Deck 2: A--Scientific Methods in Psychology

Question 1

Consider the following set of scores on a quiz: 2, 2, 3, 5, 8. The mean for this set of scores is 3.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

All else being equal, scientists always prefer the most parsimonious theory.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Dr. Jones finds a correlation of +.5 between variables A and B. Dr. Jones can logically conclude that changes in variable A caused the changes observed in variable B.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Experimenter bias is the tendency of an experimenter (unintentionally, in most cases) to distort or misperceive the results of an experiment based on the expected outcome.

Question 5

The ganzfeld procedure is one demonstration of psychic abilities that has consistently been replicated in the laboratory.

Question 6

Demand characteristics can be reduced by using a double-blind procedure.

Question 7

Consider the following set of scores on a quiz: 2, 2, 3, 5, 8. The mode for this set of scores is 2.

Question 8

Case histories are a type of naturalistic observation that focus on a single individual.

Question 9

The burden of proof concept argues that it is up to the skeptic to prove that no person can demonstrate psychic abilities.

Question 10

Properly conducted experiments allow researchers to draw conclusions about cause and effect.

Question 11

A correlation coefficient of -.7 represents a stronger relationship between variables than a correlation coefficient of +.5.

Question 12

The mean is especially useful if the scores approximate the normal distribution.

Question 13

An operational definition for hunger is the number of hours since the person last ate a meal.

Question 14

The smaller the random sample, the smaller the probability that the results will differ significantly from the whole population.

Question 15

Replicable results are those that anyone can obtain, at least approximately, by following the same procedures.

Question 16

Asking participants to give their informed consent prior to participating in a study is no longer required under ethical guidelines.

Question 17

A population is the entire group of individuals to be considered.

Question 18

When we are looking at small trends in the data, researchers use a meta-analysis.

Question 19

A falsifiable theory is a theory that scientists have tested and proved to be false.

Question 20

In an experiment on the effects of watching violent television on aggressive behavior, the type of television program viewed would be the dependent variable.

Question 21

The ____________________ is the item that an experimenter measures to determine how it was affected.

Question 22

Group A receives the following scores: 14, 15, 15, 15, 16. Group B receives the following scores: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20. The standard deviation for Group B is higher than it is for Group
A.

Question 23

Before conducting any experiment on humans, a psychological investigator must obtain ____________________.

Question 24

A ____________________ theory is one that makes clear, easily tested predictions.

Question 25

The goal of scientific research is to establish comprehensive explanations of observable events. These explanations are called ____________________.

Question 26

Consider the following set of scores on a quiz: 2, 2, 3, 5, 8. The median for this set of scores is 4.

Question 27

A ____________________ is one of the most difficult to obtain, but is best-suited for generalizing to the whole population?

Question 28

The word science derives from a Latin word meaning ____________________.

Question 29

If every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected for a sample, the sample is said to be a/an ____________________ sample.

Question 30

To say that a theory is ____________________ is to say that it makes simple, acceptable assumptions.

Question 31

A ____________________ involves selecting so that every individual has an equal chance of being chosen.

Question 32

If an increase in one variable is not associated with any consistent increase or decrease in a second variable, then the correlation between the two variables is ____________________.
or

Question 33

Participants in an experiment are often kept blind about the condition to which they have been assigned. This will help prevent ____________________.

Question 34

A ____________________ is the entire group of individuals to be considered.

Question 35

Two serious objections to claims of extrasensory perception are that the explanations are not ____________________ and that the results are not ____________________.

Question 36

Sometimes an inert pill is given to experimental participants, but they are told that the pill is effective. This pill is called a ____________________.

Question 37

Professor Smith conducts a study, and he finds that his results are not statistically significant. This means that Professor Smith must conclude that his hypothesis was wrong.

Question 38

____________________ is a highly desirable feature of a scientific study.

Question 39

In general, the smaller the p value, the more impressive the results.

Question 40

A ____________________ study is a procedure in which investigators measure the correlation between two variables without controlling either of them.

Question 41

The ____________________ is a measurement of the amount of variation among scores in a normal distribution.

Question 42

Describe three examples of the following situations: one in which two variables are positively correlated, one in which two variables are negatively correlated, and one in which there is zero correlation.

Question 43

A mother is attempting to minimize the number of times that her toddler pulls on his kitty's tail. She wants to assess whether different types of discipline have any effect on his behavior. For three weeks during the month, the mother gives the toddler one week of one specific type of discipline. One week the toddler receives time outs, one week he has a toy taken away, and one week he is told to clean the kitty's bowl for each kitty tail pull. At the end of each week, the mother tallies up the number of kitty tail pulls for the week. Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable.

Question 44

After defining the variables involved in a study, scientists have to identify individuals to study. The population is the group of individuals to whom we hope our conclusions will apply. Researchers generally hope that their conclusions will apply to a large population, such as all 5-year-olds or all people with schizophrenia. Because it is not practical to examine everyone in the population, researchers study a sample of people and assume that the results for the sample apply to the whole population. Briefly define the following types of samples and give one example for each; convenience sample, representative sample, random sample, and cross cultural sample.

Question 45

Statements about a large population based on an inference from a small sample, is called ____________________.

Question 46

Falsifiability, independent variables, dependent variables, blind observers, and demand characteristics are all potential characteristics of an experiment. Which of these would an experimenter try to minimize or avoid and why?

Question 47

A scientist has formed the following hypothesis; individuals who eat a late lunch consume more food than individuals who eat an early lunch. Once she has constructed her hypothesis, what are the three steps that she should follow to complete her experiment? State the steps and give an example of how to complete each step.

Question 48

The ____________________ is the sum of all the scores divided by the total number of scores.

Question 49

Mathematical summaries of results are known as ____________________.