Psychology Midterm Practice Questions (Chapter 2)

A psychologist conducts structured interviews with infertile couples who have given up on in vitro fertilization. The interviews are conducted in the couples' homes. What type of study is this, and what is the method of data collection? a. field study; self-report method b. field study; observational method c. laboratory study; self-report method d. laboratory study; observational method

a. field study; self-report method

Researchers found a positive correlation between television violence and levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. According to this finding, people who watch more television violence tend to have _____ levels of cortisol than those who watch less. a. higher b. lower c. safer d. healthier

a. higher

In an experiment, the variable hypothesized to be the cause is called the _____, and the variable hypothesized to be affected is called the _____. Correct! a. independent variable; dependent variable b. dependent variable; independent variable c. experimental variable; independent variable d. constant; variable

a. independent variable; dependent variable

How is introspection an example of self-reporting? a. it is an observation of one's own behavior b. it was used by the founders of psychology c. it is an observation of someone else's behavior d. it is an observation of one's observable behavior

a. it is an observation of one's own behavior

The major advantage of a field study over a laboratory study is that the field study is: a. less likely to distort the participant's behavior. b. more likely to produce quantifiable data. c. more likely to produce unbiased data. d. less likely to present uniform conditions.

a. less likely to distort the participant's behavior.

The arithmetic average of a set of scores is the: a. mean. b. standard deviation. c. median. d.correlation coefficient.

a. mean.

If Karen wanted to use one number to represent the typical scene in her set of data, she should use: a. measures of central tendency. b. correlation coefficients. c. measures of variability. d. inferential statistics.

a. measures of central tendency.

As a technical term, bias refers to: a. nonrandom effects caused by extraneous factors. b. random variability in results. c. random procedures in data analysis. d. nonrandom attempts to falsify data.

a. nonrandom effects caused by extraneous factors.

A psychologist believes that males will have a more positive attitude towards violence than females. The psychologist tends to nod slightly at male interviewees when they express approval of specific violent behaviors, but not at female interviewees who do the same. The results of the study reflect a(n) _____ effect. a. observer-expectancy b. subject-expectancy c. double-blind d. criterion

a. observer-expectancy

A psychologist believes that males will have a more positive attitude towards violence than females. The psychologist tends to nod slightly at male interviewees when they express approval of specific violent behaviors, but not at female interviewees who do the same. The results of the study reflect a(n) _____ effect. a. observer-expectancy b. subject-expectancy c. double-blind d. criterion

a. observer-expectancy

Facilitated communication, in which autistic children were supposedly able to answer questions, express emotions, and describe events in their lives, provides a classic illustration of _____ effects. a. observer-expectancy b. subject-expectancy c. observer-blindness d. subject-blindness

a. observer-expectancy

An online poll is conducted to try and predict who will be elected in the upcoming presidential election. Considering that not everyone has access to the internet, the data collected for the poll is incomplete. What does this example illustrate? a. sample bias b. error c. random variation d. reliability

a. sample bias

A _____, which is commonly used to visualize results of a(n) _____ study, allows researchers to show each participant's scores on two variables as a single point on the graph. a. scatter plot; correlational b. scatter plot; observational c. standard deviation; correlational d. standard deviation; observational

a. scatter plot; correlational

If a research participant's answers to interview questions are affected by the preconceived notions of the interviewer, the answers are biased by: a. the observer-expectancy effect. b. the placebo effect. c. the double-blind effect. d. the criterion validity.

a. the observer-expectancy effect.

Which example is a demonstration of naturalistic observation? a. watching workers on an assembly line in a factory to see how they adjust to stressful situations b. varying the tempo of music played in a factory and observing the speed of workers on an assembly line c. determining the relationship between the speed of assembly workers and their measured level of positivity in the factory d. depriving assembly line workers of water for 6 hours and measuring their general level of activity during this period

a. watching workers on an assembly line in a factory to see how they adjust to stressful situations

Pfungst drew a testable hypothesis from his theory that: a. von Osten was lying. b. Hans was guided by visual cues from onlookers. c. Hans defied science. d. scientists could not prove how the horse learned the skills.

b. Hans was guided by visual cues from onlookers.

What is the best way to eliminate observer-expectancy effects? a. Keep the experimental participants blind. b. Keep the person who is testing the participants blind. c. Use a measurement technique that is highly reliable. d. Use a measurement technique that has high criterion validity.

b. Keep the person who is testing the participants blind.

A researcher is studying the effect of psychotherapy on students' level of anxiety. The researcher randomly assigns 60 participants to one of three treatment conditions: daily sessions, weekly sessions, or no sessions. Which method might the researcher use to measure the participants' anxiety level and why? a. The questionnaire method, because participants might be paid and are therefore more willing to provide detailed information. b. The questionnaire method, because it produces data about things that cannot be observed, such as thoughts and feelings. c. The observational method, because it is useful in studies of human and nonhuman behavior. d. The observational method, because researchers can analyze participants without bias.

b. The questionnaire method, because it produces data about things that cannot be observed, such as thoughts and feelings.

While waiting with other participants for a psychological experiment to begin, a rumor is started that the experiment is designed to assess racist attitudes. During the experiment, these participants avoid portraying any racist attitudes. If the rumor is true, the results obtained from this group of participants will be: a. invalid because the experiment conducted was not double-blind. b. biased because of the subject-expectancy effect. c. erroneous because the sample is no longer random. d. unreliable because the conditions of the experiment were kept constant.

b. biased because of the subject-expectancy effect.

A survey investigating public opinion regarding crime in the United States is carried out by telephone with calls made Monday-Friday between 1 P.M. and 5 P.M. This study is flawed, due to: a. subject-expectancy effects. b. biased sampling. c. observer-expectancy effects. d. poor reliability.

b. biased sampling.

Which statement is FALSE about correlational studies? a. no variables are manipulated b. cause and effect are determined c. several variables are measured d. they can identify relationships between variables

b. cause and effect are determined

As a technical term, error refers to: a. nonrandom effects caused by extraneous factors. b. increased randomness in results. c. the use of improper statistical procedures. d. bias from observer-expectancy and subject-expectancy effects.

b. increased randomness in results.

Which research study brings the subjects to a specially designed area that has been set up to facilitate the researcher's collection of data or control over environmental conditions? a. field study b. laboratory study c. observational study d. artificial study

b. laboratory study

In an experiment, the dependent variable is the one that the researcher: a. discovers. b. measures. c. holds constant d. systematically alters.

b. measures.

In an experiment, the dependent variable is the one that the researcher: a. discovers. b. measures. c. holds constant. d. systematically alters.

b. measures.

Central tendency is to variability as _____ is to _____. a. mean; median b. median; standard deviation c. standard deviation; correlation coefficient d. experiment; naturalistic observation

b. median; standard deviation

Which option is NOT a type of research design? a. correlational study b. self-report c. experiment d.descriptive study

b. self-report

Dr. Roehm has teachers at a local elementary school play different types of music on different days while their students draw. Students write a number from 1 to 10 on their drawings to indicate their level of enjoyment just before turning them in. The data-collection method used is _____. The _____ variable is the different types of music that teachers play in the classroom. a. naturalistic observation; dependent b. self-report; independent c. naturalistic observation; independent d. self-report; dependent

b. self-report; independent

Dr. Roehm has teachers at a local elementary school play different types of music on different days while their students draw. Students write a number from 1 to 10 on their drawings to indicate their level of enjoyment just before turning them in. The data-collection method used is _____. The _____ variable is the different types of music that teachers play in the classroom. a. naturalistic observation; dependent b. self-report; independent c. naturalistic observation; independent d. self-report; dependent

b. self-report; independent

Brennan notices that the subjects in his experiment modify or improve an aspect of their behavior because they know they are being studied. This phenomenon is called: a. naturalistic observation. b. the Hawthorne effect. c. introspection. d. habituation.

b. the Hawthorne effect.

A researcher has two groups of participants, one that has been taught a problem-solving technique and one that has not. Both groups are given a set of 10 problems to solve in 20 minutes. What is the dependent variable? a. the set of problems that participants are given b. the number of correct solutions given by the participants c. the problem-solving technique the participants have been taught d. the highest level of education the participant has attained

b. the number of correct solutions given by the participants

A procedure that measures (or predicts) what it is supposed to measure (or predict) is described as: a. unbiased. b. valid. c. reliable. d. biased.

b. valid.

Suppose that Dr. Sanders were to test her students' knowledge of psychology by administering the mathematics portion of the Scholastic Assessment Test. The most justified criticism of this procedure is that it lacks: a. reliability. b. validity. c. statistical significance. d. variability.

b. validity.

Dr. Reese conducts an experiment to examine the effects of different antidepressants on individuals with depression. She has each individual take drug A for 3 months, drug B for 3 months, and no antidepressant for 3 months. She measures the participants' feelings of sadness daily and calculates their average for each 3-month period. Dr. Reese's experiment is a _____ experiment. a. correlational b. within-subject c. naturalistic d. between-groups

b. within-subject

A shorter person usually weighs less than a taller person. Which correlation coefficient between height and weight might possibly describe this relationship? a. -1.05 b. -0.80 c. +0.80 d. +1.05

c. +0.80

Which coefficient would indicate the strongest correlation theoretically possible? a. -0.30 b. 0.00 c. -1.00 d. 3.00

c. -1.00

If results have a value of p that is less than _____, the results are considered statistically significant. a. 50 b. 5.0 c. 0.05 d. 0.5

c. 0.05

Which does NOT increase the likelihood that the observed difference between two means will be statistically significant? a. an increase in the difference between the two means b. an increase in the number of participants c. a larger standard deviation of each group d. a larger number of observations

c. a larger standard deviation of each group

A questionnaire used to measure childhood aggression asks the question "Does your child push others?" This is an example of: a. interobserver reliability. b. reliability. c. an operational definition. d. validity.

c. an operational definition.

A psychologist is testing the effectiveness of a program to help people stop smoking. One group uses a nonprescription drug and a comparable group receives a placebo. Participants are asked to record the number of cigarettes smoked daily for 3 months. The dependent variable is the: a. participant's approach to the program. b. 3-month period that the program lasts. c. average daily number of cigarettes smoked. d. initial degree of addiction.

c. average daily number of cigarettes smoked.

Kayla wants to run a study on a new pharmaceutical drug to alleviate depression. To do this, she has set up a double-blind study to avoid what type(s) of bias? a. subject-expectancy effects b. observer-expectancy effects c. both observer-expectancy effects and subject-expectancy effects d. neither observer-expectancy effects nor subject-expectancy effects

c. both observer-expectancy effects and subject-expectancy effects

Kayla wants to run a study on a new pharmaceutical drug to alleviate depression. To do this, she has set up a double-blind study to avoid what type(s) of bias? a. subject-expectancy effects b. observer-expectancy effects c. both observer-expectancy effects and subject-expectancy effects d. neither observer-expectancy effects nor subject-expectancy effects

c. both observer-expectancy effects and subject-expectancy effects

The psychologist Oskar Pfungst discovered the source of Clever Hans's intellectual abilities by: a. comparing the behavior of Clever Hans to that of other horses. b. calling in several experts in animal behavior. c. conducting experiments in which he controlled what the horse could and could not see. d. convincing the horse's owner to reveal the truth.

c. conducting experiments in which he controlled what the horse could and could not see.

Researcher Diana Baumrind classified families according to the parents' discipline style and measured behavioral characteristics of their children. She then looked for a relationship between the children's behavior and their parents' style of discipline. This type of research design is a(n): a. experiment. b. descriptive study. c. correlational study. d. self-report study.

c. correlational study.

Which statement BEST describes the role of data in laboratory studies? a. data are collected using the observational method rather than the self-report method b. data are analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics c. data are collected from participants in an area specifically designed to provide controlled conditions d. data are collected from participants who are exposed to one or more manipulated dependent variables

c. data are collected from participants in an area specifically designed to provide controlled conditions

A psychologist systematically observes and records the behavior of children on their first trip to a dentist's office. This psychologist is performing a(n): a. experiment. b. correlational study. c. descriptive study. d. self-report study.

c. descriptive study.

The MOST direct way to test a hypothesis about a cause-effect relationship is through a(n): a. correlational study. b. descriptive study. c. experiment. d. self-report.

c. experiment.

The MOST direct way to test a hypothesis about a cause-effect relationship is through a(n): a. correlational study. b. descriptive study. c. experiment. d. self-report.

c. experiment.

A scientific theory is a(n): a. objective statement, usually based on direct observation, that reasonable observers agree is true. b. concept in psychology that usually takes the form of particular behaviors in animals or humans. c. idea or a conceptual model designed to explain existing facts and make specific predictions. d. specific prediction based on facts that have already been determined.

c. idea or a conceptual model designed to explain existing facts and make specific predictions.

A psychologist interested in studying conflict between romantic partners brings 50 dating couples, one couple at a time, into a room on campus. This room is designed and equipped specifically to enable videotaping of the couples' interactions without distraction. This psychologist is conducting research in a ___________ setting. a. field b. naturalistic c. laboratory d. descriptive

c. laboratory

The horse named Clever Hans correctly answered the questions he was asked because he: a. was trained with flash cards and other mechanistic teaching devices. b. learned to respond to the secret signals he was deliberately taught. c. learned to respond to movements made unconsciously by his questioner and the audience. d. was an exceptional animal whose unusual intelligence could never be explained scientifically.

c. learned to respond to movements made unconsciously by his questioner and the audience.

According to most research psychologists, results are considered statistically significant if there is _____ than a 5 % chance that the results were due to chance and the research hypothesis was _____. a. more; right b. more; wrong c. less; right d. less; wrong

c. less; right

When scores are ranked from highest to lowest, the middle score is the: a. mean. b. standard deviation. c. median. d. correlation coefficient.

c. median.

Which statement BEST represents the concept of naturalistic observation? a. manipulating a variable in the environment and observing the participant's behaviors b. observing behaviors that come naturally to the participant c. observing a participant's behavior without interfering in any way d. manipulating relationships between two variables within a participant's natural environment

c. observing a participant's behavior without interfering in any way

The story of Clever Hans illustrates why scientists should: a. use inferential and descriptive statistics. b. use caution in generalizing from a sample to a larger population. c. practice skepticism to avoid observer-expectancy effects. d. use caution when interfering in a participant's natural environment.

c. practice skepticism to avoid observer-expectancy effects.

Claudia asks participants to rate two samples of apple juice. One sample is a store brand apple juice and the other sample is a brand name apple juice. If participants favored a particular brand and were notified of the samples' contents, the experiment would be influenced by _____ effects. a. observer-expectancy b. double-blind c. subject-expectancy d. placebo

c. subject-expectancy

A _____ is a model used to explain observations and make predictions, whereas a _____ is a prediction that can be tested to determine its accuracy. a. fact; theory b. theory; fact c. theory; hypothesis d.hypothesis; theory

c. theory; hypothesis

The standard deviation is a measure of: a. central tendency. b. correlation. c. variability. d. bias.

c. variability.

A horse named Clever Hans showed himself able to communicate correct answers to any questions he was asked. Who besides Hans's owner was convinced of the horse's intellectual abilities? a. animal breeders and veterinarians b. the general public but not the scientific community c. a few isolated scientists who were predisposed to believe in animal intelligence d. many scientists, including a number of eminent zoologists and psychologists

d. many scientists, including a number of eminent zoologists and psychologists

Psychology department faculty at a local college have developed a website that contains questions for graduating seniors regarding their impressions of the content and instruction they received in their classes. The faculty is using _____ as their method of data collection. a. naturalistic observation b. inferential statistics c. tests d. self-report

d. self-report

A basketball coach wants to summarize the amount of difference between each individual player's height and the team's average height. Which statistic would give this information? a. correlation coefficient b. median c. mean d. standard deviation

d. standard deviation

The greater the average difference between each score and the mean, the greater the: a. statistical significance. b. correlation. c. reliability. d. standard deviation.

d. standard deviation.

A correlation coefficient expresses the _____ of the relationship between two variables. a. strength and significance b. significance and direction c. direction and likelihood d. strength and direction

d. strength and direction

Which statement is LEAST likely to be a reason why cause and effect cannot be determined from a correlational study? a. the causal relationship goes in both directions, not just the perceived direction b. there are other unknown variables that caused the perceived correlation c. the causal relationship goes in the reverse of the perceived direction d. the relationship is the variable that caused the perceived correlation

d. the relationship is the variable that caused the perceived correlation

A test of mathematical ability is said to be _____ if it truly measures mathematical ability and _____ if it gives approximately the same results each time a person takes it. a. statistically significant; descriptive b. descriptive; statistically significant c. reliable; valid d. valid; reliable

d. valid; reliable

Jeremy has a hypothesis that college students are friendlier than business people. In order to test his hypothesis, he spends one day on campus and one day on the streets of the downtown area recording how many people speak to him as they pass by. How might observer-expectancy effects play a role in the way he is testing his hypothesis? a. Jeremy may smile more at the students on campus than the business people downtown. b. The students on campus may go out of their way to be friendly to Jeremy. c. The business people downtown may avoid Jeremy because he looks out of place. d. Students on campus may smile more because they are aware of Jeremy's hypothesis.

a. Jeremy may smile more at the students on campus than the business people downtown.

Why might researchers want to utilize laboratory settings for their research? a. They allow for the most control over variables. b. They create more distractions for the participant. c. They are preferred by most participants. d. They ensure that participants will act naturally.

a. They allow for the most control over variables.

The standard deviation is a measure of: a. central tendency. b. correlation. c. variability. d.bias.

a. central tendency.

Michelle has noticed a trend of children with autism having a larger head circumference and wants to run a study to demonstrate this trend. Which type of study should Michelle conduct? a. correlational study b. descriptive study c. field study d. laboratory study

a. correlational study

Michelle has noticed a trend of children with autism having a larger head circumference and wants to run a study to demonstrate this trend. Which type of study should Michelle conduct? a. correlational study b. descriptive study c. field study d. laboratory study

a. correlational study

A test that is based on common sense and seems to measure what it claims to measure has high: a. face validity. b. criterion validity. c. reliability. d. observer expectancy.

a. face validity.

Which variable illustrates the highest correlation coefficient? a. +0.5 b. +0.1 c. -0.3 d. -0.8

d. -0.8

Suppose Craig hypothesized a strong relationship between hours spent watching television and grade-point average; namely, as the amount of time spent watching television increases, GPA suffers seriously. Which correlation coefficient would BEST support his hypothesis? a. +0.20 b. -0.35 c. +0.90 d. -0.80

d. -0.80

Suppose Craig hypothesized a strong relationship between hours spent watching television and grade-point average; namely, as the amount of time spent watching television increases, GPA suffers seriously. Which correlation coefficient would BEST support his hypothesis? a. +0.20 b. -0.35 c. +0.90 d. -0.80

d. -0.80

Judy conducts a correlational study to investigate the relationship between teenagers listening to pop music and their likelihood to commit violence. She finds that the more hours teenagers listen to pop music, the more times they are arrested for violent behavior. What can Judy conclude from her data about the relationship between listening to pop music and violence? a. Having violent inclinations causes teenagers to listen to pop music. b. Listening to pop music causes teenagers to be violent. c. Being a teenager causes people to be violent and to listen to pop music. d. Listening to pop music does not necessarily cause teenagers to engage in violent behavior.

d. Listening to pop music does not necessarily cause teenagers to engage in violent behavior.

Which statement is a lesson to be learned from the case of Clever Hans? a. The intelligence of nonhuman animals is frequently underestimated. b. Skepticism can stand in the way of open-mindedness. c. When a variety of eminent scientists accept a claim, it is probably true. d. One should explore alternative explanations before believing a claim.

d. One should explore alternative explanations before believing a claim.

Lack of validity in a measurement procedure is a source of concern because it can lead to: a. error. b. placebo effects. c. variability. d. bias.

d. bias.

A measure has criterion validity if it: a. yields similar results each time it is used. b. measures or predicts what it is expected to. c. appears to be a good measure. d. correlates with what it is intended to measure.

d. correlates with what it is intended to measure.

A psychologist is studying mastectomy patients in local hospitals to learn whether a patient's age at the time of surgery is related to postsurgical emotional adjustment. The psychologist is carrying out a: a. between-groups experiment. b. within-subject experiment. c. descriptive study. d. correlational study.

d. correlational study.

A university counseling office is profiling the different types of problems that cause students to seek counseling and the percentage of cases in each category. This type of research design is a(n): a. experiment. b. correlational study. c. self-report study. d. descriptive study.

d. descriptive study.

José is interested in studying the effect of a child's environment on her behavior. He studies a child interacting by herself with a toy at home and then with another child at preschool. Jose is conducting research in a ___________ setting. a. descriptive b. self-report c. laboratory d. field

d. field

When a researcher is using inferential statistics to compare the scores of two different groups, the results will be MOST statistically significant if (1) the difference between the means is _____, (2) the number of individual subjects or observations within each group is _____, and (3) the variability within each group is _____. a. large; large; large b. small; large; large c. large; small; large d. large; large; small

d. large; large; small

A horse named Clever Hans showed himself able to communicate correct answers to any questions he was asked. Who besides Hans's owner was convinced of the horse's intellectual abilities? a. animal breeders and veterinarians b. the general public but not the scientific community c. a few isolated scientists who were predisposed to believe in animal intelligence d. many scientists, including a number of eminent zoologists and psychologists

d. many scientists, including a number of eminent zoologists and psychologists