Deck 5: Thinking Critically and Developing Ideas

Question 1

Studies in which participants or subjects are assigned to only one condition are called between-subjects or independent-groups experiments.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Vacuous support for arguments is a flaw demonstrated when writers use emotional allegation, rather than objective arguments, to dismiss their opposition.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

One problem with order effects is that some participants may withdraw from the experiment before completing all the conditions.This is known as:

A)mortality
B)drop-out
C)counterbalancing
D)boredom

Answer 3

mortality

Question 4

Experiments, in general, include any research in which:

A)participants or subjects are not randomly assigned to conditions
B)the researcher randomly assigns participants or subjects into the various conditions
C)participants or subjects are assigned to only one condition
D)participants or subjects are assigned to all experimental conditions

Question 5

A problem with organising and presenting theories chronologically is that:

A)it is better to arrange them by subject
B)although phrases might flow chronologically, they do not always flow logically
C)two theories may not relate to one another
D)only one theory about a topic can be true

Question 6

If the measure is not valid, it implies that it might not be measuring the variable that it claims to be measuring.

Question 7

The direction of causality cannot be inferred logically from non-experiments, which results in more than one possible causal explanation.

Question 8

A study is called within-subject where:

A)participants or subjects are not randomly assigned to conditions
B)the researcher randomly assigns participants or subjects into the various conditions
C)participants or subjects are assigned to only one condition
D)participants or subjects are assigned to all experimental conditions

Question 9

In quasi-experiments, participants are randomly assigned to conditions or groups.

Question 10

The theory that violence on TV provokes agitation, and this agitation promotes suspicion, implies at least two associations:

A)watching violence on TV should promote agitation and anxiety; and, when individuals feel agitated and anxious, they perceive strangers as untrustworthy
B)watching violence on TV should promote agitation and anxiety; and, when individuals feel agitated and anxious, they behave violently
C)watching violence on TV promotes violence; and, when individuals feel agitated and anxious, they perceive strangers as untrustworthy
D)watching violence on TV promotes suspicion; and, when individuals feel suspicious, they behave violently

Question 11

False generalisation is a flaw demonstrated when writers overgeneralise and incorrectly assume that evidence uncovered in one setting will also apply to a very different context.

Question 12

The types of complications that may challenge a theory include:

A)experiments and non-experiments
B)significant findings and non-significant findings
C)limitations in the findings and contradictory methods
D)limitations in the methods and contradictory findings

Question 13

The simplest explanation of previous observations that generates valid, testable predictions in other situations is known as:

A)a hypothesis
B)an explanation
C)parsimony
D)a theory

Question 14

Limitations in the methods refers to observations that do not support the theory - that is, the findings might suggest that the theory does not apply in all settings or contexts, such as cultures, locations, demographics, or situations.

Question 15

Spurious variable refers to variables that confuse the results (such as the order of conditions).

Question 16

A hypothesis is the simplest explanation of previous observations that generates valid, testable predictions in other situations.

Question 17

To be objective means:

A)considering evidence rather than responding emotionally
B)wanting to know the truth
C)only accepting the arguments of others when they are logical, complete, and supported by research
D)attempting to resolve all inconsistencies

Question 18

Where a third variable influences both the independent and the dependent variables it is said to be:

A)annoying
B)confounding
C)spurious
D)causal

Question 19

To be intellectually sceptical means:

A)considering evidence rather than responding emotionally
B)wanting to know the truth
C)only accepting the arguments of others when they are logical, complete, and supported by research
D)attempting to resolve all inconsistencies

Question 20

According to Zechmeister and Johnson (1992), students are likely to be thinking critically if they are intellectually sceptical, i.e., wanting to know the truth.

Question 21

A/an ____________ argument is when a writer attacks the character of the opposition, rather than the opinions of the opposition.

Question 22

Where a writer declares that a revered person has expressed a supporting opinion it may be a flaw known as:

A)evidence
B)an ad hominem argument
C)appeal to ignorance
D)appeal to authority

Question 23

Studies in which participants or subjects are assigned to only one condition are called between-subjects or __________-groups experiments.

Question 24

A ____________ variable can create a misleading relationship between the independent and dependent variable.

Question 25

Contradictory findings refers to observations that do not support the __________.

Question 26

The direction of causality cannot be inferred logically from ____________.

Question 27

Where a writer accepts evidence and arguments even if they contradict their own beliefs, they are regarded as being intellectually _________.

Question 28

In non-experiments, participants are not ______________ to conditions or groups.

Question 29

A writer is being intellectually _________ when he or she only accepts the arguments of others when they are logical, complete, and supported by research.

Question 30

Where a writer declares that no contradictory findings have been observed it may be a flaw known as:

A)evidence
B)an ad hominem argument
C)appeal to ignorance
D)appeal to authority

Question 31

The advantage of experiments is that they enable researchers to establish the direction of __________.

Question 32

Misrepresentation of the opposition is a flaw demonstrated when a writer describes a faulty version of opposing arguments, called a___________.