Psych Chapter 2: Research Methods
One is most apt to encounter problems with the social desirability bias when using a. self-reports b. case studies c. naturalistic observations d. the experimental method
a. self-reports
Researchers find an inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and speed of response. Which of the following fictitious statistics could possibly represent that correlation? a. -4.57 b. -0.87 c. +0.91 d. +0.05
b. -0.87
What is the median of the following data? 1,3,4,4,5,6,9, a. 3 b. 4 c. 4.57 d. 6
b. 4
A summary of research literature in psychology can be obtained by looking in a. Psychological Review b. Psychological Abstracts c. Psychology Today d. the card catalog at your public library
b. Psychological Abstracts
With regard to the topic of deception in research with human subjects, which of the following is true? a. Researchers are careful to avoid deceiving subjects. b. Some topics could not be investigated unless deception was used. c. It has been empirically demonstrated that deception causes severe distress. d. All psychological research must involve some deception.
b. Some topics could not be investigated unless deception was used.
Which of the following statements is true? a. More than one-third of all psychological studies involve animals. b. The American Psychological Association has developed strict ethical guidelines for research involving animals. c. There have been few if any major advances in the treatment of mental or physical disorders in humans that are attributable to animal research. d. The majority of psychological studies using animals involve painful or harmful manipulations.
b. The American Psychological Association has developed strict ethical guidelines for research involving animals.
Your grade point average is an example of which measure of central tendency? a. median b. mean c. mode d. midpoint
b. mean
The scientific method's clarity and precision is to operational defmitions as its intolerance of error is to a. placebo effects b. replication c. hypotheses d. subjects
b. replication
The tendency to respond to questions in a manner unrelated to the content of a question is called a. cognitive confabulation b. response set c. counter confound d. counter placebo effect
b. response set
Zigfried Rosenblat, Jr. took part in a study on sexual deviance last year. He was somewhat dismayed when he read an article in a weekly journal discussing sexual deviance in which one patient was referred to as ZRJ Although the article claimed all names had been disguised to protect personal identities, Zigfried is convinced he is the individual described in the article. In this case, it is possible that the researchers who conducted the study violated the ethical principle of a. informed consent b. right to privacy c. full disclosure d. adequate debriefing
b. right ta privacy
Darla has sent out a survey in which she is asking people to provide information about their attitudes on a number of sensitive subjects. When the surveys are returned Darla needs to be aware that the responses may be distorted due to a. placebo effects b. self-report biases c. statistical artifacts d. meta-analytic controls
b. self-report biases
One of the disadvantages of the experimental method is a. the inability to generate cause-and-effect conclusions b. the artificial, contrived situations in which experiments are often conducted c. the length of time necessary to complete the study d. the fact that only one variable can be studied at a time
b. the artificial, contrived situations in which experiments are often conducted
A group of researchers wanted to determine whether children would behave more aggressively after watching violent television programming. Half the children in the study watched a violent television show; the other children watched the non violent television program. In this study the control is a. the children who behave the most aggressively at the end of the study b. the children who watch the non-violent program c. the children who watch the violent show d. the children who behave the least aggressively at the end of the study
b. the children who watch the non-violent program
Experimenter bias typically results in a. the effects of the bias disconfirming the experimenter's expectations b. the effects of the bias confirming the experimenter's expectations c. results that are not statistically significant d. the placebo effect
b. the effects of the bias confirming the experimenter's expectations
In a study designed to test the effects of a new drug developed to treat Alzheimer's disease half the patients were given the actual drug while the other half of the patients were given a placebo (sugar pill). In this study, the experimental group is a. the patients who show evidence of an improvement in their memory b. the group who received the actual drug c. the group who received the placebo d. the patients who Were not included in the study
b. the group who received the actual drug
Carla earned 78 points on her statistics exam. Ten of the students in her class earned higher scores than she did, and ten students earned lower scores than Carla. Based on this information, you can conclude that Carla's score of 78 points is a. the standardized score for her class b. the median for her class c. the mean for her class d. the mode for her class
b. the median for her class
Of the following, the correlation coefficient that indicates the weakest relationship between the two variables being measured is a. +0.95 b. -0.69 c. +0.01 d. -4.50
c. +0.01
Of the following correlation coefficients, the one that would allow the most accurate predictions of one variable based on the other variable would be a. 0.00 b. +1.24 c. +1.00 d. -0.49
c. +1.00
What is the mode of the following data? 2, 3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 7, 12 a. 3 b. 4 c. 5 d. 6
a. 3
Which of the following statements about correlations is false? a. A and B correlate +1.00; therefore, they are causally related. b. A and B correlate +1.00; if you know A you can predict B without error. c. A and B correlate -1.00; if you know A you can predict B without error. d. A correlation of +.90 gives better predictability than a correlation of +.60.
a. A and B correlate +1.00; therefore, they are causally related.
Scarlett is a graduate student who is observing children playing together after watching a film. She knows that some children saw a film that contained graphic scenes of violence and some children saw a non-violent film, but she doesn't know which film each child she is observing watched. In this case, Scarlett is recording data for a. a double-blind research study b. a study with two independent variables c. an unethical research study . d. a correlational study with confounded variables
a. a double-blind research study
9. Dr. Licciardi predicts that if people are observed while they perform a complex task they will make more errors. Dr. Licciardi's prediction is an example of a. a hypothesis b. an operational definition c. a theory d. inferential statistics
a. a hypothesis
To determine whether students would like more courses scheduled in the late afternoon and evening hours the Student Services department sends questionnaires to 50 students selected at random from the 5,000 who are registered at the campus. In this instance, the 5,000 students who are registered at the campus would be a. a population b. a representative sample c. a biased sample d. the independent variable
a. a population
A standardized measure used to obtain a sample ofa person's behavior is called a. a psychological test b. a case study c. an experiment d. a survey
a. a psychological test
A general strategy for collecting empirical data is called a. a research method b. a case study c. a descriptive statistic d. a hypothesis
a. a research method
Dr Kincaid was interested in the topic of autistic savants (individuals with limited abilities in many areas, but with an exceptional talent in one specific area). In initial part of the investigation D rKincaid carefully observed and complied detailed files on three individuals who were autistic savants. Dr Kincaid is studying a. case study research b. survey research c. correlational research d. experimental research
a. case study research
The mode in a group of scores describes the __ a. central tendency b. association with another group of scores c. halfway point d. variability
a. central tendency
Inferential statistics help us determine whether played a role in an experiment. a. chance b. a dependent variable c. a normal distribution d. genetics
a. chance
An operational definition a. describes the actions and procedures used to measure or control a variable b. separately defines each term used c. provides a logical basis for each term d. states relationships to other variables
a. describes the actions and procedures used to measure or control a variable
The two basic types of statistics are a. descriptive and inferential b. central tendency and variability c. sampling and correlative d. parametric and nonparametric
a. descriptive and inferential
Statistics that are used to summarize and organize data are called a. descriptive statistics b. numerical statistics c. inferential statistics d. computational statistics
a. descriptive statistics
Mackenzie took part in an experiment where she was told she would be required to sit alone in a darkened room for 30 minutes, after which she would be asked to complete a brief questionnaire about her future goals and plans. When she finished the questionnaire she was told the experiment was over. Mackenzie never really understood the purpose of the study, and she wasn't sure why she had to wait in the darkened room before filling out the short questionnaire. In this case, it would appear that the researchers who conducted the experiment a. did not use an adequate debriefing procedure b. failed to obtain informed consent c. violated Mackenzie's right to privacy d. did not provide adequate protection from harm
a. did not use an adequate debriefing procedure
The scientific approach assumes that a. events are governed by some lawful order b. each event is completely unique c. there are no general laws or principles that apply to human behavior d. the search for absolute truth is the ultimate goal
a. events are governed by some lawful order
The fact that many times researchers unintentionally influence the outcome of their studies implies the existence of a. experimenter bias b. a placebo effect c. sampling bias d. social desirability
a. experimenter bias
Deception is used in some research in order to a. help control for placebo effects. b. help aid in double-blind procedures. c. prevent socially desirable responding. d. encourage socially desirable responding.
a. help control for placebo effects.
By definition, a population a. is the group of people to whom the conclusion of the study will apply b. is a subset ofthe sample c. consists of those individuals who actually participate in the study d. is any group that contains more than 100 people or animals
a. is the group of people to whom the conclusion of the study will apply
The main advantage associated with the experimental method is a. its precise control b. its ability to duplicate real life in the laboratory c. that it can be used to explore just about everything d. participants usually enjoy taking part in the study
a. its precise control
When variability in a data set is large, the standard deviation will be ; when variability is small, the standard deviation will be _ a. large; small b. large; large c. small; large d. small; small
a. large; small
Sampling bias is a problem because it a. limits the generality of the findings b. makes it impossible to use inferential statistics c. makes it difficult to avoid a confounding of variables d. makes the effect of the independent variable appear to be bigger than it really is
a. limits the generality of the findings
A group of researchers wanted to investigate allegations of sexual harassment on a company's assembly line. To make their observations, the researchers took jobs working on the assembly line and pretended to be new employees. In this example, the researchers were using a. naturalistic observation b. correlational research c. survey research d. the case study method of research
a. naturalistic observation
As the number of bystanders increases, people are less likely to help someone who is in distress. This suggests that the size of a crowd and helping behavior are a. negatively correlated b. uncorrelated c. positively correlated d. dependent variables
a. negatively correlated
The major advantage of the experimental method over the correlational approach is that the experimental method a. permits one to make causal conclusions b. allows for prediction c. is generally less artificial than correlational procedures d. permits the study of people in groups
a. permits one to make causal conclusions
Imagine that the personality traits of openness and extroversion are positively correlated. If Andrea's score in openness is extremely low a. she would most likely score at the low end of the extroversion scale b. it is impossible to predict how she is likely to score on the extroversion scale without more information c. she would most likely score at the high end of the extroversion scale d. she would probably score close to the median on the extroversion scale
a. she would most likely score at the low end of the extroversion scale
Suppose a researcher discovered a +.87 correlation between the length of a person's toes and the number of shoes the person owns. In general, people who own the fewest number of shoes would have a. small toes b. large toes c. medium-sized toes d. either very large or very small toes
a. small toes
In descriptive/correlational research, the investigator a. systematically observes two variables to see whether there is an association between them b. manipulates a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observes whether there are changes in a second variable as a result c. exposes subjects to two closely related treatment conditions d. simultaneously manipulates two or more independent variables
a. systematically observes two variables to see whether there is an association between them
In the featured study on the use of subliminal self help tapes, one of the independent variables was In the Featured Study on the use of subliminal self-help tapes, one of the independent variables was a. the actual purpose of the tape (memory or self-esteem) b. the group that the subject was assigned to (experimental or control) c. the actual improvement in memory or self-esteem d. the subject's beliefs about their personal improvement
a. the actual purpose of the tape (memory or self-esteem)
A researcher found that clients who are randomly assigned to same sex groups participated more in group therapy sessions than clients who were randomly assigned to coed groups. In this experiment, the dependent variable was a. the amount of participation in the group therapy sessions b. whether or not the group was coed c. the clients' attitudes toward group therapy d. how much the clients' mental health improved
a. the amount of participation in the group therapy sessions
A group of researchers wants to determine if people are more likely to follow directions if they person giving the directions is in a uniform. Half the participants are directed to a parking spot by a uniformed security guard, the other half are directed to a parking spot by an individual wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt. In this study dependent variable would be a. the number of participants who park in the spot they are directed to b. the type of clothing worn by the person giving the directions c. the gender of the person driving into the parking lot d. the distance between the parking spot and the entrance
a. the number of participants who park in the spot they are directed to
In the featured study on the use of subliminal self help tapes, the researchers found a. the observed changes matched the content of the tapes, not the labels on the tapes b. the observed changes matched the labels on the tapes, not the content of the tapes c. none of the participants increased either their memory or their self-esteem d. . all the participants increased both their memory and their self-esteem
a. the observed changes matched the content of the tapes, not the labels on the tapes
The median is a. the score that falls exactly in the center of a distribution b. the arithmetic average of the scores in a distribution c. the score that occurs most frequently in a distribution d. the difference between the largest and the smallest scores in a distribution
a. the score that falls exactly in the center of a distribution
Georgeanne calculated descriptive statistics for the age of residents in a nursing home. She reported the mean age as 75 years, with a standard deviation of 10 years. Later she found that she had made an error in her calculations. One resident's age was entered as 27 when it should have been 72. When this correction is made a. the standard deviation for the data set will decrease b. the standard deviation for the data set will not change c. the standard deviation for the data set will increase d. the correlation coefficient for the data set will become negative
a. the standard deviation for the data set will decrease
Dr Kalmagura plans on introducing a new exam review procedure in his chemistry classes. To check the effectiveness of the new procedure he is going to have half his students try the new technique for one semester, while the remaining students review in the way they have always done in the past. He asks each student to decide which of the techniques they would like us to use, the new technique or the standard technique. In this example, Dr Kalmagura's procedure illustrates a. the use of non-random assignment b. a correlational research design c. a double-blind research design d. what is meant by informed consent in research
a. the use of non-random assignment
As interest rates increase, house sales decline, indicating a. a direct correlation between the two variables b. a negative correlation between the two variables c. a positive correlation between the two variables d. no correlation between the two variables
b. a negative correlation between the two variables
When subjects are administered a series of written questions designed to assess their attitudes, opinions, or behavior, this is called a. direct observation b. a questionnaire . c. an interview d. a psychological test
b. a questionnaire .
A theory is a. a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables b. a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations c. a statement of research results that have been proven to be correct d. a preliminary proposal that has yet to be tested
b. a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations
A hypothesis is a. a random guess as to what might happen in an experiment b. a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables c. a conclusion drawn from an experiment d. a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations
b. a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables
Dr. Marqueta believes that "misery loves company." Based on this belief, Dr. Marqueta predicts that people who have received bad news will seek out other people. Dr. Marqueta's belief is an example of . and her prediction is an example of _ a. a hypothesis; a theory b. a theory; a hypothesis c. a variable; an application d. a hypothesis; a variable
b. a theory; a hypothesis
Jackson is working with a company to help them develop more effective training programs for their employees. He has spent a great deal of time reviewing all the documentation the company has about previous training opportunities they have provided for their employees. Up to this point in time, Jackson has been engaged in a. psychological testing b. archival research c. direct observation d. meta-analysis
b. archival research
The statistic that indexes the degree to which we may predict the value of one variable from a second variable is the a. mean b. correlation coefficient c. standard deviation d. mode
b. correlation coefficient
An experimenter tests the hypothesis that physical exercise helps people's mood (makes them happier). Subjects in the experimental group participate on Monday and Tuesday and those in the control group on Wednesday and Thursday. What is an extraneous (confounding) variable? a. the hypothesis b. day of the week c. the exercise d. the mood (degree of happiness)
b. day of the week
Derrick designed an experiment in which participants listened to a persuasive speech delivered either by a person who was very tall or a person who was average in height. In addition, the speeches were delivered either by individuals wearing business clothes or by people wearing casual clothes. In this example, Derrick ____ a. has two dependent variables, and will be able to determine if persuasion interacts with any other factors b. has two independent variables, and will be able to determine if height and style of clothing interact c. does not have a control group, which should reduce the impact of self-reporting bias in his study d. is using a double-blind procedure, which should reduce experimenter bias
b. has two independent variables, and will be able to determine if height and style of clothing interact
Imagine that the personality traits of conscientiousness and extroversion are negatively correlated. If Wilfred's score in conscientiousness is extremely low a. he would probably score close to the median on the extroversion scale b. he would most likely score at the high end of the extroversion scale c. he would most likely score at the low end of the extroversion scale d. it is impossible to predict how he is likely to score on the extroversion scale without more information
b. he would most likely score at the high end of the extroversion scale
If we view an experiment as an attempt to establish a cause-effect relationship, the ___ variable would be the cause, and the ___ variable would be the effect a. dependent; independent b. independent; dependent c. control; experimental d. independent; confounded
b. independent; dependent
Statistics that are used to interpret data and draw conclusions are called a. descriptive statistics b. inferential statistics c. numerical statistics d. significant statistics
b. inferential statistics
By definition, a sample a. is that group of people to whom the conclusion of the study will apply b. is a subset of the population who actually participate in a research study c. contains less than 50 people or animals d. must only include volunteers who express an interest in the study
b. is a subset of the population who actually participate in a research study
The purpose of the control group is to a. make the experiment more complex b. isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable c. make statistical significance more likely d. isolate the effect of the dependent variable on the independent variable
b. isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable
Carmella is in a class where the scores on the second midterm exam ranged from 75 to 85 points. Conrad is taking the same course, but in his section the scores ranged from 50 to 98 points. In this example the standard deviation in Carmella's class should be a. negatively correlated with the standard deviation in Conrad's class b. lower than the standard deviation in Conrad's class c. higher than the standard deviation in Conrad's class d. the same as the standard deviation in Conrad's class
b. lower than the standard deviation in Conrad's class
Dr. Limmex is trying to win FDA approval for a new drug to treat anxiety. Dr. Limmex claims that 14%of the people who took this new drug reported reduced anxiety, however other researchers claim that 14%of patients who receive no treatment also report reductions in their anxiety levels. It appears that the patients who improved after taking Dr. Limmex's drug a. had a self-report bias b. may have been experiencing placebo effects c. were a non-representative sample d. should have been placed in the control group, rather than the experimental group
b. may have been experiencing placebo effects
Placebos are used in research to control for a. nontreatment effects b. the subjects' expectations about treatment c. secondary drug effects d. random fluctuations in the independent variable
b. the subjects' expectations about treatment
An independent variable in an experiment refers to a. the variable that is held constant across experimental conditions b. the variable deliberately manipulated by the experimenter c. the variable that the experimenter believes will change in value because of systematic correlations that exist in the experiment d. the variable that provides an alternative explanation for the results of the experiment
b. the variable deliberately manipulated by the experimenter
Naturalistic observation, case studies, and surveys all have in common that a. they do not directly observe behavior b. they do not manipulate the variables under study c. they can show causal relationships d. the results obtained cannot be analyzed statistically
b. they do not manipulate the variables under study
"Statistically significant" means that the results of an experiment most likely a. resulted from chance variations. b. were not due to chance c. had practical significance d. were important
b. were not due to chance
Paulo tells you that he just completed an experiment in his botany class and the results he obtained were statistically significant. This means that the results he obtained " a. are important and will likely have an impact in the field of botany b. were unlikely to be a result of chance variations in his sample c. will be of interest to people, even if they are not botanists d. were likely to be the result of chance variations in his sample
b. were unlikely to be a result of chance variations in his sample
An instructor wishes to find out whether a new teaching method is superior to his usual procedures, so he conducts an experiment. Everyone in his classes is quite excited about the prospect of learning under the new procedure, but of course he cannot administer the new teaching method to everyone. A random half of the students receive the new method and the remaining half receive the old. What is the most obvious flaw in this experiment? a. Subjects should have been systematically assigned to groups. b. The sample is not representative of the population. c. Placebo effects or experimenter bias are likely to affect results. d. Distortions in self-report will affect results.
c. Placebo effects or experimenter bias are likely to affect results.
Which of the following is not one of the arguments that critics have used to argue against the use of deception in psychological research? a. Lying is inherently immoral b. Subjects' ability to trust others may be undermined c. Subjects are likely to experience severe physical or psychological harm in this type of research d. Subjects may be made to feel foolish when the true purpose of the study is revealed
c. Subjects are likely to experience severe physical or psychological harm in this type of research
Which of the following is not a criticism of using animals in psychological research? a. Many of the studies are trivial. b. It is unethical to subject an animal to pain. c. The studies cost too much for the limited amount of information they provide. d. The studies are a waste of time, as the results often do not apply to humans.
c. The studies cost too much for the limited amount of information they provide.
A researcher who is conducting an opinion survey asks viewers who are watching a political debate to dial a 1-800 number and record their opinion to the "question of the day." In this case the researcher is likely to have a. a representative sample b. a random sample c. a biased sample d. a random population
c. a biased sample
Dr. Stillingsworth is interested in people's reactions to a controversial jury verdict. Dr. Stillingsworth calls people at their home between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon. In this example Dr. Stillingsworth has most likely selected a. a representative sample b. a biased population c. a biased sample d. a statistically significant population
c. a biased sample
One method to control for experimenter bias effects in research is to use a. a socially desirable procedure b. reverse control groups c. a double-blind procedure d. a non-representative sample
c. a double-blind procedure
Malinda is filling out a survey for a marketing agency in order to be eligible for a grand prize drawing. She doesn't actually read many of the questions, and simply answers "yes" to everything. Malinda's answers to the survey reflect a. a social desirability bias b. the placebo effect c. a positive response set d. an interaction effect
c. a positive response set
Random assignment of subjects occurs when a. subjects are allowed to choose which group or condition they would like to be in b. a different method is used to assign each subject to a group or condition c. all subjects have an equal chance of being assigned to any of the groups or conditions d. all topics have an equal chance of being assigned to a particular experimenter
c. all subjects have an equal chance of being assigned to any of the groups or conditions
An advantage of naturalistic observation is that it a. approximates the experimental method b. allows for cause-and-effect conclusions to be drawn c. allows behavior to be studied in realistic settings d. involves random assignment
c. allows behavior to be studied in realistic settings
Maria plans to study the relationship between self-esteem and being raised in a single-parent or a two-parent family. She decides she must use correlational research, rather than experimental research, to investigate this problem because correlational studies a. tend to be more accurate than experiments b. have higher internal validity than experiments when there are two dependent variables c. can be used to investigate factors that would be impossible to manipulate in an experimental study d. can be used to study either positive or negative relationships, whereas experiments can only be used to study positive relationships
c. can be used to investigate factors that would be impossible to manipulate in an experimental study
When two variables are linked and their individual effects cannot be separated out, we speak of the variables as being a. independent variables b. dependent variables c. confounded variables d. codependent variables
c. confounded variables
The experimental group a. consists of the subjects who receive some special treatment with regard to the independent variable b. consists of the subjects who receive some special treatment with regard to the dependent variable c. consists of the subjects who do not receive the special treatment d. must be chosen so as to be as different from the control group as possible
c. consists of the subjects who do not receive the special treatment
Research has revealed that subjects who participated in research involving deception a. were psychologically distressed at being deceived b. suffered extreme embarrassment at being "fooled" c. didn't mind being misled and generally enjoyed taking part in research d. lost the ability to trust others
c. didn't mind being misled and generally enjoyed taking part in research
To generalize results to a population, we must first a. select a biased sample from the population of interest b. oversample selected subgroups in the population c. draw a representative sample from the population of interest d. ensure that all the variables have been operationally defined
c. draw a representative sample from the population of interest
The ability to infer a cause and effect relationship is associated only with the a. correlational research method b. case history research method c. experimental research method d. empirical research method
c. experimental research method
Experimenter bias occurs when a. experimenters explicitly instruct the subjects to behave in a way that will be consistent with the hypothesis b. experimenters desire to make a favorable impression on their subjects c. experimenters' beliefs in their own hypotheses affect either the subjects' behavior or their observations of the subjects d. experimenters conduct their studies in a completely objective manner
c. experimenters' beliefs in their own hypotheses affect either the subjects' behavior or their observations of the subjects
The social desirability bias is a tendency to answer questions about oneself a. by agreeing with nearly every statement b. by disagreeing with nearly every statement c. in a socially approved manner d. in a socially disapproved manner
c. in a socially approved manner
3. Answering the question of "how" something works is most closely associated with which goal of science? a. the search for truth . b. application and control c. measurement and description d. understanding and prediction
c. measurement and description
Jolyn believed that there were gender differences in driving habits. To test this assumption she stood near a quiet intersection. Jolyn recorded the gender of each driver who approached a stop sign, and also whether the individual came to a complete stop before proceeding into the intersection. Jolyn is conducting a. an experiment with two dependent variables b. case study research c. naturalistic observation d. psychological testing
c. naturalistic observation
Dr. Redding has found a correlation of +0.65 between snoring and weight. This indicates that a. overweight individuals tend to snore less than underweight individuals b. there is no relationship between weight and snoring c. overweight individuals tend to snore more than underweight individuals d. individuals who go on a diet will most likely begin to snore
c. overweight individuals tend to snore more than underweight individuals
The FDA found that people who used a particular diet drug combination had more heart valve defects than people who had not taken the diet drug combination. This suggests that the use of the diet drug combination and heart valve defects are a. negatively correlated b. independent variables c. positively correlated d. interactive variables
c. positively correlated
Dr. Critelli is studying aggression in children and plans to define aggression as the number of times one child pushes or strikes another child. Defining aggression in this way would a. be an example of a hypothesis b. violate ethical guidelines for psychological research c. represent an operational definition d. require a double-blind research design
c. represent an operational definition
The use of mathematics to organize, summarize, and interpret numerical information is referred to as a. calculus b. functional analysis c. statistics d. algebra
c. statistics
A scientific theory has to be a. true b. accepted by others c. testable d. well established and not disputed
c. testable
A dependent variable in an experiment refers to the variable a. held constant across the experimental conditions b. deliberately manipulated by the experimenter c. that changes value because of the systematic manipulation in the experiment d. that the experimenter is depending on to cause something to happen in the experiment
c. that changes value because of the systematic manipulation in the experiment
The standard deviation is a measure of a. central tendency b. the degree of relationship between two variables c. the amount of variability in a data set d. the difference between the largest and smallest scores in a data set
c. the amount of variability in a data set
A group of researchers wanted to determine if people will eat more food in a room with red paint and ed decorations than in a room that is decorated blue. Half the participants in this study ate in a red room and half ate in a blue room. The researchers then measured how much food was consumed in each of the two rooms. In this study the independent variable was a. the type of food that was available during the study b. the amount of food that was consumed c. the color of the decorations in the room d. how hungry the participants were at the end of the study
c. the color of the decorations in the room
The correlation coefficient is a measure of a. central tendency b. the amount of variability in a data set c. the degree of relationship between two variables d. the difference between the largest and smallest scores in a data set
c. the degree of relationship between two variables
An experimenter tests the hypothesis that physical exercise helps people's mood (makes them happier). Subjects in the experimental group participate on Monday and Tuesday and those in the control group on Wednesday and Thursday. What is the independent variable? a. the hypothesis b. day of the week c. the exercise d. the mood (degree of happiness)
c. the exercise
Manipulating a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observing the changes in a second variable defines a. the testing approach b. the survey approach c. the experimental approach d. naturalistic observation
c. the experimental approach
Perhaps the greatest disadvantage or limitation associated with descriptive research methods is a. the inability to look at important variables like nutritional effects on behavior b. an insensitivity to ethical concerns c. the inability to control events and isolate cause and effect linkages • d. the fact these methods usually focus attention too narrowly on a single variable
c. the inability to control events and isolate cause and effect linkages •
The term statistical significance refers to a. how important the data are for future research on the topic b. the conclusion that there are no reasonable alternative explanations c. the inference that the observed effects are unlikely to be due to chance d. the representativeness of the sample
c. the inference that the observed effects are unlikely to be due to chance
A correlation coefficient of zero describes a. a positive relationship between two variables b. a negative relationship between two variables c. the lack of a relationship between two variables d. a perfect relationship between two variables
c. the lack of a relationship between two variables
When the scores for a recent Chemistry exam were calculated the mean was 60 and the median was 65. Later the professor discovered that one score had been recorded incorrectly; it had been entered into the computer as a 5, instead of as a 50. When this correction is made a. the median for the exam will change, but the mean will stay the same b. both the mean and the median for the exam will change c. the mean for the exam will change, but the median will stay the same d. neither the mean nor the median for the exam will be affected
c. the mean for the exam will change, but the median will stay the same
In Margaritte's sociology discussion group 4 of the 5 students are between the ages of 19 and 23; the fifth student is 54 years old. If Margaritte wants to report the statistic that best represents the "average" age for her discussion group, she should report either a. the mean or the median, because these numbers are typically the same b. the mean or the mode, because these number are not affected by extreme scores c. the median or the mode, because these numbers will be more representative d. the mean or the standard deviation, so additional statistics can be calculated
c. the median or the mode, because these numbers will be more representative
Subjects' self-reports often indicate that they are healthier, happier, and less prejudiced than other types of evidence would suggest. The most likely explanation is a. experimenter bias b. faulty memory c. the social desirability bias d. a tendency to agree with almost every statement
c. the social desirability bias
A researcher has children watch 30 min of violent tv, and then counts the number of times they hit each other afterward in a one-hour play period as a measure of aggression. The researcher concludes that tv violence causes aggression. However, this conclusion is invalid because a. the study is strictly correlational b. aggression wasn't operationally defined c. there was no control group d. it is unethical to force children to watch violent television
c. there was no control group
Which of the following statements is true? a. Deception has never been used in psychological research. b. Although deception has been used in the past, it has recently been banned by the American Psychological Association. c. In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the use of deception in psychological research. d. Deception has been fairly common in psychological research since the 1960s.
d. Deception has been fairly common in psychological research since the 1960s.
In an investigation of the effects of caffeine on concentration, half the participants were given regular colas which contained caffeine and half were given decaffeinated colas. In this study, the decaffeinated colas are being used as a. a confounding variable b. a random factor c. the dependent variable d. a placebo.
d. a placebo.
To discover whether residents of a city are in favor of building a new sports stadium the team's owner randomly selected and interviewed 500 of the city's 500,000 residents. In this instance, the 500 people that the owner interviewed would be a. a biased sample b. a population c. the dependent variable d. a representative sample
d. a representative sample
John dislikes completing questionnaires, so each time he fills one out he always circles the same item (such as "strongly agree" or "strongly disagree"). John's behavior reflects a. the placebo effect b. a sampling bias c. social desirability d. a response set
d. a response set
One of your friends is writing a research paper, and wants to obtain information about the depth of personal information people typically reveal during a first date. Directly observing a large number of people during a first date would be difficult, so your friend asks for your advice on the best way to reflect this type of data. The best suggestion would be for your friend to use a. the case study approach b. archival research c. a double-blind observational study d. a survey
d. a survey
By definition, the extraneous variable is a. a variable that affects the control group but not the experimental group b. the same thing as a dependent variable c. a variable that is completely irrelevant to both the independent and dependent variables d. a variable, other than the independent variable, that may influence the dependent variable
d. a variable, other than the independent variable, that may influence the dependent variable
The use of reinforcement principles to modify a child's unruly behavior reflects the goal of science that deals with a. understanding and prediction b. measurement and description c. deterministic and teleological d. application and control
d. application and control
Trevor plans to study the relationship between people's responses to highly stressful situations and their overall health. He decides he must use correlational research, rather than experimental research, to investigate this problem because correlational studies a. tend to be more accurate than experiments b. have higher internal validity than experiments when there are two dependent variables c. can be used to study either positive or negative relationships, whereas experiments can only be used to study positive relationships d. can be used to investigate factors that would be unethical to manipulate in an experimental study
d. can be used to investigate factors that would be unethical to manipulate in an experimental study
Subjectivity and the danger of focusing attention selectively is probably the greatest in a. experimental studies b. surveys c. naturalistic observation d. compiling a case study
d. compiling a case study
The experimental procedure in which both the experimenter and subject are unaware of who is in the experimental and who is in the control group is referred to as the a. placebo control procedure b. stereotaxic procedure c. single-blind procedure d. double-blind procedure
d. double-blind procedure
Placebo effects occur when a. the sample is not representative of the population b. two variables are confounded c. subjects are influenced by the social desirability bias d. due to their expectations, subjects experience some change from a nonexistent or ineffective treatment
d. due to their expectations, subjects experience some change from a nonexistent or ineffective treatment
Melvin and Leigh are interviewing students at their campus to determine if the students agree or disagree with a proposed policy change. Melvin believes the proposed policy change is a good idea, but Leigh believes the change will be bad for students. Nearly all the students who Melvin interviewed supported the policy change, but nearly all the students who Leigh interviewed disapproved of the change. The differences in the results illustrate the potential impact of a. the placebo effect b. double-blind research studies •.. c. confounded dependent variables d. experimenter bias
d. experimenter bias
Suppose that students who work more hours at their jobs tend to have lower grade point averages, and also tend to get less sleep. If we were to correlate the two variables of grade point average and number of hours of sleep, we would find that the correlation coefficient is a. greater than one b. equal to zero c. less than zero d. greater than zero, but less than one
d. greater than zero, but less than one
Dr. Jacobsen is investigating the link between social support networks and grades in school. Students in his classes are required to complete surveys farms related to this research. If a survey form is not completed by the end of the semester a student's grade is reduced by 10 points. In this case, some researchers might argue that Dr. Jacobsen's research violates the ethical principle of a. right to privacy b. protection for harm c. full disclosure d. informed consent
d. informed consent
A sample is representative if a. only volunteer subjects are used b. it is as different from the population as possible c. all subjects are chosen from a single, unusual segment of the population d. its composition is similar to the composition of the population
d. its composition is similar to the composition of the population
The experiment is a research method in which the investigator a. systematically observes two variables to see whether there is an association between them b. observes behavior as it occurs in its natural environment c. conducts an in-depth investigation of an individual subject d. manipulates a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observes whether there are changes in a second variable as a result
d. manipulates a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observes whether there are changes in a second variable as a result
The score that falls exactly in the center of a distribution of scores such that half the scores fall below that score and half the scores fall above it is the a. mean b. standard deviation c. range d. median
d. median
Dr. Zelke surveys 50 university students to discover the relationship between textbook price and ratings of readability. Dr. Zelke finds that for these two variables the correlation coefficient is -0.70. This indicates that a. more expensive books tend to receive higher readability ratings than less expensive books b. there is no relationship between textbook price and ratings of readability c. increasing a textbooks price will cause a decrease in its readability rating d. more expensive books tend to receive lower readability ratings than less expensive books
d. more expensive books tend to receive lower readability ratings than less expensive books
Ifwe were to measure the height and weight of 100 adult women, we would find that these two measures are a. uncorrelated b. increasingly correlated c. negatively correlated d. positively correlated
d. positively correlated
In experiments, placing subjects in experimental groups such that each subject has an equal probability of ending up in any experiment group is referred to as a. random selection b. random sampling c. random forecasting d. random assignment
d. random assignment
Dr. Webb designs a research study in which neither the subjects nor the individuals who interact directly with the subjects know which is the control group and which is the experimental group in the study. Dr. Webb probably chose this type of research design in order to a. avoid the need to obtain ethics approval for the study b. minimize the possibility of self-report bias c. ensure that her sample is not biased d. reduce the impact of experimenter bias
d. reduce the impact of experimenter bias
The final step in a scientific investigation is to a. conduct the study b. analyze the data c. decide whether or not the hypothesis was supported d. report the findings
d. report the findings
2. Which is not among the goals of psychology? a. the development of measurement techniques for describing behavior precisely and accurately b. understanding why certain behaviors occur c. applications of research findings to solve everyday problems d. searching for absolute truths about behavior
d. searching for absolute truths about behavior
Diaz conducts a decision making experiment to determine if people reason more logically when they have more time to decide. All the participants who are under 40 are allowed 15 min to reach a decision about a problem; all the participants who are over 40 are allowed 20 min to reach a decision about the same problem. Diaz has a problem with his experimental design because a. there are two control groups and no experimental group b. the length of time allowed for the decision is confounded with the independent variable c. there is no dependent variable in the experiment d. the age of the participants is confounded with the independent variable
d. the age of the participants is confounded with the independent variable
A group of researchers conducts a study to determine if children's performance is affected by the presence of other children. First the children are taken to a room with no other children and timed while they are complete a puzzle. Later the same children are taken to a room with four other children and timed while they complete a similar puzzle. In this study the length of time it takes to complete the puzzle would be a. the independent variable b. an extraneous variable c. a control variable d. the dependent variable
d. the dependent variable
One of the disadvantages of the experimental method is a. the inability to generate cause-and-effect conclusions b. the length of time necessary to complete the study c. the fact that only one variable can be studied at a time d. the fact that experiments often can't be done for practical or ethical reasons
d. the fact that experiments often can't be done for practical or ethical reasons
Researchers who were studying plant growth raised plants in two separate rooms. One room had taped conversations playing 24 hours a day; the other room was silent. The researchers found that they plants grew better in the room which had the conversations playing. In this study, the type of room (conversation or silence) would be a. the dependent variable b. an extraneous variable c. a placebo d. the independent variable
d. the independent variable
Charley tells you that 17 out of the 30 students enrolled in his English class scored exactly 62 points on the last exam. Conceptually, this is the same as saying a. the mean for that particular English exam was 62 points b. the median for that particular English exam was 62 points c. the standard deviation for that particular English exam was 62 points d. the mode for that particular English exam was 62 points
d. the mode for that particular English exam was 62 points
Sometimes a subject's expectations may lead to behavior change in the absence of any effective treatment This is referred to as an example of a. sampling bias b. experimenter bias c. socially desirable responding d. the placebo effect
d. the placebo effect
In the Featured Study on the use of subliminal self help tapes, one of the dependent variables was a. the actual purpose of the tape (memory or self-esteem) b. the group that the subject was assigned to (experimental or control) c. the labeling of the tape (accurate or mislabeled) d. the subject's beliefs about their personal improvement
d. the subject's beliefs about their personal improvement
Bill received a poor performance evaluation in his job last year. Since then Bill has started working through his lunch hour, he has taken on four special projects, and enrolled in night classes to upgrade his computer skills. If bill receives a better evaluation at his next performance it will be hard for him to figure out why because a. he failed to use a double-blind procedure to test his hypothesis b. he didn't formulate a research hypothesis before implementing the changes c. none of the actions he took are likely to be related to his overall job performance d. the three actions he took are confounded with each other
d. the three actions he took are confounded with each other
If the correlation coefficient between amount of exposure to television violence and aggressive behavior was found to be +0.43, we could conclude that a. watching television violence tends to cause aggressive behavior b. being an aggressive person tends to cause one to watch more violent television c. people who watch the most television tend to be the least aggressive d. there is a positive relationship between these two variables
d. there is a positive relationship between these two variables
