Deck 2: Scientific Methods in Psychology

Question 1

What is a hypothesis?​

A)A statistical test for determining the significance of a result
B)​A method of doing an experiment
C)​A statement that leads to a prediction
D)​An interpretation of the results of a study

Answer 1

​A statement that leads to a prediction

Question 2

If several researchers follow the same procedure as the first researcher but get different results,what do we say about those results?​

A)They are not fictitious.
B)​They are not replicable.
C)​They are not parsimonious.
D)​They are not statistically significant.

Answer 2

​They are not replicable.

Question 3

What is one way in which psychological research differs from chemistry and other sciences?​

A)Unlike psychologists, chemists use the experimental method.
B)​Unlike psychologists, chemists analyze their results with statistics.
C)​Psychological research faces more serious ethical restraints.
D)​Psychological experimentation dates back to the time of the ancient Greeks.

Answer 3

​Psychological research faces more serious ethical restraints.

Question 4

If researchers get similar results whenever they follow a procedure,what are the results?​

A)Statistically significant
B)​Parsimonious
C)​Replicable
D)​Experimental

Question 5

Suppose many researchers have conducted similar studies,but most used only a small number of participants.To estimate the true size of the results,which procedure would be best?​

A)A correlation coefficient
B)​A meta-analysis
C)​A survey
D)​A statement of parsimony

Question 6

What does a meta-analysis do?​

A)It re-examines the results of a controversial experiment.
B)​It determines whether the interpretation of a result is parsimonious.
C)​It removes from consideration any data that appear to be inaccurate.
D)​It combines the results from many studies.

Question 7

Suppose researchers are not certain about whether or not a certain finding is replicable.Which of these procedures would be appropriate for answering the question?​

A)A meta-analysis
B)​A standard deviation
C)​A demand characteristic
D)​A case history

Question 8

What does it mean to say that a result is "replicable"?​

A)The results would be unlikely to arise by chance.
B)​The results conform to the predictions of a theory.
C)​Most scientists consider the results important.
D)​Other researchers can get the same results.

Question 9

If someone publishes surprising but incorrect results,in the long run people will not take the study seriously.Why not?​

A)The interpretation will not be parsimonious.
B)​The methods will not be explained in enough detail.
C)​The hypothesis will not be plausible.
D)​The results will not be replicable.

Question 10

How could someone determine whether the results of some study are replicable?​

A)Survey other scientists for their opinions of the study.
B)​Perform a statistical analysis to determine the likelihood of such results.
C)​Compare the interpretation of results to other possible interpretations.
D)​Repeat the procedure and try to get the same results.

Question 11

What is meant by a "falsifiable" theory?​

A)It is based on results that are not replicable.
B)​Someone has reported evidence that contradicts the theory.
C)​We can imagine evidence that would contradict the theory.
D)​The theory disagrees with common sense.

Question 12

A good scientific theory SHOULD have which of the following features?​

A)It is based on many complex assumptions.​
B)​It makes falsifiable predictions.
C)​It can agree with almost any observation.
D)​It is based on illusory correlations.

Question 13

Which of these refers to the idea that we accept results only if other investigators can repeat them?​

A)Significance 
B)​Replicability
C)​Determinism
D)​Parsimony

Question 14

Which of these is true about a "falsifiable" theory?​

A)Most scientists argue against the theory.
B)​Replicable data have contradicted the theory.
C)​It makes clear, unambiguous predictions.
D)​So far, not enough research has tested the theory.

Question 15

The word science derives from a Latin word that means what?​

A)Laboratory
B)​Knowledge
C)​Questioning
D)​Progress

Question 16

If other investigators repeat a study with similar results,what is the result said to be?​

A)Analytical 
B)​Redundant
C)​Parsimonious
D)​Replicable

Question 17

If a theory is falsifiable,then which of the following is true?​

A)It is too vague to be useful.
B)​We can imagine evidence that would contradict it.
C)​Scientists have replaced it with a better theory.
D)​It makes interpretations that are not parsimonious.

Question 18

When someone conducts a research study,which of these comes first?​

A)Interpretation
B)​Methods
C)​Hypothesis
D)​Results

Question 19

If a result is replicable,which of these must be true? ​

A)Other investigators can repeat the results.
B)​The interpretation is more parsimonious than other possible explanations.
C)​The results have been published in a reputable journal.
D)​The results are statistically significant.

Question 20

Any scientific study goes through four steps.Which of these is the correct order of events?​

A)Hypothesis-interpretation-methods-results
B)​Hypothesis-methods-interpretation-results
C)​Hypothesis-methods-results-interpretation
D)​Interpretation-hypothesis-methods-results

Question 21

To decide whether a theory is parsimonious,what do scientists consider?​

A)Whether or not the theory leads to practical applications
B)​Whether or not the theory is popular with the general public
C)​​Whether or not the theory can be stated with mathematical precision
D)​How simple the assumptions behind the theory are

Question 22

Which of the following do researchers generally regard as desirable?​

A)Experimenter bias
B)​Demand characteristics
C)​Falsifiable theories
D)​Illusory correlations

Question 23

Some people believe in the existence of the "abominable snowman." Others doubt its existence.Who has the burden of proof,and why?​

A)Those who believe in the abominable snowman have the burden of proof because they are defending the more popular point of view.
B)​Those who believe in the abominable snowman have the burden of proof because they might be able to find evidence, and the doubters could not.
C)​Those who doubt the abominable snowman have the burden of proof because they are defending the more popular point of view.
D)​Those who doubt the abominable snowman have the burden of proof because they might be able to find evidence, and the believers could not.

Question 24

Which of the following claims would NOT be falsifiable?​

A)"Anxiety is more common in young adults than in old people."
B)​"Mothers who take folic acid during pregnancy tend to have healthier children."
C)​"Dreams are often disguised to hide their true meaning."
D)​"Early music training improves children's language development."

Question 25

What do we call the principle that we should prefer the theory that makes the fewest and simplest assumptions?​

A)Informed consent
B)​Parsimony
C)​Falsifiability
D)​Correlation

Question 26

According to the principle of parsimony,what kind of theory should we prefer?​

A)The theory for which we cannot even imagine any contradictory evidence
B)​The theory that was proposed first
C)​The theory that is most popular with the general public
D)​The theory that makes fewer and simpler assumptions

Question 27

The legal system requires the prosecution to demonstrate the defendant's guilt.Similarly,a scientist who makes a claim is expected to provide evidence.What is this obligation called?​

A)Correlation
B)​Burden of proof
C)​Parsimony
D)​Demand characteristic

Question 28

"Clever Hans" could answer math questions only under which conditions?​

A)Only if he had heard the same question before
B)​Only if his trainer was present
C)​Only if he could see the questioner's face
D)​Only if he could hear the questioner's voice

Question 29

The professor says Angela missed class.Angela says she was there,but aliens from outer space caused her to be invisible.Why do we prefer the professor's account of the event?​

A)It is more open-minded.
B)​It is more parsimonious.
C)​It is more correlational.
D)​It is more psychoanalytic.

Question 30

If a theory is "falsifiable," then which of these is true about it?​

A)More than one experiment has disconfirmed the theory.
B)​It makes specific, testable predictions.
C)​It contradicts other well-established theories.
D)​It is based on too many unlikely assumptions.

Question 31

Clever Hans was a horse that at first appeared to have what surprising ability?​

A)Language comprehension
B)​Mind reading
C)​Mathematical calculation
D)​Disappearance

Question 32

A psychic claims that he can read the minds of people who lived thousands of years ago.What is the main scientific objection to this claim?​

A)The claim is not based on mathematics.
B)​The claim is based on correlational data.
C)​The claim is not falsifiable.
D)​The claim is based on independent variables.

Question 33

In science and in a criminal trial,who has the "burden of proof"-that is,the obligation to demonstrate that its claims are correct?​

A)The side defending the more popular point of view
B)​The side defending the more interesting theory
C)​The side that should be able to produce good evidence, if they are right
D)​The side that has more to lose

Question 34

In both science and the legal system,which side has the "burden of proof"?​

A)The side that is defending the current point of view
B)​The side that should find it possible to present convincing evidence, if it is right
C)​The side that has more to lose, if it is wrong
D)​The side that has fewer supporters

Question 35

In both the U.S.legal system and in scientific disputes,the "burden of proof" falls on whom?​

A)Someone who is proposing a more parsimonious explanation
B)​Someone who is suspected of being dishonest
C)​Someone who should be in the better position to provide convincing evidence
D)​Someone who is defending the more popular beliefs or values

Question 36

Why is "falsifiable" considered a desirable thing for a theory?​

A)It means we have replaced it with a better theory.
B)​It means the theory is sufficiently interesting to attract opposition.
C)​It means that the theory makes clear, testable predictions.
D)​It means the theory is highly parsimonious.

Question 37

The "Yes-ists" claim there are intelligent beings somewhere in outer space.The "No-ists" claim there are not.Which side has the burden of proof,and why?​

A)The Yes-ists have the burden of proof because they are defending the more popular point of view.
B)The Yes-ists have the burden of proof because they might be able to find evidence, and the No-ists could not.
C)The No-ists have the burden of proof because they are defending the more popular point of view.
D)The No-ists have the burden of proof because they might be able to find evidence, and the Yes-ists could not.

Question 38

Suppose someone doing a card trick claims to read other people's minds though psychic powers.What would most scientists seek?​

A)A more sensational explanation
B)​A more parsimonious explanation
C)​A more correlational explanation
D)​A more psychoanalytic explanation

Question 39

If a theory makes only a few simple assumptions similar to those of other widely accepted theories,what do we say about the new theory?​

A)It is parsimonious.
B)​It is inferential.
C)​It is correlational.
D)​It is replicable.

Question 40

Why do scientists prefer the more parsimonious explanation?​

A)It is simpler.
B)​It is more interesting.
C)​It leads to getting better grant support.
D)​It avoids the burden of proof.

Question 41

Which of the following is an operational definition of "grief"?​

A)A synonym for bereavement
B)​A feeling of sadness and loneliness
C)​The consequence of the loss of a loved one
D)​The number of tears shed per day

Question 42

Why is an anecdote NOT considered strong evidence?​

A)Most people do not experience anecdotes.
B)​When people do experience anecdotes, they don't remember them.
C)​An anecdote is a demand characteristic.
D)​An anecdote could have occurred by accident.

Question 43

Which of the following is an operational definition of "religiousness"?​

A)A belief in a supreme being
B)​The opposite of atheism
C)​The frequency of attending worship services
D)​A deep sense of oneness with the universe

Question 44

Which of the following is an operational definition of "hunger"?​

A)How much someone would be willing to pay for a meal
B)​A desire for food
C)​The opposite of "feeling full"
D)​The biological need for nutrition

Question 45

Clever Hans appeared to do math.But he was really responding to what?​

A)Finger movements
B)​Sounds
C)​Facial expressions
D)​Breathing patterns

Question 46

You think about a friend you haven't thought about in months,and then that friend calls you.This is an example of what?​

A)A double-blind study
B)​A demand characteristic
C)​A statistically significant finding
D)​An anecdote

Question 47

Someone claims that ESP shows up only when the vibrations are right and that there is no way to know whether the vibrations are right except to see whether ESP shows up.Why is this proposal not scientifically acceptable?​

A)It is not falsifiable.
B)​It has too many independent variables.
C)​It has too many dependent variables.
D)​It has no demand characteristics.

Question 48

When Clever Hans appeared to do complex math,why did scientists seek a different explanation?​

A)Scientists seek the most interesting explanation.
B)​Scientists seek the most parsimonious explanation.
C)​Scientists seek the most original explanation.
D)​Scientists seek the most psychoanalytic explanation.

Question 49

What are the reasons to be skeptical of extrasensory perception?​

A)The results are not replicable and the explanation is not parsimonious.
B)​The results are not independent and the explanation is not statistical.
C)​The results are not random and the explanation is not psychoanalytical.
D)​The results are not anecdotal and the explanation is not replicable.

Question 50

In one word,why did most scientists doubt that Clever Hans could do complex mathematics,even before they understood he was actually doing?​

A)Correlation
B)​Maturation
C)​Parsimony
D)​Statistics

Question 51

How did Clever Hans solve arithmetic problems?​

A)He memorized the answer to each question by long practice.
B)​He watched the questioner for facial cues.
C)​He listened for the questioner to clear his throat.
D)​He guessed correctly only by accident.

Question 52

Why do researchers use operational definitions of their terms?​

A)An operational definition enables researchers to measure something.
B)​An operational definition provides a scientific explanation of something.
C)​An operational definition explains the term to the average person.
D)​An operational definition explains the practical importance of something.

Question 53

What do supporters of extrasensory perception assert?​

A)They assert that at least some people have an additional sense organ that perceives energies that other people do not perceive.
B)​They assert that all people have an additional sense organ that scientists don't know about.
C)​They assert that some people gain information without receiving anything through any sense organ.
D)​They assert that some people are luckier at guessing than other people are.

Question 54

What is an anecdote?​

A)A way of testing the statistical significance of a result
B)​A participant in a research study
C)​A report of a single event
D)​A medicine that blocks the damage from a poison

Question 55

What is an operational definition?​

A)A definition that states how to produce or measure something
B)​A definition in terms of synonyms and antonyms
C)​A definition that explains the scientific causes of something
D)​A definition that explains the origin of the word

Question 56

What is one of the main objections raised against ESP?​

A)Not enough anecdotes have been reported.
B)​The experiments claiming to support ESP have independent variables.
C)​The results claiming to support ESP are not replicable.
D)​The theory behind ESP is falsifiable.

Question 57

Why is an anecdote not considered strong evidence?​

A)An anecdote is part of an experiment.
B)​An anecdote is not replicable.
C)​An anecdote is falsifiable.
D)​An anecdote is observed in a double-blind manner.

Question 58

What was Oskar Pfungst's evidence that Clever Hans was not doing math?​

A)Hans answered correctly only when the questioner made certain sounds.
B)​Hans answered correctly only when the questioner stood in plain sight.
C)​Hans answered correctly only when his trainer, Mr. von Osten, was present.
D)​Hans answered correctly on some days and not others.

Question 59

What was Oskar Pfungst's evidence that Clever Hans was not doing math?​

A)Hans's answers were only slightly more accurate than chance.
B)​Hans guessed randomly when scientists were present.
C)​Hans answered correctly only when his trainer, Mr. von Osten, was present.
D)​Hans answered correctly only if the questioner knew the correct answer.

Question 60

"The Amazing Kreskin" demonstrates his powers by finding his paycheck hidden somewhere in the audience.What is the most parsimonious explanation?​

A)He reads facial cues, much like Clever Hans.
B)​He finds the check by coincidence alone.
C)​He uses supernatural psychic powers.
D)​He perceives brain waves radiating from the audience.

Question 61

Someone doing a survey in Florida interviews every 1,000th person on the census list.This procedure approximates which type of sample?​

A)A random sample
B)​A cross-cultural sample
C)​A cross-sectional sample
D)​An elite sample

Question 62

In what kind of sample does everyone in the population have an equal chance of being chosen?​

A)A random sample
B)​A representative sample
C)​A convenience sample
D)​An elite sample

Question 63

A researcher studies a large group of people,obtaining the same percentages of male and female,young and old,as in the total population.What kind of sample is this?​

A)A convenience sample
B)​A cross-cultural sample
C)​A representative sample
D)​A random sample

Question 64

Which of the following is an operational definition of "honesty"?​

A)A tendency to tell the truth
B)​A feeling of guilt after telling a lie
C)​The amount of money returned after finding a lost wallet
D)​A feeling of contempt after seeing someone else tell a lie

Question 65

Which of the following could be an operational definition of "effective motherhood"?​

A)A strong desire to do what is best for one's children
B)​A sense of security felt by the children themselves
C)​The number of children who survive to age 21
D)​A desire by the mother to conform to the best advice about motherhood

Question 66

A cross-cultural study compared all 300 residents of a remote African village to 300 volunteers from Chicago.What is the MAIN weakness in this research?​

A)The researcher might not find a large difference between the cultures.
B)​Chicago is not a typical American city.
C)​The types of samples are not comparable.
D)​A village with only 300 people is too small.

Question 67

For which of the following is a cross-cultural sample most important?​

A)Studies about the basic mechanisms of vision, hearing, and other senses
B)​Studies about the humanlike behaviors of chimpanzees
C)​Studies about chemicals in the brain and how they influence behavior
D)​Studies about which male-female differences are natural, and which ones are learned

Question 68

On the Mechanical Turk website,researchers post studies and anyone who wants to can participate for a small fee.What kind of research sample does this provide?​

A)It is a convenience sample.
B)​It is a random sample.
C)​It is a representative sample.
D)​It is a statistical sample.

Question 69

Which of the following could be an operational definition of "sadness"?​

A)An inability to experience joy or laughter
B)​A general feeling of discouragement or despair
C)​The number of tears shed during a day
D)​The emotional outcome after someone has felt an important loss

Question 70

Which of the following could be an operational definition of "love" of someone?​

A)An extremely high regard for this person and desire for the person to be happy
B)​A feeling of happiness when spending time with this person
C)​How far you would be willing to walk through snow to get to this person
D)​The opposite of a strong dislike

Question 71

You find a difference between men and women at your college,but you wonder whether it is true for humans in general.To answer the question,what do you need?​

A)Convenience sample
B)​Cross-cultural sample
C)​Larger sample
D)​Different sample

Question 72

Suppose you interview every tenth person who enters a shopping mall one day.What kind of sample is this?​

A)It is a cross-cultural sample.
B)​It is a representative sample.
C)​It is a random sample.
D)​It is a convenience sample.

Question 73

Which of the following is an operational definition of "thriftiness"?​

A)A desire to save money
B)​The amount of money saved per month
C)​A reputation for spending money carefully
D)​A feeling of nervousness whenever purchasing something expensive

Question 74

What kind of sample closely matches the total population in its percentage of young and old,male and female,and various ethnic groups?​

A)Convenience sample
B)​Representative sample
C)​Cross-cultural sample
D)​Local sample

Question 75

A researcher sits on a park bench and surveys every passing person who is willing to participate.What type of sample will this be?​

A)A random sample
B)​A representative sample
C)​A convenience sample
D)​A cross-cultural sample

Question 76

Which of these characterizes a representative sample?​

A)Anyone who volunteers to participate is included in the study.
B)​Everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen for the study.
C)​The percentages of male and female, old and young, match the whole population.
D)​The people in the study say they are confident that their opinions are the common ones.

Question 77

Which of the following could be an operational definition of "love" of someone?​

A)Increase of heart rate upon seeing a picture of the person
B)​A desire to be with the person whenever possible
C)​A feeling of jealousy if someone else makes this person smile
D)​The opposite of dislike or hate

Question 78

Which of these procedures would produce a random sample of Chicago voters?​

A)Take the list of all Chicago voters and draw names out of a hat.
B)​Choose voters such that the percentage of male and female, Black and White, match the total percentage for the city.
C)​Take a spot on a street and interview every voter who walks by you.
D)​Ask for volunteers and accept every registered voter who volunteers.

Question 79

Which of the following could be an operational definition of "fearfulness"?​

A)A frequent sense of dread or tension
B)​A belief that the world tends to be a dangerous place
C)​The amount of increased heart beat after hearing a loud noise
D)​The opposite of a sense of relaxation and harmony

Question 80

A researcher studies a group that includes the same percentages of male and female,old and young,and so on,as the whole population.This is which type of sample?​

A)Convenience sample
B)​Cross-cultural sample
C)​Random sample
D)​Representative sample