studying will result in a higher test score B) the score on the test can be perfectly predicted from the hours spent studying C) if we plot these variables, they will create a straight line D) higher exam scores are associated with a greater number of hours spent studying

D) higher exam scores are associated with a greater number of hours spent studying

What is variance? A) the difference between the highest and lowest score B) the most commonly used measure of variability C) if added together, the total would equal zero D) the average sum of squared deviations

D) the average sum of squared deviations

Standard deviation measures are: A) the average of the data B) the total spread of data C) the size of the range of data D) the spread of data around the mean

D) the spread of data around the mean

What is the best definition of a hypothesis? A) a fact B) an explanation of an experiment C) the reason for an observation D) a conclusion about a problem E) the predicted outcome of an experiment

E) the predicted outcome of an experiment

true or false: the primary strength of survey research is the ability to determine cause-effect explanations

false

An experimental psychology course asks all student to administer a questionnaire about classroom technology use. The approach being used here is best described as a ______________ .

survey

true or false: the term "Hawthorne effect" refers to the effect the presence of an observer can have on the behavior on the subjects or a temporary change in behavior due to the novelty of the situation

true