Chapter 2 - Psychological Research

In an experiment, which variable is measured by the experimenter? a. Dependent b. Controlled c. Correlational d. Independent

a. Dependent

Research that is repeated, sometimes using other procedures, settings, and groups of participants to increase confidence in prior findings is called a. replicated research. b. random assignment. c. using confederates. d. experimental manipulation.

a. replicated research.

Why is random so important for determining cause and effect? a. It helps the researcher be more confident that the sample is representative of the population. b. It allows the researcher to be more confident that the outcomes are due to the independent variable, not other participant characteristics. c. It makes it easier to measure the dependent variable accurately. d. It ensures that the experimental and control groups will have the same number of participants.

b. It allows the researcher to be more confident that the outcomes are due to the independent variable, not other participant characteristics.

Researchers use both experimental and control groups in experiments to a. determine whether the results are statistically meaningful. b. rule out the possibility that something else caused the observed changes. c. make sure both groups can be correlated. d. ensure that the sample size is big enough to generalize.

b. rule out the possibility that something else caused the observed changes.

Which type of research involves manipulating one variable in order to see how it affects another variable? a. Naturalistic observation b. Survey c. Experiment d. Case study

c. Experiment

An in-depth, intensive investigation of an individual or small group of people.

case study

Experiments involve _____ one variable and observing the effect on another variable.

changing

A _____________is someone who participates in a study but also, unbeknown to the other participants, works for the experimenter.

confederate

In an experiment, the group that receives no treatment is the ______________ group.

control

The group in an experiment that receives no treatment is called the ______________group

control

Research in which the relationship between two sets of variables is examined to determine whether they are associated, or "correlated".

correlational research

Unlike experimental research, correlational research cannot a. involve large samples of participants. b. be analyzed statistically. c. explore people's inner thoughts and feelings. d. establish cause and effect.

d. establish cause and effect.

Which of the following sequences best reflects the order of events in an experiment? a. experiment → informed consent → debriefing b. debriefing → informed consent → experiment c. informed consent → debriefing → experiment d. informed consent → experiment → debriefing

d. informed consent → experiment → debriefing

The variable that is manipulated by an experimenter.

independent variable

After a participation in a study, participants receive an explanation of the study and the procedures that were involved.

Debriefing

Both the experimenter and the participant are "blind" to the nature of the substance being administered in a study .

Double-blind procedure

An experimental manipulation should be viewed by itself, in insolation. (true or false)

False

Correlation implies causation. (True or False)

False

There is only one acceptable method for conducting scientific research. (True or False)

False

True or false: Deception in psychological research is not acceptable.

False

True or false: Naturalistic observation utilizes existing data, such as written records.

False

A false treatment, such as a pill, "drug," or other substance, without any significant chemical properties or active ingredient.

placebo

A procedure in which participants are assigned to different experimental groups or "conditions" on the basis of chance and chance alone.

random assignment to condition

Research in which people chosen to represent a larger population are asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, or attitudes.

survey research

Behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change, or vary, in some way.

variables

A procedure that permits psychologists to combine the results of many separate studies into one overall conclusion.

Meta-analysis

____________________ __________________ about appropriate behavior can also affect results in an experiment.

Participant expectations

As the value of one variable increases, so will the value of the other variable.

Positive correlation

The process of systematically acquiring knowledge and understanding through the use of theories and testing hypotheses is called the _______________ ________________.

Scientific method

are broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest.

Theories

Researchers who work with nonhuman animals must follow which of the following guidelines? (select all that apply) They must undertake the research simultaneously on human subjects. They must make all efforts to minimize discomfort, illness, and pain. They must prove before any nonhuman animal research that the research will be beneficial to humans. They must promote the psychological well-being of some species of research animals.

They must make all efforts to minimize discomfort, illness, and pain. They must promote the psychological well-being of some species of research animals.

Which of the following are key elements of an experiment? (select all that apply) A correlation coefficient A hypothesis A dependent variable An independent variable Random assignment

A hypothesis A dependent variable An independent variable Random assignment

Deception is one means experimenters can use to try to eliminate participants' expectations. True or false?

True

True or false: All psychological research must be approved by an independent review panel.

True

Behaviors, events or other characteristics that can change or vary in a study are called ____________

Variables

What term is used to describe the translation of a hypothesis into specific, testable procedures that can be measured and observed in an experiment? a. Operational definition b. Operational variable c. Placebo effect d. Research definition

a. Operational definition

Random assignment reduces the odds that something other than the _____ is responsible for differences between the treatment and control groups. a. independent variable b. confounding variable c. subjective variable d. correlation

a. independent variable

Dr. Estevez prepares a set of questions to ask college students about their drinking behavior and their attitudes toward alcohol. Dr. Estevez is undertaking a(n) a. survey research. b. naturalistic observation. c. archival research. d. case study.

a. survey research.

The manipulation implemented by the experimenter is called a. the treatment. b. a confound. c. the procedure. d. the cause-and-effect group.

a. the treatment.

Before taking part in a psychology study, participants must sign a document that gives them informed ____________ and indicates they they aware of what their participation will entail.

consent

A group participating in an experiment that receives no treatment.

control group

Research that involves determining the association between two variables or two sets of variables is called ______________ research.

correlation

In an experiment, the ____________ variable is expected to change as a result of the experimental manipulation.

dependent

Psychologists Bibb Latané and John Darley, responding to the failure of bystanders to intervene when Kitty Genovese was murdered in New York, developed what they called a theory of ______________ ___ _________________. According to their theory, the greater the number of bystanders in an emergency situation, the smaller the share of the responsibility each person feels—and the less likely that any single person will come forward to help.

diffusion of responsibility

The investigation of the relationship between two (or more) variables by deliberately producing a change in one variable in a situation and observing the effects of that change on other aspects of the situation.

experiment

When a male experimenter interacts differently with female participants than he does with male participants, this is an example of ______ bias in the study.

experimental

An _______________________ ___________________ can produce the expected result when the researcher unintentionally transmits cues to participants in an experiment.

experimenter's expectations

______________are predictions that can be tested.

hypotheses

A prediction, stemming from a theory, stated in a way that allows it to be tested.

hypothesis

A psychologist designed an experiment to determine the effect of positive and negative emotion on health. In this experiment, emotion is a ____________ variable, and health is a _____________variable.

independent. dependent

In an experiment, the independent variable is ____, whereas the dependent variable is _____.

manipulated, measured

An experimenter is interested in studying the relationship between hunger and aggression. She decides that she will measure aggression by counting the number of times a participant will hit a punching bag. In this case, her ________________ definition of aggression is the number of times the participant hits the bag.

operational

The translation of a hypothesis into specific, testable procedures that can be measured and observed in an experiment.

operational definition

Random assignment is a procedure in which ____ are assigned to either the treatment or control group on the basis of chance.

participants

The control group in a study looking at the effects of a drug on behavior would probably be administered _____________ to make them think they were getting the drug.

placebo

Case studies might include ____________________ ______________, a procedure in which a carefully designed set of questions is used to gain some insight into the personality of the individual or group.

psychological testing

A procedure in which participants are assigned to different experimental groups on the basis of chance is called _____________ assignment.

random

You are surprised at the outcome of an experiment that comes out very differently than you had anticipated. You should probably _____ the study to see if you get the same result the second time.

replicate

A document signed by participants affirming that they have been told the basic outlines of the study and are aware of what their participation will involve.

informed consent

The change that an experimenter deliberately produces in an experiment is the experimental _________________.

manipulation

Which of the following sequences correctly arranges the steps in the scientific method from first to last? a. identify problem → carry out research → formulate explanation → communicate findings b. carry out research → formulate explanation → identify problem → communicate findings c. carry out research → identify problem → formulate explanation → communicate findings d. identify problem → formulate explanation → carry out research → communicate findings

d. identify problem → formulate explanation → carry out research → communicate findings

joshua, a behavioral psychologist, asks participants to sign a document before beginning his experiment. Joshua also tells them that their participation is completely voluntary and that they can leave the experiment at any time. Joshua is a. using deception. b. providing a detailed explanation of the study. c. analyzing his participants. d. obtaining informed consent.

d. obtaining informed consent.

Experimenter and participant expectations are two types of ______________ bias.

experimental

Factors that distort how the independent variable affects the dependent variable in an experiment.

experimental bias

Any group participating in an experiment that receives a treatment.

experimental group

_____ minimizes the risk of harm by telling research participants what to expect before they participate in research.

informed consent

The strength and direction of the relationship between the two variables, which can range from +1.0 to −1.0.

Correlation, or correlation coefficient

As the value of one variable increases, value of the other variable will decrease.

Negative correlation

In ______ research, a sample of people complete questionnaires about their thoughts, feelings, and/or behavior.

Survey

_____ research involves having people answer questions about their thoughts, feelings and/or behavior.

Survey

What type of research methodology utilizes census data or previous collections of data? a. Archival research b. Naturalist observation c. Correlational research d. Case study

a. Archival research

An experimenter flips a coin for each participant and assigns the participant to group A when "heads" came up and to group B when "tails" came up. This process is referred to as a. purposive sampling. b. random assignment to condition. c. random correlation. d. operational sampling.

b. random assignment to condition.

The manipulation implemented by the experimenter.

treatment

_______________ is systematic inquiry aimed at the discovery of new knowledge and is a central ingredient of the scientific method in psychology.

Research

Research in which existing data, such as census documents, college records, and newspaper clippings, are examined to test a hypothesis.

archival research

Which of the following describes the change that experimenters deliberately produce in one variable? a. Random assignment b. Correlation c. Experimental manipulation d. Naturalistic manipulation

c. Experimental manipulation

The first step in designing an experiment is to a. determine a cause-and-effect relationship. b. formulate an operational definition. c. develop one or more hypotheses to test. d. manipulate the variables.

c. develop one or more hypotheses to test.

The change that an experimenter deliberately produces in a situation.

experimental manipulation

In an experiment examining the effect of leptin on the hunger of rats, rats in the ______________ group are given leptin shots and rats in the _____________ group are given a shot of an inactive substance such as saline.

experimental, control

In an experiment, the ______________ variable is manipulated by the experimenter.

independent

An outcome of a research study in which the observed results are statistically meaningful.

significant outcome

Broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest.

theories

An explanation for a phenomenon of interest is known as a ___________.

theory

There are four key safeguards outlined by the American Psychological Association to protect human subjects. Which of the following is NOT one of the guidelines? a. Participants have a right to privacy regarding their behavior b. Participants must be financially compensated for their time c. Participants must be protected from physical and mental harm d. Participants must be informed about the nature of procedures before the experiment

b. Participants must be financially compensated for their time

If someone is using theories to develop hypotheses and then testing those hypotheses, that person is using the a. experimental method. b. scientific method. c. case study method. d. correlational method.

b. scientific method.

What is a placebo? a. A treatment that makes it easier to generalize findings to the larger population b. A safeguard for keeping research ethical c. A fake treatment that doesn't, in theory, actually do anything d. A way to reduce experimental bias

c. A fake treatment that doesn't, in theory, actually do anything

Susan is going to conduct archival research for a study. Which of the following would be a source of her information? a. Face-to-face interview b. Naturalistic observation c. Census data d. Focus group

c. Census data

Dr. O'Malley is informing participants before he begins the experiment that their participation is completely voluntary and that they can stop taking part at any time. Dr. Hensley is providing a detailed explanation of the study to participants who have just completed participating in the study. Which of the following statements is true? a. Dr. O'Malley is debriefing his participants. Dr. Hensley is obtaining informed consent from her participants. b. Dr. O'Malley is assuring his participants of confidentiality; and Dr. Hensley is communicating the results of the study to her participants. c. Dr. O'Malley is obtaining informed consent from his participants. Dr. Hensley is debriefing her participants. d. Dr. O'Malley and Dr. Hensley are both debriefing their participants.

c. Dr. O'Malley is obtaining informed consent from his participants. Dr. Hensley is debriefing her participants.

Which of the following is true of hypotheses? a. They are correlated with experiments. b. They are the basis of a theory. c. They can be tested. d. They are the same as theories.

c. They can be tested.

Mary decided to measure intelligence in a group of children. She chose to do this using a specific IQ test. She was choosing a. a confounding variable that would have to be explained in her conclusions. b. an experimental group. c. an operational definition for intelligence. d. an independent variable for her study.

c. an operational definition for intelligence.

The manipulation implemented by the experimenter is called a. the procedure. b. the cause-and-effect group. c. the treatment. d. a confound.

c. the treatment.

A _____________ study is an in-depth investigation of an individual or small group of people.

case

Which of these research methods allows the researcher to determine cause and effect? a. Survey research b. Correlational research c. Case study d. Experimental research

d. Experimental research

In an experiment, which of the following statements is true about the dependent variable? a. It is decided by the researcher based on chance alone. b. It is randomized across different experimental groups. c. It is under the experimenter's control and remains constant. d. It is measured by the researcher and is expected to change.

d. It is measured by the researcher and is expected to change.

What type of research methodology involves watching and documenting people's behavior, without changing the situation? a. Experimental research b. Archival research c. Case study d. Naturalistic observation

d. Naturalistic observation

Which of the following is the correct interpretation of the statement "Extraversion and attending parties are positively correlated"? a. Extraversion causes people to go to more parties. b. Going to parties causes people to be extraverted. c. Extraverted people tend to not go to parties. d. People who go to parties tend to be extraverted.

d. People who go to parties tend to be extraverted.

Identify a shortcoming of survey research. a. It is dependent on the availability of existing data. b. The results are not generalizable beyond the sample. c. It is often very expensive to conduct. d. The sample may not be representative of the larger population.

d. The sample may not be representative of the larger population.

Ethical research begins with the concept of informed consent. Before signing up to participate in an experiment, participants should be informed of: a. the procedure of the study, stated generally. b. the risks that may be involved. c. their right to withdraw at any time. d. all of these.

d. all of these.

The variable that is measured in an experiment. It is expected to change as a result of the experimenter's manipulation of the independent variable.

dependent variable

To test this explanation, a researcher must state it in terms of a testable question known as a _____.

hypothesis

A psychologist wants to study the effect of attractiveness on willingness to help a person with a math problem. Attractiveness would be the______________ variable, and the amount of helping would be the ___________ variable.

independent; dependent

Research in which an investigator simply observes some naturally occurring behavior and does not make a change in the situation.

naturalistic observation

Research that is repeated, sometimes using other procedures, settings, and groups of participants, to increase confidence in prior findings.

replicated research

A false treatment, such as a pill that has no significant chemical properties or active ingredient, is known as a________________

Placebo

A pharmaceutical company wishes to test the efficacy of a new antidepressant using a double-blind procedure. Which alternative correctly describes the procedure the company would use? a. The research assistants would not know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Also, each patient would not know which type of pill he or she was taking. b. The research assistants would know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Each patient, though, would not know which type of pill he or she was taking. c. The research assistants would know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Each patient would also know which type of pill he or she was taking. d. The research assistants would not know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Each patient, though, would know which type of pill he or she was taking.

a. The research assistants would not know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Also, each patient would not know which type of pill he or she was taking.

What is the purpose of using deception in psychological research? a. To protect participants from physical and mental harm b. To prevent participants from being influenced by what they think the purpose of the study is c. To reduce the resentment participants may feel because they are being watched carefully d. To embarrass participants and thereby draw more genuine responses

b. To prevent participants from being influenced by what they think the purpose of the study is

In psychological research, procedures that subject nonhuman animals to distress are a. never allowed regardless of the prospective value of the research. b. allowed only when an alternative procedure is unavailable and the research is justified by its prospective value. c. assumed, but the prospective value of the research must be proven. d. allowed in all nonhuman animals except primates.

b. allowed only when an alternative procedure is unavailable and the research is justified by its prospective value.

Dr. Langley unintentionally transmits his expectations to his participants in an experiment. Which of the following best describes what type of bias is occurring? a. Naturalistic bias b. Participant bias c. Experimental bias d. Correlational bias

c. Experimental bias

Which of the following guidelines is true regarding the use of nonhuman animals in experiments? a. Research with animals has failed to provide psychologists with valuable information. b. Researchers must house, feed, and care for the animals properly. c. Researchers must minimize discomfort, illness, and pain for the animals. d. Researchers must promote the animals' well-being, at least for some species.

c. Researchers must minimize discomfort, illness, and pain for the animals.

Researchers rule out the possibility that something other than the experimental manipulation produced the results observed in the experiment by a. making sure the research can be replicated. b. deciding whether there is a negative or positive correlation. c. employing experimental and control groups in an experiment. d. using independent and dependent variables.

c. employing experimental and control groups in an experiment.

The approach through which psychologists systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest.

scientific method