Deck 2: How Psychologists Do Research

Question 1

Which of the following methods would be most appropriate to study the effects of alcohol consumption on problem solving ability?

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

Answer 1

experiments

Question 2

An advantage of correlation is that:

A) it shows whether two or more variables are related.
B) firm conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn.
C) it is often useful in the first stages of a research program.
D) it provides a large amount of information on large numbers of people.

Answer 2

it shows whether two or more variables are related.

Question 3

An advantage of case studies is that:

A) they can confirm hypotheses.
B) general behavioural principles can be derived from them.
C) they can help determine cause and effect.
D) they provide in-depth information about unusual cases.

Answer 3

they provide in-depth information about unusual cases.

Question 4

The purpose of a double-blind study is:

A) to eliminate experimenter effects.
B) to increase experimental effects.
C) to test the effects of a placebo.
D) to determine the visual ability of newborn infants.

Question 5

A/An ________ is an organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena.

A) theory
B) hypothesis
C) operational definition
D) experiment

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a reason psychologists study animals?

A) to discover practical applications
B) to improve human welfare
C) to avoid use of deception
D) to clarify theoretical questions

Question 7

An ideal scientist should:

A) not express skepticism of new ideas.
B) rely on scientific intuition.
C) make sure theories are falsifiable.
D) not make "risky predictions."

Question 8

Descriptive statistics:

A) organize and summarize research data.
B) allow determination of statistical significance.
C) allow researchers to draw inferences about their results.
D) show how likely it is that a study's results occurred merely by chance.

Question 9

An advantage of naturalistic observation is that:

A) it shows whether two or more variables are related.
B) firm conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn.
C) it is often useful in the first stages of a research program.
D) it provides a large amount of information on large numbers of people.

Question 10

Cross-sectional studies allow one to determine the:

A) statistical significance of results.
B) effect size.
C) experimenter effects.
D) generational differences.

Question 11

The variable manipulated by the researcher in an experiment is the:

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

Question 12

An ideal scientist should:

A) not express skepticism of new ideas.
B) rely on scientific intuition.
C) not support falsifiable theories.
D) be willing to make "risky predictions."

Question 13

Which of the following methods would be most appropriate to study maternal behaviour in chimpanzees?

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

Question 14

A/An ________ is a statement that attempts to predict or to account for a set of phenomena.

A) theory
B) hypothesis
C) operational definition
D) experiment

Question 15

In a double-blind experiment:

A) neither the subjects in the experimental group nor the subjects in the control group know the experimental hypothesis.
B) neither the subjects in the experimental group nor the subjects in the control group know which group they are in.
C) neither the subjects nor the researcher know which subjects are in which group.
D) neither the subjects in the experimental group nor the subjects in the control group know or can see the experimenter.

Question 16

An advantage of a survey is that:

A) it shows whether two or more variables are related.
B) firm conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn.
C) it is often useful in the first stages of a research program.
D) it provides a large amount of information on large numbers of people.

Question 17

Meta-analysis is used to:

A) determine statistical significance.
B) combine results from several studies.
C) determine the probability of chance affecting the results.
D) maintain ethical standards in research.

Question 18

Statistical significance means that:

A) results are meaningful.
B) results are important.
C) results are unlikely to be due to chance.
D) results are typical.

Question 19

CPA ethical standards require researchers to:

A) avoid double-blind studies.
B) avoid the use of deception.
C) limit the use of volunteers as subjects.
D) obtain informed consent from subjects.

Question 20

An advantage of an experiment is that:

A) it shows whether two or more variables are related.
B) firm conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn.
C) it is often useful in the first stages of a research program.
D) it provides a large amount of information on large numbers of people.

Question 21

An operational definition tells:

A) how something is to be observed and measured.
B) what is expected to result from manipulation of a variable.
C) the meaning of a term in scientific language.
D) the meaning of a term in lay language.

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons why research methods matter so much to psychologists?

A) These methods allow psychologists to separate truth from unfounded belief.
B) These methods allow psychologists to gain respect from the "hard" sciences.
C) These methods allow psychologists to correct false ideas that might cause people harm.
D) These methods allow psychologists to sort out conflicting views.

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of scientists?

A) openness
B) scepticism
C) precision
D) humanism

Question 24

When psychologists learned that hopeful parents of autistic children were being drawn to a program of "facilitated communication," they:

A) conducted a survey of all the facilitators working with autistic children.
B) argued that it was not ethical to use this technique with children.
C) conducted experiments involving autistic children and their facilitators.
D) carefully analyzed the testimonials about the therapy before accepting it.

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT one of the key characteristics of the ideal scientist?

A) scepticism
B) avoidance of risky predictions
C) openness in regard to ideas and research
D) precision

Question 26

When the authors refer to psychologists as scientists, they mean that psychologists:

A) wear white coats when they conduct animal research.
B) rely upon sophisticated brain-imaging machines.
C) work with complicated computers and laboratory equipment.
D) base their work on scientific attitudes and procedures.

Question 27

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Hypotheses are derived from theories, which, in turn, lead to testable predictions.
B) Testable predictions derive from theories based on a set of hypotheses.
C) Predictions are derived from theories, which lead to a set of hypotheses.
D) Theories derive from hypotheses based on a set of predictions.

Question 28

Which of the following is an operational definition of depression?

A) a feeling of extreme sadness
B) the opposite of euphoria
C) a sense of futility and hopelessness
D) a score on the Beck Depression Inventory

Question 29

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A) A hypothesis is a statement that attempts to explain a specific behaviour.
B) A hypothesis is a specific prediction derived from a theory.
C) A hypothesis is a prediction about future events based on guesswork.
D) A hypothesis is a statement about a relationship between variables that may be empirically tested.

Question 30

An organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships is called a/an:

A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) double-blind study.
D) operational definition.

Question 31

Theory is defined as:

A) a statement that attempts to predict a set of phenomena, and specifies relationships among variables that can be empirically tested.
B) the precise meaning of a term, which specifies the operations for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being investigated.
C) the principle that a scientific theory must make predications that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.
D) an organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships.

Question 32

Research methods are important for all of the following reasons EXCEPT that they:

A) are the basic foundation for psychology and other sciences.
B) can help a person make a wiser decision between alternatives.
C) provide the means for false claims to be verified.
D) allow researchers to separate reliable information from unfounded claims.

Question 33

A hypothesis is defined as:

A) the principle that a scientific theory must make predications that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.
B) an organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships.
C) a statement that attempts to predict a set of phenomena, and specifies relationships among variables that can be empirically tested.
D) the precise meaning of a term, which specifies the operations for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being investigated.

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT a possible operational definition of intelligence?

A) a person's score on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test
B) the length of time a person takes to solve a complex maze
C) a student's cumulative GPA
D) a person's ability to reason and solve problems

Question 35

The principle of falsifiability is defined as:

A) the precise meaning of a term, which specifies the principles for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being investigated.
B) a statement that attempts to predict a set of phenomena, and specifies relationships among variables that can be empirically tested.
C) an organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships.
D) the principle that a scientific theory must make predications that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.

Question 36

A scientific theory could be thought of as:

A) an established truth.
B) an organized system of assumptions.
C) a measure of strength between two variables.
D) a personal opinion.

Question 37

An operational definition is:

A) a statement that attempts to predict a set of phenomena, and specifies relationships among variables that can be empirically tested.
B) an organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships.
C) the principle that a scientific theory must make predications that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.
D) the precise meaning of a term, which specifies the operations for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being investigated.

Question 38

A statement that attempts to predict or to account for a set of phenomena is called a/an:

A) hypothesis.
B) theory.
C) operational definition.
D) double-blind study.

Question 39

A precise meaning of a term, which specifies the operations for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being investigated, is called a/an:

A) double-blind study.
B) theory.
C) hypothesis.
D) operational definition.

Question 40

A theory is:

A) an organized system of assumptions and principles that attempts to explain some phenomenon.
B) an opinion or idea about the causes of some phenomenon.
C) a group of interrelated statements about cause and effect.
D) a hunch about the causes of related phenomena.

Question 41

Hannah has always been drawn to the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," and she decides to incorporate this saying into her research project. Hannah is trying to define "absence" in a way that can be empirically tested. She is attempting to find an appropriate:

A) theory.
B) double-blind study.
C) hypothesis.
D) operational definition.

Question 42

The tendency to look for information that supports one's own belief is called the:

A) criterion validity.
B) volunteer bias.
C) principle of falsifiability.
D) confirmation bias.

Question 43

Descriptive methods allow a researcher to do all of the following EXCEPT:

A) choose one explanation about behaviour over competing ones.
B) predict behaviour.
C) describe behaviour
D) depict behaviour.

Question 44

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Disclosure of the details of a study is important to allow for replication by others.
B) Research procedures, once patented, should be shared openly.
C) It is a waste of time and money to replicate a study that has already been done.
D) Scientists should keep their research secret so others will not steal their ideas.

Question 45

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A) Even though skepticism about new ideas is important, a scientist should accept older ideas that have been endorsed by authorities in the field.
B) It is important to balance skepticism with openness to new ideas.
C) Skepticism and caution go hand in hand.
D) Skepticism in science is an unwillingness to accept an idea without empirical evidence.

Question 46

Scientists are expected to submit their results to professional journals, which send the findings to experts for evaluation before publication. This process is called:

A) criterion validity.
B) peer review.
C) content validity.
D) reliability.

Question 47

One purpose of peer review is to:

A) make sure that the researchers did not deceive their subjects in any way.
B) make sure that the research does not involve animals as subjects.
C) scrutinize the evidence before any announcement to the public.
D) choose which, among competing interpretations of a finding, is best.

Question 48

In order to be taken seriously, a hypothesis must be:

A) backed by empirical evidence.
B) imaginative and appealing.
C) plausible given the current theories.
D) suggested by a credible authority.

Question 49

A detailed description of a particular individual being studied or treated is called a:

A) case study.
B) single-blind study.
C) representative sample.
D) naturalistic observation.

Question 50

Research methods that depict behaviour but are not necessarily causal explanations are called:

A) significance tests.
B) experimental methods.
C) descriptive methods.
D) single-blind studies.

Question 51

Which of the following is most characteristic of scientists?

A) reliance on scientific authority
B) intense conviction that a hypothesis is true
C) creativity in developing new ideas to test
D) reliance on empirical evidence

Question 52

According to the principle of falsifiability:

A) false conclusions are reached in a scientific study when researchers make risky predictions.
B) researchers must conduct naturalistic observations in order to reach a causal explanation about a particular behaviour.
C) hypotheses should be considered false until scientific research proves, without a doubt, that they are true.
D) a scientific theory must make predictions that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.

Question 53

On the internet, reports of murderous satanic cults operating in Canada are widespread, but the RCMP has never been able to substantiate this claim. Some individuals continued to believe in the existence of the cults, saying that the RCMP has been part of the conspiracy. This is an example of a violation of ________ in everyday life.

A) the volunteer bias
B) the principle of falsifiability
C) the coefficient of correlation
D) replication

Question 54

Confirmation bias is a:

A) tendency to accept replicated studies but not accept studies that have not been replicated.
B) belief that bias exists in many studies that prevents them from being confirmed.
C) tendency to believe theories that have been confirmed by empirical data.
D) tendency to look for evidence that supports our theory and ignore evidence that contradicts it.

Question 55

Descriptive methods, such as case studies, are useful when researchers are:

A) not certain what it is they are studying.
B) not able to conduct an experiment.
C) not able to make appropriate observations.
D) not able to make predictions.

Question 56

What was wrong with Norman Cousins's claim that humour and vitamins could cure life-threatening diseases?

A) It was not falsifiable.
B) It was not based on empirical evidence.
C) It resulted from confirmation bias.
D) Its variables were not operationally defined.

Question 57

Replication relies upon a scientist's:

A) openness.
B) skepticism.
C) reliance on empirical evidence.
D) precision.

Question 58

Science is meant to be a/an ________ activity.

A) elite
B) secret
C) private
D) communal

Question 59

The principle of falsifiability means that:

A) scientists, as well as people in general, tend to accept false information when it is endorsed by an authority.
B) a scientist must state an idea in such a way that it can be refuted or disproved by counterevidence.
C) scientists must be careful not to falsify their results.
D) theories that have not been proven are considered falsified.

Question 60

Marcy is trying to define "anxiety" in a way that can be empirically tested. She is attempting to find an appropriate:

A) operational definition.
B) double-blind study.
C) hypothesis.
D) theory.

Question 61

In the 1970s, a 13-year-old girl was found locked up in a room, strapped to a potty chair. Since she had grown up in a world without human speech, researchers studied Genie's ability to acquire words, grammar, and pronunciation. This type of research is called a:

A) representative sample.
B) naturalistic observation.
C) case study.
D) single-blind study.

Question 62

The case of Genie illustrated that:

A) autistic children often have cold, rejecting mothers.
B) there is an early critical period for language development.
C) early severe deprivation can be overcome with later therapy.
D) language acquisition is possible even if it is delayed until adolescence.

Question 63

For his adult development class, Barry is systematically recording behaviours at an assisted-care facility, making sure that he doesn't interfere with the behaviours. Barry is engaged in:

A) observational research.
B) statistically significant research.
C) standardized testing.
D) experimental research.

Question 64

Dr. Littman-Smith is conducting research in Kenya in order to determine the ways that mothers and their toddlers interact throughout the day. It is most likely that she is engaged in:

A) case study research.
B) experimental research.
C) laboratory observation.
D) naturalistic observation.

Question 65

Dr. Nicod is conducting research in France in order to determine the ways that mothers and their toddlers interact throughout the day. It is most likely that she is engaged in:

A) meta-analysis research.
B) naturalistic observation.
C) survey research.
D) psychological testing.

Question 66

Which of the following is NOT a descriptive method?

A) tests
B) case studies
C) surveys
D) correlation

Question 67

In the 1970s, Genie's difficulty acquiring words, grammar, and pronunciation led researchers to conclude that:

A) Genie's linguistic deficits can be generalized to other abused children.
B) Genie had suffered brain damage in the birth process.
C) language depends on nurture rather than nature.
D) a critical period exists for language development.

Question 68

Which descriptive method would be most appropriate for studying mathematics ability of incoming college students?

A) case study
B) test
C) observation
D) survey

Question 69

Which descriptive method would be most appropriate for studying flirtation behaviour in college students?

A) test
B) survey
C) observation
D) case study

Question 70

On the basis of case study research, psychoanalyst Bruno Bettelheim wrote that autism in children is caused by cold and rejecting mothers. Thousands of women blamed themselves for lacking warmth. The example is described in order to:

A) demonstrate that nurture is more important than nature in psychological problems such as autism.
B) illustrate the importance of motherhood so that other children don't suffer this type of tragedy.
C) illustrate that drawing conclusions solely on the basis of case studies can have disastrous results.
D) demonstrate that case studies are able to establish causal connections in some clinical cases.

Question 71

Which of the following is an advantage of case studies?

A) Case studies produce a more detailed picture of an individual than do other methods.
B) The observer may have biases that influence which facts are observed and which are ignored.
C) An individual case may not be representative of others.
D) Information is often missing or hard to interpret.

Question 72

Over a period of 55 years, a British woman sniffed large amounts of cocaine, which she obtained legally under British regulations for the treatment of addicts. She appeared to show no negative effects, other than drug dependence. What does this case tell us about the dangers/safety of cocaine?

A) It is safe when legally regulated.
B) Not much.
C) It is dangerous because it causes dependence.
D) It should be legalized in Canada.

Question 73

In ________ the researcher carefully and systematically watches and records behaviour, without interfering with the behaviour.

A) survey research
B) double-blind research
C) experimental research
D) observational research

Question 74

Dawn is systematically recording behaviours at a nursery school, making sure that she doesn't interfere with the behaviours. Dawn is engaged in:

A) double-blind research.
B) observational research.
C) survey research.
D) experimental research.

Question 75

________ are usually sources of hypotheses, rather than tests of hypotheses.

A) Single-blind studies
B) Case studies
C) Double-blind studies
D) Field research studies

Question 76

An advantage of observational studies is that:

A) they can provide accurate descriptions of behaviour.
B) they do not provide hypotheses to be tested.
C) they can answer questions about cause and effect.
D) the presence of observers can alter the behaviour being observed.

Question 77

Dr. Olson wants to know whether or not the first three years of life are critical for acquiring language. She decides to study children who have been deprived of human language. The appropriate method to use to explore this issue would be a/an:

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

Question 78

An academic researcher would use the case study method in all of the following situations EXCEPT:

A) when the purpose of the research is to track down a cause.
B) when practical considerations prevent other methods of gathering information.
C) when first beginning to study a research topic.
D) when ethical considerations prevent other methods of gathering information.

Question 79

A case study would be the most appropriate method to investigate which of these topics?

A) the math skills of students in Japan as compared to those of Canadian students
B) the development of a male baby raised as a female after a surgical error destroyed his penis
C) physiological changes that occur when people watch violent movies
D) the ways in which the games of boys differ from the games of girls

Question 80

Which descriptive method would be most appropriate for studying changes in behaviour following a rare brain disorder?

A) observation
B) survey
C) case study
D) test