Deck 2: From Hunches to Testable Hypotheses

Question 1

Irving Janis was fascinated by how a group of intelligent men such as President John F. Kennedy and his advisors could make such a disastrous decision when they authorized the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion. To find out, Janis began his study of decision-making in groups that eventually led to the phenomenon of "groupthink." Janis's hypothesis-generating heuristic could best be described as

A) an attempt to resolve conflicting results.
B) an effort to understand a paradoxical incident.
C) an effort to improve on older ideas.
D) the use of metaphors.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

One has entered the __________ stage of research when scientists actually begin to test their working hypotheses and logically defend their conclusions.

A) discovery
B) plausibility
C) initial
D) justification

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Databases that are used in psychological research and can be found in the college library include all but which of the following?

A) PROinfo
B) PsycINFO
C) ProQuest Dissertations and Theses
D) PsycARTICLES

Answer 3

A

Question 4

A testable supposition is also referred to as a

A) theory.
B) construct.
C) hypothesis.
D) variable.

Question 5

A researcher who attributes all successes to his treatment but then attributes all failures to another factor has violated which essential criterion for acceptable hypotheses?

A) falsifiability
B) testability
C) coherence and parsimony
D) correspondence with reality

Question 6

Name one example of a hypothesis-generating heuristic.

A) explaining paradoxical incidents in testable ways
B) identifying the operational definition
C) falsifiability
D) the consequence

Question 7

The inspiration for Robert Zajonc's research that ultimately led to his theory of social facilitation was

A) his desire to improve on older ideas and theories.
B) his use of analogical thinking.
C) his trying to make sense of a paradoxical incident.
D) his attempt to resolve conflicting results.

Question 8

Theories that result in further hypotheses and additional observations are known as __________ theories.

A) coherent
B) generative
C) parsimonious
D) working

Question 9

A researcher defines frustration as the negative affect one experiences when trying to solve a difficult problem. This is an example of a(n)

A) operational definition.
B) working definition.
C) theoretical definition.
D) plausible definition.

Question 10

Steve hypothesizes that some behaviors are due to one's astrological sign. Steve's hypothesis most likely violates which criterion for acceptable hypotheses?

A) correspondence with reality
B) falsifiability
C) coherence
D) parsimony

Question 11

An event or condition that a researcher plans to measure or observe is called a

A) theory.
B) construct.
C) variable.
D) hypothesis.

Question 12

Definitions based on how something will be measured or manipulated are referred to as

A) theoretical definitions.
B) conceptual definitions.
C) precise definitions.
D) operational definitions.

Question 13

While studying possible factors related to heart disease, two cardiologists, Meyer Freidman and Ray Rosenman, noticed that there were discernible differences in behavioral patterns between men who were and were not prone to coronary problems. This observation led to the identification of Type A and Type B personality types. The source of Friedman and Rosenman's initial research idea can best be described as

A) the use of metaphors.
B) serendipity.
C) resolution of conflicting ideas.
D) improvement on old ideas.

Question 14

A researcher defines frustration as the number of teeth marks a student makes on a pencil while trying to solve a difficult problem. This is an example of a(n)

A) operational definition.
B) conceptual definition.
C) working definition.
D) theoretical definition.

Question 15

According to the philosopher Hans Reichenbach, it is during the __________ stage of research that scientists formulate the ideas they pursue using the scientific method.

A) empirical
B) justification
C) discovery
D) final

Question 16

Michele hypothesizes that an individual who gets eight hours of sleep, takes a shower, eats a nutritious breakfast, and works under severe time constraints will do worse on a task than an individual who gets eight hours of sleep, takes a shower, eats a nutritious breakfast, but who does not work under the same severe time constraints. Michele's hypothesis violates which criterion for acceptable hypotheses?

A) correspondence with reality
B) inclusiveness
C) coherence and parsimony
D) falsifiability

Question 17

Linda conjectures that as research participants become more frustrated, they will commit more errors on a timed task. Her conjecture is an example of a

A) theory.
B) construct.
C) research idea.
D) hypothesis.

Question 18

The discovery phase conceptualizes the initial development of research ideas.

Question 19

Occam's razor is used to address which criterion for acceptable hypotheses?

A) falsifiability
B) comprehensiveness
C) correspondence with reality
D) coherence and parsimony

Question 20

Definitions that use abstract or general terms are considered to be

A) useful definitions.
B) working definitions.
C) theoretical definitions.
D) operational definitions.

Question 21

What is meant by the "discovery" phase of the research process? How is this different from the "justification" phase?

Question 22

Why is there no simple classification system for differentiating between variables that are exclusively independent variables and variables that are exclusively dependent variables? Give an example to support your argument.

Question 23

A waitress is interested in whether providing candy at the end of a meal to her customers can have a positive impact on the tips she receives. She either does or does not provide candy to her customers when she delivers the final check. The waitress then records the amount of the tip she receives from the dining party. What would tips be in this study?

A) a construct
B) an independent variable
C) a random variable
D) a dependent variable

Question 24

Describe two strategies one may employ when trying to identify studies relevant to one's research idea.

Question 25

Bill is interested in how people react to news of an impending snow storm. He informs subjects that it is going to snow 2, 6, or 12 inches and then assesses their anxiety levels. Anxiety levels represent the __________ variable in this study.

A) dependent
B) conceptual
C) independent
D) control

Question 26

Bill is interested in how people react to news of an impending snow storm. He informs subjects that it is going to snow 2, 6, or 12 inches and then assesses their anxiety levels. The different snow forecasts represent the __________ variable in this study.

A) construct
B) independent
C) control
D) dependent

Question 27

What is the difference between operational and theoretical definitions? Give an example of each.

Question 28

A waitress is interested in whether providing candy at the end of a meal to her customers can have a positive impact on the tips she receives. She either does or does not provide candy to her customers when she delivers the final check. The waitress then records the amount of the tip she receives from the dining party. What would the act of providing or not providing candy be in this study?

A) a construct
B) an independent variable
C) a random variable
D) a dependent variable

Question 29

Describe the three essential criteria for acceptable hypotheses.

Question 30

In an experiment, one manipulates the __________ variable in order to measure its effect on the __________ variable.

A) dependent; independent
B) independent; dependent
C) theoretical; operational
D) hypothesis; construct

Question 31

Describe three hypothesis-generating heuristics that scientists may use as the basis of hypotheses for empirical research.

Question 32

__________ is to cause as __________ is to effect.

A) Independent variable; dependent variable
B) Construct; dependent variable
C) Dependent variable; independent variable
D) Independent variable; construct

Question 33

Describe two general categories of independent variables discussed in the text. Provide an example of each.

Question 34

How do hypotheses differ from theories?