Research Methods 1 MIDTERM
Which of the following is an association claim? Select one: a. "Owning a dog is related to higher life satisfaction." b. "A majority of Americans like dogs." c. "Dog traveled 500 miles to find its owners." d. "Being visited by dogs in the hospital causes decreases in recovery time."
a. "Owning a dog is related to higher life satisfaction."
When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," which section should you read first? Select one: a. Abstract b. Introduction c. Method d. Discussion
a. Abstract
Which of the following is an example of being a producer of research? Select one: a. Administering an anxiety questionnaire b. Applying a new therapy technique c. Writing an opinion article about a psychological study d. Undergoing a brain scan
a. Administering an anxiety questionnaire
Sasha believes that she is a nice person. To confirm this, she asks all her friends whether she is a nice person; they all agree that she is. Sasha concludes that she is a nice person and says she has evidence of it. Sasha would likely draw a different conclusion if she did which of the following? Select one: a. Asked her enemies if she was a nice person b. Counted up all the times she was nice in the past c. Asked all her friends the same question again in another six months d. Considered all the times she was nice to her enemies
a. Asked her enemies if she was a nice person
Sasha believes that she is a nice person. To confirm this, she asks all her friends whether she is a nice person; they all agree that she is. Sasha concludes that she is a nice person and says she has evidence of it. However, she does not ask any of her enemies whether they think she is a nice person. This is an example of which of the following? Select one: a. Confirmation bias b. Availability heuristic c. Fourth cell reasoning d. Overconfidence
a. Confirmation bias
Dr. Ramon makes the following claim: "Watching television leads people to spend less time communicating with their spouses, study says." Dr. LaSalle makes the claim: "Research shows that making more money correlates with spending less time talking with your spouse." Which of the following statements is true of Dr. Ramon's and Dr. LaSalle's claims? Select one: a. Dr. Ramon's claim goes further than Dr. LaSalle's claim. b. Dr. LaSalle's claim goes further than Dr. Ramon's claim. c. Dr. LaSalle's claim is the same as Dr. Ramon's claim. d. Dr. Ramon's claim involves more variables than Dr. LaSalle's claim.
a. Dr. Ramon's claim goes further than Dr. LaSalle's claim.
If you are interested in reading an overview of peer-reviewed scientific research within a specific area, which of the following reading sources would you choose? Select one: a. Edited books b. Popular magazines c. Scientific journals d. An expert's dissertation
a. Edited books
How can you ensure that a popular media article accurately reflects the original research of a scientific study? Select one: a. Find and read the original scientific article b. Determine whether the results fit within the theories you learned in your psychology classes c. Check that the popular media article includes the statistical significance of the results d. Research the credentials of the author of the popular media article
a. Find and read the original scientific article
Both James and Thomas have theories that explain why listening to classical music while reading is associated with increased recall of the material. James' theory is much simpler than Thomas'. Thomas created his theory a few months before James did. Which of the following is true? Select one: a. James' theory would be considered better because it is more parsimonious. b. James' theory would be considered better because it was thought of more recently. c. Thomas' theory would be considered better because he thought of it first. d. Thomas' theory would be considered better because it is more complex.
a. James' theory would be considered better because it is more parsimonious.
Why is it important to adopt the mindset of a scientific reasoner? Select one: a. To avoid falling into the pitfalls of personal biases b. To identify the most intuitive explanations c. To be able to sway people with a good story d. To know what evidence people like best
a. To avoid falling into the pitfalls of personal biases
Vanessa claims that she sleeps better when she falls asleep to music. She has a comparison group because she has noticed that she does not listen to music every night, only when she remembers to charge her iPod. She typically remembers to charge her iPod on nights when she is able to finish studying earlier. What problem do you see in Vanessa's reasoning about sleeping better to music? Select one: a. Vanessa may be sleeping better because she is less distracted by studying/going to bed sooner. b. Vanessa's belief that she sleeps better with music is not falsifiable. c. Vanessa is biased because she sleeps in the same bed every night. d. There is no problem with Vanessa's reasoning.
a. Vanessa may be sleeping better because she is less distracted by studying/going to bed sooner.
Which of the following is a problem presented by the availability heuristic? Select one: a. We do not examine all of the evidence, only what we can quickly think of. b. We rely on the opinions of others rather than on our own opinions. c. It keeps us from examining our own experience. d. We will never be right in our conclusions.
a. We do not examine all of the evidence, only what we can quickly think of.
A Type I error is known as which of the following? Select one: a. a false positive b. a false negative c. a near miss d. a missed opportunity
a. a false positive
Diego is interested in examining the relationship between a person's attachment style and his or her relationship satisfaction. He finds 65 studies that have examined this topic. He combines the results of all these studies and calculates an effect size. His research is most accurately described as: Select one: a. a meta-analysis. b. a review journal article. c. a chapter in an edited book. d. a PsycWiki.
a. a meta-analysis.
Benjamin is a social psychologist who studies marriage. He believes that marital satisfaction has two components: the ability to trust one's partner and a belief that one can be a good spouse. This is known as: Select one: a. a theory. b. a hypothesis. c. data. d. research.
a. a theory.
Research that is done specifically to add to our general understanding of psychology, like distinguishing the components of extraversion or predicting the time it takes a person to determine whether an object is a face or another object, is known as: Select one: a. basic research. b. applied research. c. empirical research. d. translational research.
a. basic research.
Which of the following could be an independent variable in a causal claim? Select one: a. one that is manipulated b. one that is measured c. one that is kept constant d. one that has one level
a. one that is manipulated
Occam's razor states that the simplest solution is the best, all things being equal. This speaks to a theory's: Select one: a. parsimony. b. falsifiability. c. theorizing. d. empiricism.
a. parsimony.
Deci and Ryan (1985, 2001) have proposed that there are three fundamental needs that are required for human growth and fulfillment: relatedness, autonomy, and competence. Susan predicts that students who have these needs met in their psychology class feel happier and more satisfied with the class. She collects data and finds that students who feel more related and competent do feel happier but that feeling more autonomous does not seem to matter. Susan thinks that maybe autonomy is only necessary when people are in situations in which they are not being evaluated. Susan's prediction that students who have all three needs met will experience greater satisfaction with their psychology class is an example of which of the following? Select one: a. A theory b. A hypothesis c. Data d. Research
b. A hypothesis
Which of the following is an example of applied research? Select one: a. A social psychologist who is interested in the components of self-concept b. An educational psychologist who looks for a way to increase math skills in 8-year-olds c. A personality psychologist who studies the difference between introverts and extroverts d. A cognitive psychologist who looks at the difference in problem-solving abilities of men and women
b. An educational psychologist who looks for a way to increase math skills in 8-year-olds
Dr. Gonzalez is a peer reviewer for a manuscript submitted to a journal. He is likely to provide comments on which of the following? Select one: a. How well the general public will understand the study b. How well the research was conducted c. The prestige/reputation of the author d. Previous studies from the same research group
b. How well the research was conducted
Compared with doing a generic Internet search, why is PsycINFO a superior way to find scientific sources? Select one: a. It is free. b. It searches only sources in psychology and related fields. c. It can be done on any computer. d. It searches research scientists' websites.
b. It searches only sources in psychology and related fields.
Matthew is reading an empirical journal article and wants to know whether the authors used the Big Five Inventory (BFI-44) or the NEO-PI to measure extraversion. In which section would he find this information? Select one: a. Introduction b. Method c. Results d. Discussion
b. Method
Which of the following indicates that an article's claims are based on research? Select one: a. The author describes her creative solution to a scientific problem. b. The article describes how a scientific study measured a variable. c. The article includes a direct quote from an expert in the field. d. The article compares two groups of individuals.
b. The article describes how a scientific study measured a variable.
Hannah just finished reading an empirical journal article for a class project. What information might she get out of reading the references section of her article? Select one: a. A list of the measures used in the study b. The name of an article that researched a similar topic c. An idea for a future study d. An explanation of the statistical tests used
b. The name of an article that researched a similar topic
Dr. Ramon makes the following claim: "Watching television leads people to spend less time communicating with their spouses, study says." Dr. LaSalle makes the claim: "Research shows that making more money correlates with spending less time talking with your spouse." Which type of claim is Dr. LaSalle making? Select one: a. anecdotal claim b. association claim c. causal claim d. frequency claim
b. association claim
Which of the following is a dependent variable? Select one: a. one that is manipulated b. one that is measured c. one that is kept constant d. one that has one level
b. one that is measured
Advice that is based on __________ is most likely to be correct. Select one: a. personal experience b. research c. intuition d. authority's conclusions
b. research
Your friend Gaby loves reading articles about psychology studies in her monthly women's magazine. Which of the following would you tell her? Select one: a. "Stop reading those articles because they are never accurate." b. "Peer-reviewed journals are much easier to read than magazines." c. "Be careful about reading those articles because they may not present findings accurately." d. "Reading those magazines is just as good as reading the peer-reviewed journals."
c. "Be careful about reading those articles because they may not present findings accurately."
What is the problem with being swayed by a good story? Select one: a. A good story is never the true explanation for a scientific finding. b. Scientific findings never have commonsense explanations. c. A good story may not be supported by data. d. Good stories are not falsifiable.
c. A good story may not be supported by data.
Elliott is double majoring in English and psychology. He plans on being a high school English teacher and is only majoring in psychology because he finds the classes interesting. Which of the following is an important reason for him to be a good consumer of research? a. His psychology advisor may ask for his help in copy-editing a research article. b. He will likely need to be a participant in research studies as part of his psychology major. c. He will probably want to read research related to enhancing his teaching. d. He will have to produce research before he can consume it.
c. He will probably want to read research related to enhancing his teaching.
What does it mean that behavioral research is probabilistic? Select one: a. Conclusions drawn from behavioral research are probably true. b. Behavioral research involves probability sampling. c. Inferences drawn from behavioral research are not expected to explain all cases. d. Behavioral research requires the calculation of probability estimates.
c. Inferences drawn from behavioral research are not expected to explain all cases.
Which of the following is a benefit of the peer-review process? Select one: a. Reviewers' names are made public so they can defend their critiques of an article. b. The journal editor provides input on study design to ensure rigorous scientific methods. c. Reviewers' names are kept anonymous so they can be open in their critiques of an article. d. Non-significant results are not considered for publication to ensure interesting research.
c. Reviewers' names are kept anonymous so they can be open in their critiques of an article.
Which of the following is a reasonable causal claim? Select one: a. No one should text and drive. b. Experts say a majority of drivers text while driving. c. Texting while driving reduces impulse control. d. Teens spend too much time texting and driving.
c. Texting while driving reduces impulse control.
Which of the following is a reason psychological scientists publish their research in scientific journals? Select one: a. To get money from the journals where their work appears b. To share their findings with the general public c. To have their results reviewed by other psychologists d. To gain attention by journalist
c. To have their results reviewed by other psychologists
Anderson is reading his morning paper and sees the following headline: "Men Should Avoid Rock Music When Playing Board Games." (This headline is based on a study conducted by Fancourt, Burton, & Williamon, 2016.) In the study, men and women played the game "Operation" when listening to different types of music. Male participants performed worse when listening to AC/DC than when listening to Mozart, but female participants' performance did not differ based on music. In this study, the researchers recorded how many errors participants committed. This is an example of which of the following? Select one: a. a constant b. a variable's level c. a measured variable d. a manipulated variable
c. a measured variable
James is asked about the best way to study for an exam. He responds that the best way to study is by making flash cards. He easily thinks of all the times he used flash cards and he made As. However, he fails to take into consideration all the times he made As and did not use flash cards and the times he used flash cards and did not do well. His faulty thinking is an example of: Select one: a. cherry-picking evidence. b. availability heuristic. c. present/present bias. d. asking biased questions.
c. present/present bias.
A research consumer ____________ scientific results. Select one: a. analyzes b. produces c. reads d. graphs
c. reads
Dr. Kang, a cognitive psychologist, conducts an experiment examining the effect of emotion on memory. He provides lists of 15 words to two groups of participants at his university. He puts the names of all the participants in a hat. The first 20 names he assigns to Group A and the last 20 he assigns to Group B. Group A is given a list of words that are very emotional in content (e.g., passion, murder). Group B is given a list of words that are neutral in content (e.g., houseplant, desk). He then measures how many words each group is able to remember after being distracted for 5 minutes by watching a video about the history of the university. He finds that Group A remembers 15% more words than Group B. Which of the following is the independent variable in Dr. Kang's study? Select one: a. the length of the distractor task b. the number of words remembered c. the emotional or neutral content of the words d. the number of words on the list
c. the emotional or neutral content of the words
Anton and his friends are discussing a study he read about in his developmental psychology class. In the study, the researcher made the claim that most middle school students who are bullied have low self-esteem. Clarissa questions the study, saying, "I am not sure that I am convinced. I am not sure you can really measure being bullied." Quinn also questions the study, saying, "Which middle school students did they study? I am curious if they included both private and public school students." Manish also is curious about the study, asking, "I wonder how strong the relationship is between bullying and self-esteem. Could you predict one from the other?" Quinn's concern is addressing which of the following? Select one: a. the study's statistical validity b. the study's internal validity c. the study's external validity d. the study's construct validity
c. the study's external validity
According to the text, the bridge between basic and applied research is known as: Select one: a. empirical research. b. practical research. c. translational research. d. compound research.
c. translational research.
Dr. Hoda measures job satisfaction and number of years of education. In examining her scatterplot, she sees the cloud of points has no slope. This indicates which type of relationship? Select one: a. negative association b. positive association c. zero association d. causal association
c. zero association
Which of the following is the correct ordering of the sections of an empirical journal article? Select one: a. Introduction, Results, Discussion, Method, References b. Introduction, Discussion, Method, Results, Abstract c. Abstract, References, Introduction, Results, Discussion d. Abstract, Method, Results, Discussion, References
d. Abstract, Method, Results, Discussion, References
Stefan wants to make a causal claim in his dissertation. Which of the following is necessary? Select one: a. He must make a frequency claim first. b. He must manipulate all of his variables. c. He must measure all of his variables. d. He must conduct an experiment
d. He must conduct an experiment.
Which of the following is the reason that scientific journals use peer review? Select one: a. It is cost effective. b. It is more efficient/faster. c. It encourages collaboration among researchers. d. It ensures that the studies published are of the highest quality
d. It ensures that the studies published are of the highest quality.
Which of the following is a reason why it is important to be a knowledgeable consumer of research? Select one: a. It is important to know how to write in APA style. b. It is important to understand how to design an effective study. c. It is important to know why researchers protect the anonymity of participants. d. It is important to understand whether the information you read is accurate.
d. It is important to understand whether the information you read is accurate.
Angela reads about a study in which cell phone use is associated with migraine headaches. She says, "Well, that study is not valid because I use a cell phone more than anyone I know and I never get migraines." Based on her comment, Angela may be forgetting which of the following? Select one: a. Science is based on empiricism. b. The study has been replicated. c. The study did not properly define cell phone use. d. Science is probabilistic.
d. Science is probabilistic.
Tim tells you that the best way to make friends is by opening the conversation with a joke. He can easily recall all the friends he met by telling a joke and also the times he opened with chitchat and didn't befriend the person. If you were concerned that Tim was making the present/present bias, what would you ask him? Select one: a. How many people have you met and befriended? b. Do you think the times you made friends by telling jokes might come more easily to mind? c. Did you go into conversations where you opened with jokes thinking that you would make friends? d. What about the times you opened with a joke and didn't become friends with the person?
d. What about the times you opened with a joke and didn't become friends with the person?
Different factors that could account for significant results are called _____________. Select one: a. hypotheses b. biases c. predictions d. confounds
d. confounds
Vinai learns that people with schizophrenia have a problem labeling their emotions. Using this information, he designs a research study to examine whether teaching patients with schizophrenia to label the emotions of people they see in movie clips helps them to better label their own emotions. Vinai hopes that the findings of this research could then be used to create an intervention to treat schizophrenia. Vinai's study is an example of: Select one: a. basic research. b. applied research. c. empirical research. d. translational research.
d. translational research.
