Deck 3: Research Methods

Question 1

Based on the textbook's discussion, whether a discipline is considered a science depends on

A) the methods it uses to acquire knowledge.
B) the expertise of the scholars and teachers who work in the discipline
C) the technological sophistication of the equipment it uses
D) the complexity of its subject matter

Answer 1

the methods it uses to acquire knowledge.

Question 2

"One can never be proved right but always proved wrong." This statement MOST closely reflects the scientific process of ______.

A) reflection
B) falsification
C) inference
D) correlation

Answer 2

falsification

Question 3

Which statement is FALSE with respect to naturalistic observation?

A) It is most useful for understanding the "big picture."
B) It emphasizes invariant patterns in the environment.
C) It entails observation without interference.
D) It reveals the factors that cause a particular behavior

Answer 3

It reveals the factors that cause a particular behavior

Question 4

Valentina is engaged in naturalistic observation. In which of these projects is she MOST likely engaged?

A) asking a sample of college students a set of questions about their tendency to become angry in different situations
B) studying the social behaviors of an autistic boy
C) observing interactions between subordinates and their supervisors in a large corporate office
D) examining crime statistics from the Department of Justice to see if the rate of property crimes is related to the rate of violent crimes

Question 5

Paul records data that indicate that the number of hot chocolates sold at a concession stand increases as temperature outside decreases. (For example, more hot chocolates are purchased during late fall than late spring.) Which statement is the MOST accurate depiction of this finding?

A) There is a correlation between the two variables.
B) There is a high, positive correlation between the two variables.
C) There is a low, positive correlation between the two variables.
D) There is a negative correlation between the two variables.

Question 6

The scientific process by which a claim is shown to be wrong is known as ______.

A) verification
B) classification
C) falsification
D) redaction

Question 7

When a rod passed through Phineas Gage's head, which area of the brain was damaged?

A) occipital lobe
B) temporal lobe
C) prefrontal cortex
D) hippocampus

Question 8

The scientific process first begins with a(n) ______.

A) expectation
B) inference
C) experiment
D) conclusion

Question 9

Which of the following researchers is conducting a case study?

A) Dr. Henriette, who is investigating the effect of word imageability on list memory
B) Dr. Innis, who is examining the tactile perception of a blind woman
C) Dr. Kulik, who is asking a sample of college students a set of questions on their political attitudes
D) Dr. Jefferson, who is observing children on a playground

Question 10

Dr. Gigliotti is conducting a detailed examination of a patient with dissociative identity disorder. Dr. Gigliotti is undertaking ______.

A) correlational research
B) naturalistic observation
C) a case study
D) an experiment

Question 11

Which of the following is a high negative correlation?

A) 0.00
B) −0.99
C) 1.00
D) −.01

Question 12

Sigmund Freud based much of his theory on intensive analyses of individual patients. The psychodynamic perspective, therefore, is built on a foundation of ______.

A) case studies
B) correlational research
C) experiments
D) observational work

Question 13

According to your text, scientific knowledge is BEST defined as

A) general conclusions drawn from observations
B) the known facts about a particular subject derived from the scientific method
C) the approach by which a claim is shown to be wrong
D) the acceptance of sensory information as valid

Question 14

"Opposites attract." "Birds of a feather flock together." These aphorisms make predictions and are therefore ______.

A) hypotheses
B) variables
C) confounds
D) operational definitions

Question 15

Which sequence BEST reflects the order of the stages in the general process of science, as it is outlined at the beginning of the chapter on research methods in your textbook?

A) experimentation $\rightarrow$ expectation $\rightarrow$ inference
B) experimentation $\rightarrow$ inference $\rightarrow$ expectation
C) expectation $\rightarrow$ inference $\rightarrow$ experimentation
D) expectation $\rightarrow$ experimentation $\rightarrow$ inference

Question 16

DeAndre is recording instances of physical aggression among children in a schoolyard at recess. He is undertaking ______.

A) naturalistic observation
B) an experiment
C) correlational research
D) a case study

Question 17

Which choice reflects a perfect positive correlation?

A) 1.00
B) 0.99
C) 0.00
D) −1.00

Question 18

Naturalistic observation entails

A) the systematic, detailed study of a single individual
B) asking a sample of individuals a set of questions
C) the manipulation of an independent variable
D) examining behaviors in the setting in which they typically occur

Question 19

Empiricism is BEST defined as ______.

A) general conclusions drawn from observations
B) the known facts about a particular subject derived from the scientific method
C) the approach by which a claim is shown to be wrong
D) the process of using observation and experimentation to acquire knowledge

Question 20

Helena proposes that the more impulsive a student is, the more likely he or she will be to change answers on a multiple-choice test. This statement is an example of a(n) ______.

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

Question 21

Which correlation coefficient represents no relationship between two variables?

A) 1.00
B) −1.00
C) −.50
D) 0.00

Question 22

In a study of white-collar workers, Velma found that there was a positive correlation between sick days taken and self-reported alcohol and drug use. A graph of her results would show a

A) diagonal line from the bottom left to the top right
B) diagonal line from the top left to the bottom right
C) horizontal line
D) U-shaped curve

Question 23

Between which pair of values is one MOST likely to find a positive correlation?

A) alcohol consumption and GPA
B) GPA and height
C) GPA and amount of studying
D) GPA and depression

Question 24

Experimental group is to control group as ______ variable is to ______ variable.

A) independent; no independent
B) no independent; dependent
C) dependent; no dependent
D) no dependent; dependent

Question 25

A(n) ______ defines events or constructs in terms of how they are measured, thus giving them concrete meaning.

A) operational definition
B) construct hypothesis
C) experimental definition
D) experimental event

Question 26

In an industrial psychology experiment, one group of participants is exposed to confinement while another group is not. All participants then perform a manual dexterity task, and their performance is examined. What is the independent variable?

A) gender
B) confinement
C) dexterity
D) anxiety

Question 27

Which term is MOST nearly synonymous with the term correlation?

A) association
B) explanation
C) influence
D) observation

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT an operational definition of happiness?

A) a feeling of joy or contentment
B) the number of times an individual smiles in an hour
C) an individual's self-rating on a 10-point happiness scale
D) the ratio of positive to negative emotion words a person uses when describing how he or she feels

Question 29

A researcher gives the experimental group ginkgo biloba and the control group a placebo. In this example, what the groups receive is the ______ variable.

A) sample
B) independent
C) dependent
D) experimental

Question 30

In the survey project she is working on, Dr. Miyake finds a correlation of .60 between attachment security and the likelihood with which participants say they would engage in various prosocial behaviors at work. This could mean any of the following EXCEPT this:

A) Attachment security leads people to behave prosocially at work.
B) A trait such as extraversion is related to both prosocial behavior and attachment security.
C) Attachment security and prosocial behavior are unrelated.
D) Prosocial behavior causes attachment security.

Question 31

The correlation coefficient ranges from _____ to _____.

A) 1; 100
B) −1.00; 1.00
C) 0; 1
D) −100; 100

Question 32

A researcher finds a correlation of −.51. Which pair of variables is the researcher MOST likely investigating?

A) depression and alcohol use
B) alcohol consumption and GPA
C) GPA and height
D) GPA and amount of studying

Question 33

In an experiment, the dependent variable is

A) applied to the treatment group
B) randomized across groups
C) influenced by another variable
D) deliberately manipulated by the researcher

Question 34

Using a sample of young adolescents, Dr. Nguyen finds a correlation of .55 between scores on a measure of neglectful or uninvolved parenting and scores on a measure of delinquent behavior. Based on this correlation alone, Dr. Nguyen can legitimately conclude that

A) the two variables are unrelated
B) low SES is associated with both uninvolved parenting and the juvenile delinquency of the children
C) uninvolved parenting causes delinquency in the children
D) parenting that is more uninvolved is related to a higher degree of delinquent behavior in the children

Question 35

When asked to define popularity, Brianna offers, "It's when everyone likes you." Chrissy suggests, "It's basically the number of friends you have." How do the two girls' definitions differ?

A) They don't, really.
B) Brianna's is an operational definition; Chrissy's is not.
C) Brianna's is a procedural definition; Chrissy's is not.
D) Chrissy's is an operational definition; Brianna's is not.

Question 36

In a social psychology experiment, one group of participants is reminded of a social stereotype they are likely to hold; another is not reminded. All participants then interact with a member of the stereotyped group, and the nature of their interactions is recorded. Which statement is true?

A) The reminded group receives the independent variable and is the control group.
B) The reminded group receives the independent variable and is the experimental group.
C) The nonreminded group receives the independent variable and is the control group.
D) The nonreminded group receives the independent variable and is the experimental group.

Question 37

Of all the research designs, only ______ can tell us about cause and effect.

A) naturalistic observation
B) case studies
C) correlational techniques
D) experiments

Question 38

Irving has noticed a pattern: The more alcohol people drink, the more aggressive they seem to be. Which research method would aim at verifying the relationship between these two variables?

A) naturalistic observation
B) case study
C) correlational research
D) experimental method

Question 39

In an experiment, the independent variable is

A) randomized across groups
B) applied to the control group
C) measured by the researcher
D) deliberately manipulated by the researcher

Question 40

In an experiment, the ______ variable is deliberately manipulated by the researcher.

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

Question 41

At Folger University, Drs. Chase and Sanborn are conducting an experiment on the effects of caffeine on memory. Participants are randomly assigned to a caffeine or a no-caffeine group; later, their recall of items on a word list is assessed. In which answer does the pair correctly identify a variable in this experiment?

A) caffeine-dependent variable
B) word recall-experimental variable
C) caffeine-independent variable
D) word recall-independent variable

Question 42

A placebo is given to members of the ______ group.

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

Question 43

The ability to make valid inferences regarding the effect of the independent on the dependent variable depends on ______ validity.

A) external
B) internal
C) sample
D) inferential

Question 44

In an experimental test of the effects of Vitamin B-12 on problem-solving performance, ______ is the independent variable, and ______ is the dependent variable.

A) problem-solving performance; the vitamin
B) problem-solving performance; a placebo
C) the vitamin; problem-solving performance
D) a placebo; the vitamin

Question 45

______ is the process by which scientists look at the available evidence and then use reasoning to reach a conclusion.

A) Logic
B) Inference
C) Observation
D) Belief

Question 46

Drew is running a study on the effects of alcohol on memory recall. He has two groups: one that receives alcohol and one that receives water. He checks in on the progress of the alcohol group more frequently and may have given that group more instructions. The MOST obvious weakness of Drew's study is ______.

A) placebo effects
B) experimenter effects
C) internal validity
D) generalizability

Question 47

Generalizability is a synonym for

A) external validity but not internal validity
B) internal validity but not external validity
C) either internal or external validity
D) neither internal nor external validity

Question 48

According to the textbook, ______ variables change along with the independent variable, making it difficult to pinpoint actual causes.

A) correlative
B) blind
C) dependent
D) confounding

Question 49

Untended variables that operate in conjunction with the independent variable making the experimental effect harder to find are referred to as ______ variables.

A) external
B) subject
C) confounding
D) dependent

Question 50

A population is BEST described as

A) the participants included in a research study
B) the participant group that does not receive the independent variable
C) the participant group that is exposed to the independent variable
D) the larger group of individuals to which the results can be generalized

Question 51

Wood and colleagues (2009) examined the value of self-affirmation. In a typical study, participants either engaged or did not engage in self-affirmations. Later, their current self-esteem was assessed. Which of the following answers correctly names and identifies the variables in this study?

A) independent variable-self-affirmations; dependent variable-self-esteem scores
B) independent variable-self-esteem scores; dependent variable-self-affirmations
C) experimental variable-self-affirmations; control variable-self-esteem scores
D) experimental variable-self-esteem scores; control variable-self-affirmations

Question 52

Chris is interested in how multitasking influences performance on a memory test. One group of participants takes only the memory test. The second group performs the memory test while simultaneously sorting cards or listening to music. In Chris's experiment, the dependent variable is ______.

A) performance on the distractor task
B) multitasking
C) distractor task
D) performance on the memory test

Question 53

A psychopathologist wishes to compare the prevalence of suicidal ideation among a sample of people with major depressive disorder to the prevalence of such ideation among a sample of those without the disorder. It is critical that the two groups be as similar as possible with regard to factors unrelated to the research question. This concern is BEST addressed using a ______.

A) double-blind study
B) longitudinal study
C) match subjects design
D) randomized control trial

Question 54

______ is NOT among the major steps in designing an experimental study, as they are outlined in the textbook.

A) Participant selection
B) Interpretation of relation between IV and DV
C) Statistic selection
D) Participant assignment

Question 55

Which of the following is an effective control for placebo effects?

A) blind controls
B) random assignment
C) counterbalancing
D) demand characteristics

Question 56

A study of identical twins may be considered an ideal example of a ______.

A) double-blind study
B) match subjects design
C) linkage analysis
D) randomized control trial

Question 57

Amy is interested in the effect of caffeine on memory recall. She is testing two groups. One group receives coffee, and the other drinks water. The group receiving only water to drink is referred to as the ______ group.

A) blind
B) confound
C) control
D) experimental

Question 58

The purpose of a randomized control trial is to

A) determine how likely it is that the results of a treatment were due to chance
B) ensure that sample results generalize to the population
C) ensure that participant characteristics are equivalent across the experimental and control groups
D) determine whether two variables are related

Question 59

A ______ controls for both known and unknown confounding variables by ensuring that groups are equal before the experiment begins.

A) randomized control trial
B) double-blind experiment
C) match subjects design
D) longitudinal study

Question 60

A pharmaceutical company wishes to test the efficacy of a new antidepressant with a double-blind procedure. Which answer correctly describes the procedure the company would use?

A) The research assistants would know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Each participant would also know which type of pill he or she was taking.
B) The research assistants would know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Each participant, though, would not know which type of pill he or she was taking.
C) The research assistants would not know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Each participant, though, would know which type of pill he or she was taking.
D) The research assistants would not know which participants were receiving the new drug and which were receiving an inert pill. Also, each participant would not know which type of pill he or she was taking.

Question 61

During any given year, approximately 19% of the American population experiences a diagnosable mental illness. This is a statement of the ______ of mental illness.

A) risk
B) significance
C) incidence
D) prevalence

Question 62

The ______ is a statistical hypothesis that is tested to determine if there is a difference between the experimental and control groups.

A) research
B) control
C) null
D) confound

Question 63

Prevalence is BEST defined as

A) the proportion of individuals who have a particular disorder at a particular time period
B) the percentage of a specific population that had the disorder at some point in their life even if they no longer show symptoms of the disorder
C) the number of new cases of a disorder that develop during a certain period of time
D) a way of thinking about the number of new cases of a disorder that develop during a certain period of time

Question 64

The confound hypothesis is BEST defined as a

A) statistical hypothesis that is tested to determine if there is a difference between the experimental and control groups
B) statistical test to determine whether a result differed from what would be expected by chance
C) formal statement of the manner in which the dependent variable is related to the independent variable
D) conceptual question that asks if the result could reflect a factor other than the independent variable

Question 65

Addie is wondering whether the memory scores of her participants may have reflected not the difference in retention interval between the experimental and control conditions in her experiment but rather a difference in participants' ages between the two conditions. Addie's question concerns the ______ hypothesis.

A) confound
B) research
C) null
D) inferential

Question 66

The director of a community health organization reads that about 1,300 new cases of HIV infection are expected in her city in the coming year. This statement illustrates an epidemiological statistic called ______.

A) risk
B) incidence
C) significance
D) prevalence

Question 67

______ statistics are computed to assess the relationship between the characteristics of the sample and those of the population.

A) Operational
B) Null
C) Inferential
D) Experimental

Question 68

The number of new cases of a disorder that develop during a certain period of time is called ______.

A) risk
B) significance
C) incidence
D) prevalence

Question 69

In a longitudinal design,

A) a single individual is studied in great detail
B) a group of participants is followed for a long time
C) participants are observed without interfering
D) participants of different age groups are observed at the same time

Question 70

A ______ is also known as a small-N design.

A) single-subject design
B) match subjects design
C) longitudinal study
D) linkage analysis

Question 71

At a DUI checkpoint, some cars are stopped at random, but many others are not stopped. Using the terminology of psychological research, the cars that are stopped may be considered a ______ of all of the cars that pass by the checkpoint.

A) sample
B) subset
C) cohort
D) population

Question 72

______ twins arise from the situation in which two different eggs are fertilized by two different spermatozoa.

A) Heterozygotic
B) Homozygotic
C) Monozygotic
D) Dizygotic

Question 73

The study of the distribution and determinants of the frequency of a disorder in humans is known as ______.

A) pathology
B) symptomology
C) etiology
D) epidemiology

Question 74

Which of the following statements BEST expresses the relationship between a sample and a population?

A) A sample includes a population.
B) A population is similar to a sample.
C) A population includes a sample.
D) A sample is completely separate from a population.

Question 75

Of the three types of hypotheses described in the text, the ______ statistical rather than conceptual.

A) null and research hypotheses are
B) research hypothesis is
C) confound and research hypotheses are
D) null hypothesis is

Question 76

As part of her master's thesis work, Amy is conducting a survey of dating attitudes and behaviors among young adults. She first distributes questionnaires to 200 randomly selected students enrolled in introductory psychology courses at her university. The 200 students constitute Amy's ______. The people to whom she assumes her results will generalize are termed the ______.

A) control group; sample
B) experimental group; population
C) population; sample
D) sample; population

Question 77

In ______ sampling, each member of the population is equally likely to be included in the sample.

A) linkage
B) random
C) matched
D) blind

Question 78

Reba and Reni are twins. They developed from a single fertilized egg dividing shortly after conception. Reba and Reni are ______ twins, more colloquially called ______ twins.

A) dizygotic; fraternal
B) dizygotic; identical
C) monozygotic; fraternal
D) monozygotic; identical

Question 79

With respect to single-subject designs, treatment is to baseline as ______ is to ______.

A) external validity; internal validity
B) dependent variable; independent variable
C) control condition; experimental condition
D) experimental condition; control condition

Question 80

A randomly selected sample increases the likelihood that experimental results will generalize to the population. In other words, a random sample increases ______ validity.

A) external
B) conceptual
C) internal
D) longitudinal