Question 1

A case study is an example of _____ research.&#10;A) experimental&#10;B) descriptive&#10;C) survey&#10;D) correlational

Accepted Answer

A case study is a detailed and in-depth analysis of an individual, group, or situation. This type of research is descriptive in nature, as it aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject being studied. Case studies often involve qualitative data collection methods, such as interviews, observations, and document analysis. While case studies can provide valuable insights, they are not experimental in design, which involves manipulating variables and measuring their effects. Similarly, they are not survey research, which involves collecting data from a sample of individuals using standardized questionnaires. Correlational research is a type of quantitative research that examines the relationship between two or more variables, but case studies do not necessarily use this methodology.

Question 2

When describing a skewed distribution, it is particularly important to report the _____ as a measure of central tendency.&#10;A) mean&#10;B) median&#10;C) mode&#10;D) range

Accepted Answer

When a distribution is skewed, the mean can be heavily influenced by outliers and may not accurately represent the "typical" value. The median, on the other hand, is less affected by outliers and better represents the center of the distribution. The mode may not be a good measure of central tendency in a skewed distribution because it may not be a representative point. The range is a measure of spread, not central tendency.

Question 3

In an experiment to understand the effects of exercise on heart rate, a researcher varies the speed of a treadmill and then measures the heart rate of the participant. The heart rate of the participant is the _____.

A) independent variable
B) dependent variable
C) placebo variable
D) operational variable

dependent variable

Accepted Answer

The heart rate of the participant is the variable that is being measured (dependent variable) in response to the variation in exercise (independent variable). A placebo variable is something that is given to a participant, for example, a sugar pill or inactive drug, to see if it has a psychological effect, and an operational variable is a variable that is defined and measured in a specific way to facilitate replication of the experiment. Neither of these terms applies to the heart rate in this scenario.

Question 4

In the normal distribution, over 99 percent of scores fall within how many standard deviations of the mean?&#10;A) 1&#10;B) 2&#10;C) 3&#10;D) 4

Accepted Answer

According to the empirical rule, approximately 68% of scores fall within 1 standard deviation of the mean, approximately 95% of scores fall within 2 standard deviations of the mean, and approximately 99.7% of scores fall within 3 standard deviations of the mean in a normal distribution. Therefore, over 99 percent of scores fall within 3 standard deviations of the mean, making choice C the best answer.

Question 5

If you want to predict the relationship between age and intelligence quotient (IQ), which research method would be best?&#10;A) correlational study&#10;B) case study&#10;C) controlled experiment&#10;D) naturalistic observation

Accepted Answer

A correlational study would be the best method to predict the relationship between age and intelligence quotient (IQ) because it allows the researcher to examine the degree of association between two variables (in this case, age and IQ) without manipulating them. This would enable the researcher to determine whether there is a positive or negative correlation between age and IQ.

Question 6

Which statement about random sampling is TRUE?&#10;A) Random sampling is used to assign participants to experimental and control groups.&#10;B) Random sampling does not provide a representative sample of the population being studied.&#10;C) In random sampling, each individual in the population has the same chance of being in the sample.&#10;D) In random sampling, researchers recruit their friends and associates at random.

Accepted Answer

Random sampling ensures that each individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample. This helps to provide a representative sample of the population and reduce bias in the study. A is incorrect because random assignment, not random sampling, is used to assign participants to experimental and control groups. B is incorrect because random sampling does provide a representative sample when done correctly. D is incorrect because true random sampling does not involve recruiting friends and associates.

Question 7

Suppose the correlation between grades in school and amount of time studying is +.92. These variables have a _____.&#10;A) strong inverse relationship&#10;B) strong direct relationship&#10;C) weak inverse relationship&#10;D) weak direct relationship

Accepted Answer

A correlation coefficient of +.92 indicates a strong positive or direct relationship between grades in school and amount of time studying.

Question 8

Which statistic describes the MOST frequently occurring score in a set of scores?&#10;A) mean&#10;B) median&#10;C) mode&#10;D) standard deviation

Accepted Answer

The mode is the score that occurs most frequently in a set of scores, making it the best choice for describing the most frequently occurring score. The mean and median are measures of central tendency but may not accurately represent the most frequently occurring score if there are outliers or the distribution is not symmetrical. The standard deviation measures the spread of scores and does not provide information about the most frequently occurring score.

Question 9

When two variables are unrelated, their correlation will be _____.&#10;A) 1&#10;B) 0&#10;C) +.5&#10;D) -.5

Accepted Answer

When two variables are unrelated, their correlation coefficient will be zero (0).

Question 10

A study examining how other people affect one's behavior is MOST likely guided by which major research perspective?&#10;A) biological&#10;B) behavioral&#10;C) cognitive&#10;D) sociocultural

Accepted Answer

The study examining how others affect one's behavior falls under the sociocultural perspective, which emphasizes the impact of social and cultural factors on behavior.

Deck 1: Section 4: The Science of Psychology