Deck 1: Explaining Behavior

Question 1

Research involves a scientist:

A) identifying a phenomenon to study.
B) developing hypotheses.
C) conducting a study to collect data, analyzing the data, and disseminating the results.
D) All of the answers are correct.

Answer 1

All of the answers are correct.

Question 2

Scientists:

A) always do their research in a laboratory.
B) adopt the methods of science in their quest for knowledge.
C) are never concerned with potential applications of their findings.
D) work only at universities.

Answer 2

adopt the methods of science in their quest for knowledge.

Question 3

"The scientific method is a way of thinking in addition to a way of gathering information." This statement shows that the scientific method is a(n):

A) pseudoscience.
B) dogma.
C) attitude.
D) prejudice.

Answer 3

attitude.

Question 4

Research done primarily to test a theoretical position would best be classified as:

A) applied research.
B) analytical research.
C) focused research.
D) basic research.

Question 5

Dr. Smith conducts an experiment to test the limits of Leon Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory. Dr. Smith is doing:

A) applied research.
B) analytical research.
C) basic research.
D) focused research.

Question 6

Research primarily focused on the solution to a real-world problem would best be classified as:

A) applied research.
B) basic research.
C) pseudoresearch.
D) analytical research.

Question 7

You are hired by a local company to do research on improving employee morale. The research you conduct would best be classified as:

A) basic research.
B) applied research.
C) problem-oriented research.
D) None of the answers is correct.

Question 8

Which of the following would be true of the relationship between basic and applied research?

A) Basic and applied research are mutually exclusive categories of research.
B) Basic research is more valid than applied research.
C) Applied research is more valid than basic research.
D) There is considerable overlap between basic and applied research.

Question 9

The human tendency to seek out information that confirms what is already believed is known as:

A) confirmation bias.
B) experimenter bias.
C) disconfirmation bias.
D) cognitive dissonance.

Question 10

According to the text, unfounded but commonly accepted explanations for behavior:

A) are always harmless.
B) are normally as good as scientific explanations.
C) can have widespread consequences when they become the basis for social policy.
D) are never used as a basis for social policy.

Question 11

According to the text, you should care to learn about research because:

A) if you plan to become a researcher, you will need to know how to do research.
B) even if you do not plan to become a researcher, you will be better able to critically analyze information presented to you in the media, advertising, and other such sources.
C) you will be in a position to evaluate information that is supposedly based on "science."
D) All of the answers are correct.

Question 12

In the search for causes of behavior, Cialdini's (1994) idea of "scouting" involves:

A) making unsystematic observations of behavior to develop general ideas for research.
B) isolating specific cause-effect relationships.
C) making systematic observations of naturally occurring behavior.
D) developing a set of mutually exclusive research hypotheses to test.

Question 13

After determining that you are interested in studying helping behavior, you begin to identify the factors that might influence a person's decision to help. This is an example of Cialdini's notion of:

A) scouting.
B) trapping.
C) isolation.
D) snaring.

Question 14

Two of the steps suggested by Cialdini (1994) to explore the causes of behavior are:

A) identification and isolation.
B) scouting and snaring.
C) scouting and isolation.
D) None of the answers is correct.

Question 15

Scientific explanations are:

A) empirical.
B) rational.
C) testable.
D) All of the answers are correct.

Question 16

A scientific explanation is empirical if it is:

A) based on widely held beliefs.
B) complex and makes untestable assumptions.
C) based on the evidence of the senses.
D) subjective and relies on anecdotes.

Question 17

A scientific explanation is rational if it:

A) is based on direct observation carried out in uncontrolled conditions.
B) explains a behavior using the fewest assumptions possible.
C) follows the rules of logic and is consistent with known facts.
D) is based on subjective observation.

Question 18

When more than one explanation is offered for an observed behavior, the one that explains behavior with the fewest number of assumptions is known as the _____.

A) teleological explanation
B) alternate explanation
C) circular explanation
D) parsimonious explanation

Question 19

Explanation A makes four assumptions about behavior, whereas Explanation B makes three assumptions. Which of the following is true?

A) Explanation A is more parsimonious than Explanation B.
B) Explanation B is more parsimonious than Explanation A.
C) Explanation A is more testable than Explanation B.
D) Explanation B is more empirical than Explanation A.

Question 20

Once a scientific explanation is developed, it is:

A) constantly evaluated for consistency with evidence and known principles.
B) accepted and not subjected to further testing.
C) elevated to the status of a law.
D) None of the answers is correct.

Question 21

Science at the edges of current scientific understanding is referred to as:

A) protoscience.
B) pseudoscience.
C) commonsense.
D) gee-whiz science.

Question 22

Protoscience:

A) invariably develops into true science.
B) may descend into pseudoscience if claims cannot be empirically verified.
C) may develop into true science if the phenomena being studied receive legitimate scientific support.
D) develops into true science when a majority of average folks believes in it.

Question 23

A set of ideas put forth as scientific when they are not scientific is referred to as:

A) protoscience.
B) pseudoscience.
C) fringe science.
D) deep science.

Question 24

Which of the following statements is true of pseudoscience?

A) It relies on anecdotal evidence and testimonials to support an idea or claim.
B) It builds on an existing base of scientific knowledge.
C) It shifts the burden of proof away from skeptics and critics to the proponent of an idea or claim.
D) It has specific mechanisms for self-correction and consequent stagnation of ideas.

Question 25

An explanation that is based on the application of accepted scientific methods qualifies as a:

A) scientific explanation.
B) commonsense explanation.
C) pseudoexplanation.
D) fact.

Question 26

_____ explanations are based on the limited information at hand and on our own previous experience.

A) Commonsense
B) Scientific
C) Formal
D) Informal

Question 27

Scientific and commonsense explanations:

A) are both based on rigorous research scrutiny of behavior.
B) both start with an observation of events in the real world.
C) both provide equally strong explanations for observed behavior.
D) have nothing in common.

Question 28

Unlike scientific explanations, commonsense explanations tend to be:

A) evaluated against plausible alternative explanations.
B) accepted at face value.
C) readily and accurately applicable to real-life situations.
D) based on extensive information.

Question 29

A major difference between scientific explanations and commonsense explanations is that scientific explanations are:

A) rarely subjected to testing against plausible alternatives.
B) developed and not given much afterthought.
C) based on untested assumptions and conjecture.
D) tested against plausible alternatives.

Question 30

We can usually have more confidence in scientific explanations than commonsense explanations because:

A) testing a scientific explanation rules out alternative explanations for observed behavior.
B) our intuition about the causes of behavior is usually correct and requires little, if any, empirical testing.
C) commonsense explanations are always wrong.
D) All of the answers are correct.

Question 31

Unlike commonsense explanations, scientific explanations are:

A) limited to explaining a single event.
B) tested for their ability to explain behavior over a wide variety of situations.
C) limited in scope, providing a shallow explanation for behavior.
D) very generalized in nature.

Question 32

You read in the newspaper about a prison riot that followed minor changes in the rules governing prisoners. Your immediate explanation for the riot is that, "Prisoners are just the type of people who would be expected to riot over such a small thing." This is an example of a(n) _____ explanation.

A) parsimonious
B) scientific
C) illogical
D) commonsense

Question 33

Your friend, who was raised as a strict Baptist, states that the earth was created in six days. Her statement is most likely based on:

A) rigorous experimental research.
B) strict adherence to scientific explanations.
C) beliefs that are accepted on faith.
D) All of the answers are correct.

Question 34

You and a friend are arguing about the demise of dinosaurs. Based on a recent journal article you read, you argue that dinosaurs predated humans. Your friend maintains that dinosaurs and humans existed together because that is what the Bible suggests. Your friend's explanation is a(n):

A) commonsense explanation.
B) scientific explanation.
C) explanation based on belief.
D) pseudoexplanation.

Question 35

Which of the following is a major difference between scientific explanations and explanations based on belief?

A) Scientific explanations require no evidence to support them.
B) Explanations based on belief are assumed to be true, whereas scientific explanations are accepted only provisionally.
C) Explanations based on belief are more likely to be verified by empirical observation than are scientific explanations.
D) The evidence required to verify explanations based on belief is less powerful than the evidence required to verify a scientific explanation.

Question 36

The question of the existence of life after death is best addressed with:

A) belief.
B) the scientific method.
C) experimentation.
D) pseudoexplanations.

Question 37

Scientific explanations are superior to those based on belief for questions that:

A) cannot be addressed with objective observation.
B) can be addressed with objective observation.
C) are broad and generally defined.
D) can be addressed by mutual agreement of authoritative sources.

Question 38

Scientific explanations may fail to provide a valid explanation for a phenomenon because of:

A) overreliance on faulty belief systems.
B) overly precise measurement devices.
C) faulty inference processes.
D) All of the answers are correct.

Question 39

In the satirical book, Motel of the Mysteries, an archaeologist discovered a container marked "ICE" in the motel room she unearthed. The archaeologist would be making an error of inference if she said that:

A) the container was an "internal components enclosure" used to store internal body organs after death.
B) the container was found in the antechamber next to a bed.
C) the container was made of the finest plastic material.
D) she could not determine the use of the container.

Question 40

Errors due to faulty inference arise because:

A) our measuring devices are unreliable and invalid.
B) the scientist cannot be sure that the observations are correct.
C) the assumptions on which the inference was based may not be true.
D) All of the answers are correct.

Question 41

Explaining bizarre behavior with the label "schizophrenia" is an example of:

A) commonsense reasoning.
B) rationalizing.
C) a circular explanation.
D) a scientific explanation.

Question 42

_____ does not provide a true explanation but merely provides another label for a class of observed behavior.

A) Methodological explanation
B) Teleological explanation
C) Circular explanation
D) Parsimonious explanation

Question 43

Obtaining independent measures of the behavior of interest and the explanatory concept helps avoid:

A) pseudoexplanation.
B) commonsense reasoning.
C) failures of scientific explanations due to faulty inference.
D) All of the answers are correct.

Question 44

After hearing about a terrorist act, you read a book to learn what causes such behavior. This is an example of reliance on the:

A) scientific method of inquiry.
B) rational method of inquiry.
C) direct experience method of inquiry.
D) method of authority.

Question 45

Priya watches a documentary on black holes to learn about their formation and evolution. Here, she uses _____ to acquire information on black holes.

A) teleology
B) tautology
C) the rational method of inquiry
D) the method of authority

Question 46

The method of authority:

A) has no place in scientific inquiry.
B) is useful in the early stages of scientific inquiry.
C) is not a valid way of acquiring information.
D) can be used as a substitute for the scientific method.

Question 47

The method of inquiry that involves logically deducing conclusions from self-evident truths is the:

A) method of authority.
B) logical method.
C) rational method.
D) scientific method.

Question 48

The rational method of inquiry is used in science to:

A) provide concrete evidence about the causes of a phenomenon.
B) compare the results from conflicting experiments.
C) help develop tentative explanations for behavior that will be tested.
D) All of the answers are correct.

Question 49

Which of the following is not a step of the scientific method as listed in the text?

A) Observing a phenomenon
B) Formulating tentative explanations
C) Developing a comprehensive theory about a phenomenon
D) Further observing and experimenting to rule out alternative explanations

Question 50

Based on his observations over a weekend, Mark predicts that the number of fallen leaves in a park is related to the age of the trees in the park. In this case, Mark is:

A) using a circular form of reasoning.
B) determining the standard deviance of two variables.
C) conducting a quasi-experimental study.
D) proposing a hypothesis.

Question 51

A hypothesis is:

A) the final word on the cause of a phenomenon.
B) a tentative statement about the relationship between variables.
C) rarely used in science because of imprecision.
D) None of the answers is correct.

Question 52

A(n) _____ is used to measure the way in which two or more variables are connected in a non-causal manner.

A) meta-analysis
B) experiment
C) quasi-experimental study
D) correlational study

Question 53

Ankit studies the connection between employee age and salary in an organization. He finds that older employees earn more than younger employees do. In this case, Ankit is conducting a _____.

A) qualitative study
B) cohort study
C) correlational study
D) quasi-experimental study

Question 54

A(n) _____ requires one to systematically manipulate a variable and look for changes in the value of another that occur as a result.

A) experiment
B) quasi-experiment
C) correlational study
D) empirical research

Question 55

Which of the following sets the scientific method apart from other methods of inquiry?

A) Logical deduction of hypotheses
B) Using authoritative sources to develop ideas for research
C) Observing and experimenting
D) Using pseudoexplanations in place of hypotheses

Question 56

When using the scientific method, after supporting your original hypothesis, you most often:

A) move on to a new research area.
B) discard the original hypothesis entirely, and develop a second one on the same issue to test.
C) run your study a second time to reconfirm your hypothesis.
D) refine your hypothesis so that you can further explore the behavior of interest.

Question 57

Once a disconfirmed hypothesis has been revised, it is:

A) subjected to rigorous testing.
B) accepted as accurate without further testing.
C) evaluated through the rational method rather than the scientific method.
D) None of the answers is correct.

Question 58

According to the text, _____ is the first step in the research process.

A) deciding on a research strategy
B) deciding on a research design
C) developing a research idea
D) analyzing the results of a protoscientific research

Question 59

According to the text, hypotheses are derived through a process of:

A) inductive reasoning.
B) deductive reasoning.
C) educated guessing.
D) None of the answers is correct.

Question 60

Which of the following statements is true of the research process?

A) Each step in the process is independent of the others.
B) A poorly designed study can be "saved" in later stages of the process.
C) Existing research is rarely a source of new ideas for research.
D) The decisions made in one step of the process can affect the nature of the research and the conclusions drawn from it.

Question 61

Issues such as equipment needs and preparing materials are most relevant when you are:

A) deciding what to study.
B) obtaining subjects.
C) deciding on a research design.
D) deciding how to analyze your results.

Question 62

Descriptive statistics provide:

A) an index of how good your research design was.
B) an index of the reliability of your data.
C) proof of the validity of your research hypothesis.
D) a "nutshell" description of your data.

Question 63

According to the text, a successfully completed research project:

A) may raise more questions than it answers.
B) removes the need to continue your research in that area.
C) should not be replicated.
D) None of the answers is correct.

Question 64

In the context of the research process, inferential statistics is used to:

A) arrive at the standard deviation of data collected.
B) determine the average value of data collected.
C) assess the reliability of data.
D) provide a "nutshell" description of data.

Question 65

The results from basic research are not applicable to solving everyday problems.

Question 66

If you conduct applied research, you cannot use your results to evaluate a theory.

Question 67

The everyday strategies we use to explain what we observe frequently lack the rigor to qualify as truly scientific approaches.

Question 68

Protosciences often use the scientific method to test ideas.

Question 69

Philosophy is an example of pseudoscience.

Question 70

Scientific explanations are based on objective and systematic observation.

Question 71

Scientists prefer explanations of broad explanatory power over those that "work" only within a limited set of circumstances.

Question 72

Scientific explanations cannot fail because they are tested and retested until verified.

Question 73

Protoscience invariably descends into pseudoscience.

Question 74

Only novice scientists must worry about falling into the trap of pseudoexplanation.

Question 75

Pseudoexplanation can be avoided by providing independent measures of the explanatory concept and the behavior of interest.

Question 76

The method of authority has no place in science.

Question 77

The rational method of inquiry is used in the early stages of scientific inquiry to help develop hypotheses.

Question 78

The scientific method is the most powerful method for acquiring scientific information.

Question 79

A hypothesis is a statement of the actual relationships among variables included in a study.

Question 80

Confirmation of a research hypothesis often leads to refinement and retesting.