Deck 1: Tiinking Critically With Psychological Science

Question 1

In an experiment to determine the effects of attention on memory, memory is the

A) control condition.
B) intervening variable.
C) independent variable.
D) dependent variable.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

When Leanne heard about experimental evidence that drinking orange juice triggers hyperactivity in children, she questioned whether the tested children had been randomly assigned to experimental conditions. Leanne's reaction best illustrates

A) the placebo effect.
B) hindsight bias.
C) critical thinking.
D) overconfidence.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

To assess whether sense of humor is affected by sexual stimulation, researchers exposed married couples to either sexually stimulating or to sexually nonstimulating movie scenes prior to watching a comedy skit. In this research, the independent variable consisted of

A) reactions to the comedy skit.
B) level of sexual stimulation.
C) marital status.
D) sense of humor.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The set of scores that would likely be most representative of the population from which it was drawn would be a sample with a relatively

A) large standard deviation.
B) small standard deviation.
C) large range.
D) small range.

Question 5

In an experimental study of the extent to which mental alertness is inhibited by sleep deprivation, alertness would be the

A) control condition.
B) independent variable.
C) experimental condition.
D) dependent variable.

Question 6

Which method offers the most reliable way of assessing whether athletic performance is boosted by caffeine consumption?

A) the survey
B) the case study
C) the experiment
D) naturalistic observation

Question 7

In a test of the effects of air pollution, groups of students performed a reaction-time task in a polluted or an unpolluted room. To what condition were students in the unpolluted room exposed?

A) experimental
B) control
C) randomly assigned
D) dependent

Question 8

The maximum height of a normal curve corresponds to the ________ of a normal distribution.

A) range
B) mean
C) standard deviation
D) statistical significance

Question 9

If a difference between two samples is NOT statistically significant, which of the following can be concluded?

A) The difference is probably not a true one.
B) The difference is probably not reliable.
C) The difference could be due to sampling variation.
D) All of these conclusions can be reached.

Question 10

A negative correlation between people's work-related stress and their marital happiness would indicate that

A) work-related stress has a negative impact on marital happiness.
B) marital unhappiness promotes work-related stress.
C) higher levels of marital happiness are associated with lower levels of work-
Related stress.
D) marital happiness has no causal influence on work-related stress.

Question 11

The ________ is a measure of ________.

A) standard deviation; central tendency
B) mean; variation
C) median; central tendency
D) mode; variation

Question 12

Random samples provide ________ estimates of population averages if the samples have small ________.

A) good; means
B) good; standard deviations
C) poor; means
D) poor; standard deviations

Question 13

Stacey suggests that because children are more impulsive than adults, they will have more difficulty controlling their anger. Stacey's prediction regarding anger management is an example of

A) a hypothesis.
B) hindsight bias.
C) an operational definition.
D) the placebo effect.

Question 14

Participants in an experiment are said to be blind if they are uninformed about

A) the experimental hypothesis being tested.
B) whether the experimental findings will be statistically significant.
C) how the dependent variable is measured.
D) which experimental treatment, if any, they are receiving.

Question 15

Professor Carter observes and records the behavior of grocery shoppers as they select items to purchase. Which type of research is Professor Carter using?

A) survey research
B) case study
C) experimentation
D) naturalistic observation

Question 16

In generalizing from a sample to the population, it is important that

A) the sample be representative.
B) the sample be nonrandom.
C) the sample not be too large.
D) all of these conditions exist.

Question 17

The procedure designed to ensure that the experimental and control groups do not differ in any way that might affect the experiment's results is called

A) variable controlling.
B) random assignment.
C) representative sampling.
D) stratification.

Question 18

Ethical principles developed by psychologists urge investigators to

A) avoid the use of animals in experimental research.
B) minimize the use of the double-blind procedure with human research participants.
C) treat information about individual research participants confidentially.
D) avoid the use of financial incentives in any kind of research.

Question 19

Debriefing refers to

A) the perception that two negatively correlated variables are positively correlated.
B) explaining the purpose of a research study after its conclusion.
C) an insignificant correlation.
D) a correlation that equals -1.0.

Question 20

After the horror of 9/11, many people said the CIA and FBI should obviously have foreseen the likelihood of this form of terrorism. This perception most clearly illustrates

A) replication.
B) hindsight bias.
C) random sampling.
D) the placebo effect.

Question 21

Psychologists' personal values

A) have little influence on how their experiments are conducted.
B) do not influence the interpretation of experimental results because of the use of statistical techniques that guard against subjective bias.
C) can bias both scientific observation and interpretation of data.
D) have little influence on investigative methods but a significant effect on

Question 22

A psychologist studies the play behavior of young children by watching groups during recess at school. Which type of research is being used?

A) correlation
B) case study
C) experimentation
D) naturalistic observation

Question 23

What is the mode of the following distribution of scores: 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 14?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6

Question 24

To study the effects of lighting on mood, Dr. Cooper had students fill out questionnaires in brightly lit or dimly lit rooms. In this study, the independent variable consisted of

A) the number of students assigned to each group.
B) the students' responses to the questionnaire.
C) the room lighting.
D) the subject matter of the questions asked.

Question 25

A lopsided set of scores that includes a number of extreme or unusual values is said to be

A) symmetrical.
B) normal.
C) skewed.
D) dispersed.

Question 26

Which of the following is true, according to the text?

A) Because laboratory experiments are artificial, any principles discovered cannot be applied to everyday behaviors.
B) No psychological theory can be considered a good one until it produces
Testable predictions.
C) Psychology's theories reflect common sense.
D) Psychology has few ties to other disciplines.

Question 27

What is the mean of the following distribution of scores: 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 4, 6, 9, 1, 4?

A) 2
B) 10
C) 6
D) 15

Question 28

To prevent the possibility that a placebo effect or researchers' expectations will influence a study's results, scientists employ

A) control groups.
B) experimental groups.
C) random assignment.
D) the double-blind procedure.

Question 29

Which of the following research methods does NOT belong with the others?

A) case study
B) survey
C) naturalistic observation
D) experiment

Question 30

The scientific attitude of skepticism is based on the belief that

A) people are rarely candid in revealing their thoughts.
B) mental processes can't be studied objectively.
C) the scientist's intuition about behavior is usually correct.
D) ideas need to be tested against observable evidence.

Question 31

If shoe size and IQ are negatively correlated, which of the following is true?

A) People with large feet tend to have high IQs.
B) People with small feet tend to have high IQs.
C) People with small feet tend to have low IQs.
D) IQ is unpredictable based on a person's shoe size.

Question 32

What is the median of the following distribution: 10, 7, 5, 11, 8, 6, 9?

A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9

Question 33

The strength of the relationship between two vivid events will most likely be

A) significant.
B) positive.
C) negative.
D) overestimated.

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a normal curve?

A) The distribution is bell-shaped and symmetrical.
B) Most scores fall near the mean.
C) About 95 percent of all scores fall within one standard deviation on either side
Of the mean.
D) The distribution describes many types of psychological data.

Question 35

Juwan eagerly opened an online trading account, believing that his market savvy would allow him to pick stocks that would make him a rich day trader. This belief best illustrates

A) a placebo effect.
B) a double blind.
C) hindsight bias.
D) overconfidence.

Question 36

In an experiment to determine the effects of exercise on motivation, exercise is the

A) control condition.
B) intervening variable.
C) independent variable.
D) dependent variable.

Question 37

After detailed study of a gunshot wound victim, a psychologist concludes that the brain region destroyed is likely to be important for memory functions. Which type of research did the psychologist use to deduce this?

A) the case study
B) a survey
C) correlation
D) experimentation

Question 38

Which statement about the ethics of experimentation with people and animals is FALSE?

A) The same processes by which humans learn are present in rats, monkeys, and other animals.
B) Views on whether it is right to place the well-being of humans above that of animals are the same in every culture.
C) The American Psychological Association and the British Psychological Society have set strict guidelines for the care and treatment of human and
Animal subjects.
D) Most psychological studies are free of such stress as the delivery of electric

Question 39

Which of the following is the measure of variation that is most affected by extreme scores?

A) mean
B) standard deviation
C) mode
D) range

Question 40

Which of the following BEST describes the hindsight bias?

A) Events seem more predictable before they have occurred.
B) Events seem more predictable after they have occurred.
C) A person's intuition is usually correct.
D) A person's intuition is usually not correct.

Question 41

A psychologist wants to be sure that her research findings do not result from age or personality differences between participants in the experimental and control groups. She should use

A) replication.
B) random assignment.
C) operational definitions.
D) the double-blind procedure.

Question 42

What is the mode of the following distribution: 8, 2, 1, 1, 3, 7, 6, 2, 0, 2?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 7

Question 43

Which of the following is important when generalizing from a sample to the population?

A) the sample be representative of the population
B) the sample be large
C) the scores in the sample have low variability
D) all of these conditions exist

Question 44

A correlation coefficient is a statistical measure of the

A) difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.
B) extent to which two factors vary together.
C) statistical significance of a difference between two sample means.
D) frequency of scores at each level of some measure.

Question 45

A positive correlation between self-esteem and academic success would indicate that

A) a positive self-concept contributes to academic success.
B) academic success contributes to a favorable self-image.
C) those with high self-esteem are more academically successful than those with
Low self-esteem.
D) all of these statements are correct.

Question 46

What is the mean of the following distribution of scores: 2, 3, 7, 6, 1, 4, 9, 5, 8, 2?

A) 5
B) 4
C) 4.7
D) 3.7

Question 47

Which of the following would be best for determining whether alcohol impairs memory?

A) case study
B) naturalistic observation
C) survey
D) experiment

Question 48

What is the median of the following distribution of scores: 1, 3, 7, 7, 2, 8, 4?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Question 49

A normal curve would be LEAST likely to characterize a large random sample of

A) body weights.
B) intelligence scores.
C) family incomes.
D) professional baseball batting averages.

Question 50

A psychologist notes that we are especially attracted to people whose traits are different from our own. This statement would seem unsurprising to students because

A) most students have often been attracted to people different from themselves.
B) this finding is consistent with common sense.
C) students are eager to interact with those who are different from themselves.
D) students, like everyone else, have a tendency to exaggerate their ability to

Question 51

Well-done surveys measure attitudes in a representative subset, or ________, of an entire group, or ________.

A) population; random sample
B) control group; experimental group
C) experimental group; control group
D) random sample; population

Question 52

Theories are defined as

A) testable propositions.
B) factors that may change in response to manipulation.
C) statistical indexes.
D) principles that help to organize observations and predict behaviors or events.

Question 53

A correlation between levels of impulsiveness and annual income of -0.75 would indicate that

A) lower levels of impulsiveness are associated with lower levels of annual
B) income.
C) higher levels of annual income are associated with lower levels of
Impulsiveness.
D) it is impossible to predict annual income levels from knowledge of
E) impulsiveness has no causal influence on annual income.

Question 54

To determine the effects of a new drug on memory, one group of people is given a pill that contains the drug. A second group is given a sugar pill that does not contain the drug. This second group constitutes the

A) random sample.
B) experimental group.
C) control group.
D) test group.

Question 55

When a difference between two groups is statistically significant, this means that

A) the difference is statistically real but of little practical significance.
B) the difference is probably the result of sampling variation.
C) the difference is not likely to be due to chance variation.
D) all of these statements are true.

Question 56

Which of the following is NOT a basic research technique used by psychologists?

A) description
B) replication
C) experimentation
D) correlation

Question 57

Which of the following is the measure of central tendency that would be most affected by a few extreme scores?

A) mean
B) range
C) median
D) mode

Question 58

A majority of respondents in a national survey agreed that "classroom prayer should not be allowed in public schools." Only 33 percent of respondents in a similar survey agreed that "classroom prayer in public schools should be banned." These differing findings best illustrate the importance of

A) hindsight bias.
B) the placebo effect.
C) random assignment.
D) wording effects.

Question 59

A correlation coefficient can range in value from

A) 0 to 100.
B) 0 to 1.00.
C) 1 to 99.
D) -1.00 to +1.00.

Question 60

To ensure that other researchers can repeat their work, psychologists use

A) control groups.
B) random assignment.
C) double-blind procedures.
D) operational definitions.

Question 61

An observed difference between two sample groups is more likely to be statistically significant if

A) the observed difference is small.
B) the sample groups are small.
C) the standard deviations of the sample groups are small.
D) both samples are drawn from the same population.

Question 62

A random sample of a large group of people is one in which

A) the number of people included in the sample is determined by chance.
B) every person in the large group has an equal chance of being included in the
Sample.
C) personality differences among those in the sample are practically nonexistent.
D) all of these situations are true.

Question 63

After predicting world events, such as whether Quebec would separate from Canada, mistaken experts maintained that they were "almost right." This attitude is an example of

A) overconfidence.
B) scatterplots.
C) random assignment.
D) the double-blind procedure.

Question 64

Conducting a case study best illustrates

A) random sampling.
B) the correlational method.
C) the double-blind procedure.
D) the descriptive method.

Question 65

After carefully studying how three single parents dealt with the loss of their jobs, Dr. Phong began to overestimate the national rate of unemployment. In this instance, Dr. Phong should be warned that ________ may be misleading.

A) surveys
B) case studies
C) dependent variables
D) random samples

Question 66

A random sample of females was observed to exhibit a lower average level of self- esteem than a random sample of males. To assess the likelihood that this observed difference reflects a real difference in the average self-esteem of the total population of males and females, you should

A) construct a scatterplot.
B) calculate a correlation coefficient.
C) plot the distribution of self-esteem levels among all males and females.
D) conduct a test of statistical significance.

Question 67

Alexandra is told that research supports the value of cosmetic surgery for boosting self-esteem. Belinda is told that the esteem-enhancing value of cosmetic surgery has been refuted by research. Both women consider the research findings to be common sense. This best illustrates the power of

A) the placebo effect.
B) hindsight bias.
C) random assignment.
D) the double-blind procedure.

Question 68

A refusal to consider potential evidence that might conflict with one's preconceived ideas best illustrates a lack of

A) informed consent.
B) critical thinking.
C) operational definition.
D) predictive hypotheses.

Question 69

A researcher would be MOST likely to discover a negative correlation between

A) body height and body weight.
B) self-esteem and depression.
C) education and personal wealth.
D) intelligence and academic success.

Question 70

According to Emily's grandfather, Adolf Hitler's obvious emotional instability made it clear from the beginning days of his international conflicts that Germany would inevitably lose World War II. The grandfather's claim best illustrates

A) hindsight bias.
B) the placebo effect.
C) naturalistic observation.
D) random sampling.

Question 71

A scatterplot graphically depicts the

A) standard deviation of a distribution of scores.
B) arithmetic average of a distribution of scores.
C) total population from which samples may be drawn.
D) degree of relationship between two variables.

Question 72

After his property was vandalized by a small group of teenagers, Mr. Mahmood concluded that most teenagers are irresponsible and delinquent. Mr. Mahmood ought to be reminded that accurate generalizations depend on

A) a realization that random events may not look random.
B) detecting cause-effect relationships.
C) the observation of representative samples.
D) the selection of samples from a skewed population.

Question 73

Approximately 68 percent of the cases represented by the normal curve fall within ________ standard deviation(s) from the mean.

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 34

Question 74

A research method in which an investigator manipulates factors that potentially produce a particular effect is called a(n)

A) survey.
B) experiment.
C) case study.
D) correlation.

Question 75

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events is called a(n)

A) independent variable.
B) hypothesis.
C) theory.
D) scatterplot.

Question 76

Abdul has volunteered to participate in an experiment evaluating the effectiveness of aspirin. Neither he nor the experimenters know whether the pills he takes during the experiment contain aspirin or are merely placebos. The investigators are apparently making use of

A) naturalistic observation.
B) the normal curve.
C) the double-blind procedure.
D) random sampling.

Question 77

A statement describing how a researcher manipulates an independent variable is known as a(n)

A) control condition.
B) replication.
C) operational definition.
D) hypothesis.

Question 78

As scientists, psychologists adopt an attitude of skepticism because they believe that

A) people are unlikely to reveal what they are really thinking.
B) most commonsense ideas about human behavior are wrong.
C) claims about human behavior need to be supported with evidence.
D) events never occur randomly.

Question 79

As students prepare for a test, they often believe that they understand the course material better than they actually do. This best illustrates

A) overconfidence.
B) random assignment.
C) the placebo effect.
D) critical thinking.

Question 80

According to Professor Fayad, we like people who like us because their affection for us boosts our own self-esteem. His idea is an example of

A) an operational definition.
B) hindsight bias.
C) replication.
D) a theory.