Deck 4: B: The Psychologists Toolbox: Tools for Building Better Designs

Question 1

Tristan is interested in understanding the study habits of college freshmen.He hypothesizes that males are more likely than females to procrastinate when stressed.For his study,Tristan randomly assigns participants to different stress conditions and measures their behavior.What type of study design is Tristan using?

A) correlation
B) quasi-experimental design
C) interview
D) true experiment

Answer 1

quasi-experimental design

Question 2

The foundation for any research design is:

A) the ability to measure participants' experiences in a way that provides useful information to answer questions.
B) developing studies that can be examined using multiple research designs.
C) investigating questions that can be applied to solve a problem.
D) whether it is relevant to current cultural norms.

Answer 2

the ability to measure participants' experiences in a way that provides useful information to answer questions.

Question 3

Advantages of self-report measures include all of the following,EXCEPT:

A) they are inexpensive.
B) they are easy to administer.
C) they are relatively fast to complete.
D) they accurately predict behavior.

Answer 3

they accurately predict behavior.

Question 4

On which of the following topics would a researcher most want to use a self-report measure?

A) heart rate
B) height
C) confidence
D) athleticism

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a quasi-independent variable?

A) gender
B) amount of sleep
C) ethnicity
D) intelligence

Question 6

Self-report is to behavioral as:

A) reaction time is to focus groups.
B) informant is to archives.
C) questionnaires are to reaction time.
D) archives are to questionnaires.

Question 7

_____ is any measurement technique that directly asks participants how they feel or think.

A) Self-report
B) Informant report
C) Behavioral trace
D) Observation

Question 8

What is a true experiment?

A) a research design where the researcher manipulates all of the dependent variables
B) a research design where the researcher manipulates all of the independent variables
C) a research design where the researcher treats variables as if they are independent variables even though the variables cannot be manipulated
D) a research design where the researcher treats variables as if they are dependent variables even though the variables cannot be manipulated

Question 9

Which is the correct order of steps in the research process?

A) select a research design,obtain results,share findings
B) obtain results,share findings,select a research design
C) share findings,select a research design,obtain results
D) select a research design,share findings,obtain results

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT an experimental design?

A) survey research
B) two-group research design
C) repeated-measures
D) mixed designs

Question 11

Gael is interested in examining people's feelings toward the works of art in her new exhibition.In order to assess their feelings and opinions,she should use:

A) an informant report.
B) a behavioral measure.
C) archival data.
D) a self-report measure.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a reason why participants may inaccurately respond to a self-report measure?

A) they are deceiving themselves because it is uncomfortable to admit certain things
B) they are purposefully misleading experimenter to appear better than they are
C) lack self-knowledge on a topic
D) the self-report measure is happening outside of their conscious awareness

Question 13

For which of the following would a researcher NOT use a self-report measure?

A) perceptions of a political candidate
B) feelings of love
C) memories
D) eye blink response

Question 14

A nonexperimental research design can answer all of the following questions,EXCEPT:

A) what takes place.
B) who is affected.
C) how much effect something has.
D) why something takes place.

Question 15

What is a quasi-experimental design?

A) a research design where the researcher manipulates all of the dependent variables
B) a research design where the researcher manipulates all of the independent variables
C) a research design where random assignment cannot be used
D) a research design where the researcher treats variables as if they are dependent variables even though the variables cannot be manipulated

Question 16

If a researcher is interested in assessing participants' private thoughts,then he would be best served to use:

A) self-report measures.
B) behavioral measures.
C) informant reports.
D) archival data.

Question 17

A primary advantage of self-report measures over behavioral measures is:

A) that they are more tedious to administer.
B) the ability to accurately predict actions.
C) the ability to get firsthand information from the source.
D) the need to consider social desirability bias.

Question 18

Each of the following is a nonexperimental research design,EXCEPT:

A) interview.
B) factorial design.
C) survey research.
D) observation.

Question 19

Which of the following is a quasi-independent variable?

A) medication dosage
B) sleep deprivation
C) stress level
D) gender

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT one of the basic steps in designing research?

A) determine the best measures
B) choose the right research design for the question
C) recruit research participants
D) identify the independent and dependent variables

Question 21

What is one advantage of behavioral observation?

A) It requires the researcher to make assumptions.
B) It is open to social desirability biases.
C) It allows a researcher to see the behavior in its entirety so there is less need for inferences of meaning.
D) It is not vulnerable to demand characteristics.

Question 22

What is a behavioral observation?

A) a measure that relies on directly seeing behavior as it occurs
B) a measure that relies on evidence left behind by a participant who is no longer present
C) a measurement technique that directly asks participants how they think or feel
D) a design where variables are treated like independent variables even though they are not able to be manipulated

Question 23

Which of the following would likely provide the most accurate self-report data?

A) questions about the past
B) questions about the present
C) questions about the future
D) questions about sensitive topics

Question 24

Behavioral trace requires the researcher to make _____ inferences than behavior observation.

A) more
B) the same amount of
C) less
D) riskier

Question 25

Behavioral observation is to real time as:

A) self-report is to the past.
B) behavioral trace is to the past.
C) behavioral trace is to the future.
D) self-report is to the future.

Question 26

When people remember their behavior they often do so in a way that:

A) makes them look better.
B) makes them look worse.
C) is representative of the truth.
D) is purposefully deceitful.

Question 27

Which type of data are open to the LEAST amount of interpretation?

A) behavioral trace
B) archival
C) informant
D) self-report

Question 28

Given the tendency of participants to engage in the social desirability bias,behavioral observation should provide _____ responses than self-report measures,particularly on sensitive topics.

A) less genuine
B) more genuine
C) less detailed
D) more detailed

Question 29

_____ is/are a behavioral measure that relies on evidence left behind by a participant who is no longer present.

A) Interviews
B) Focus groups
C) Observation
D) Behavioral trace

Question 30

Each of the following are potential disadvantages of self-report measures,EXCEPT:

A) social desirability bias.
B) demand characteristics.
C) experimenter bias.
D) retrospective bias.

Question 31

The _____ misdirection in the cover story,the _____ naturally participants respond to the variables under investigation.

A) less;less
B) less;more
C) more;more
D) more;less

Question 32

A behavioral measure is:

A) a measure of participants' feelings during a research study.
B) an accounting of a participant's motivation given by a close other.
C) a measure of participants' actions in a research design.
D) what participants think they will do in a hypothetical situation.

Question 33

What is retrospective bias?

A) when participants interpret past events in overly optimistic ways
B) when participants interpret past events in inaccurate ways
C) when participants interpret past events in overly negative ways
D) when participants interpret past events in highly accurate ways

Question 34

What is social desirability bias?

A) the tendency for participants to give responses that are politically incorrect
B) the tendency for participants to give responses that are socially acceptable
C) the tendency for participants to give responses that are unique
D) the tendency for participants to give responses that are arousing

Question 35

What are demand characteristics?

A) the tendency for respondents to give answers that make them look good
B) variables that cannot be manipulated but that are treated like independent variables
C) when the range of a dependent measure is set too high and all participants select the lowest alternative
D) cues that make participants potentially aware of what the experimenter expects

Question 36

How can a researcher minimize the likelihood of social desirability bias in participants' self-report responses?

A) provide adequate compensation for participation
B) design the study in accord with the ethical principle of justice
C) ensure confidentiality
D) have participants sign their name to each page of the questionnaire

Question 37

Researchers want to _____ retrospective bias and _____ demand characteristics.

A) minimize;minimize
B) minimize;maximize
C) maximize;maximize
D) maximize;minimize

Question 38

A drawback of using behavioral trace is that it:

A) requires expensive machinery to measure.
B) is often influenced by demand characteristics.
C) relies on inferences made by the experimenter.
D) is subject to social desirability bias.

Question 39

To minimize the impact of demand characteristics,an experimenter should:

A) ensure confidentiality.
B) make the real purpose of the study difficult for participants to figure out.
C) only use behavioral measures.
D) have participants respond one at a time.

Question 40

Upon conclusion of his study,Wilkinson asks participants how much they enjoyed participating.Most participants were aware that Wilkinson wanted them to say that they enjoyed the study a great deal.This best demonstrates the influence of:

A) demand characteristics.
B) social desirability bias.
C) retrospective bias.
D) scorer bias.

Question 41

Which of the following minimizes participant reactivity?

A) the use of questionnaires
B) answering in front of a group
C) unobtrusive measures
D) behavioral measures

Question 42

Random error is:

A) systematic.
B) organized.
C) unpredictable.
D) focused.

Question 43

If a researcher wanted to minimize participant reactivity,which one of the following would he/she want to employ?

A) a one-way mirror
B) self-report measures
C) a research lab as opposed to a natural setting
D) visible recording equipment

Question 44

Which of the following is most true?

A) Self-report data are more accurate than behavioral data.
B) Behavioral data are more accurate than self-report data.
C) Measurements are not perfect regardless of whether they are self-report or behavioral.
D) Informant data are more accurate than self-report or behavioral data.

Question 45

Raw score =

A) true score + error
B) true score + reliability
C) validity + error
D) error + quota sampling

Question 46

The type of behavioral measure that involves measuring heart rate and sweat response is called:

A) behavioral trace.
B) diary study.
C) physiological measure.
D) reaction time measure.

Question 47

The _____ is the dependent measure,composed of the true score and the error,whereas the _____ is the extraneous influence that will cause the raw score to deviate from the true score.

A) raw score;error
B) raw score;true score
C) error: raw score
D) error;true score

Question 48

Reality television shows demonstrate the potential issue of _____ when observing the behavior of others.

A) observer bias
B) participant reactivity
C) behavioral trace
D) demand characteristics

Question 49

A behavioral choice is:

A) a measure that relies on directly seeing behavior as it occurs.
B) a measure that relies on evidence left behind by a participant who is no longer present.
C) a measurement technique that directly asks participants how they think or feel.
D) a measure that requires participants to make a purposeful selection from several options.

Question 50

Jabari wants to understand why some people perform better in front of an audience and others do not.In order to investigate this research question he has participants run as fast as they can while alone or in the presence of an audience.What type of research design is Jabari using?

A) behavioral trace
B) self-report
C) behavioral observation
D) physiological measure

Question 51

Lorenzo asks his participants whether they would like to solve anagram tasks alone or with a teammate.He is using:

A) behavioral trace.
B) behavioral observation.
C) physiological measures.
D) behavioral choice.

Question 52

As a psychology professor who is also a researcher,you notice that your own students sometimes end up as participants in your research studies.Assuming that they want to impress you,which of the following should you worry about?

A) retrospective bias
B) participant reactivity
C) demand characteristics
D) behavioral trace

Question 53

If a researcher attempts to determine personality traits by examining clothes in a laundry basket,he is using:

A) behavioral trace.
B) behavioral observation.
C) physiological measures.
D) behavioral choice.

Question 54

Estefan wants to determine the presence of an anxiety disorder by revealing a persistently elevated heart rate and unusually high rates of cortisol.In this case,he is using which of the following to diagnose anxiety?

A) behavioral trace
B) behavioral observation
C) physiological measures
D) behavioral choice

Question 55

Data obtained from self-report and behavioral measures often:

A) complement each other and increase confidence in conclusions.
B) compete with each other.
C) yield the same results.
D) cannot be compared,because they measure fundamentally different things.

Question 56

_____ allow(s)for observation and assessment of participants without their awareness.

A) Behavioral choice
B) Self-report
C) Unobtrusive measures
D) Quasi-experiments

Question 57

Participant reactivity is:

A) the tendency for participants to give responses that are politically incorrect.
B) the tendency for participants to give responses that are socially acceptable.
C) the tendency for participants to act differently when someone is watching them.
D) the tendency for participants to give responses that are arousing.

Question 58

Random error is:

A) the extent to which a measure will produce the same results each time it is used.
B) unsystematic influence on the true score.
C) an outside influence that affects the true score in a consistent way.
D) the extent to which a research method measures what it is intended to measure.

Question 59

Measuring how loud one yells when asked to cheer alone as compared to in a group is an example of:

A) behavioral trace.
B) behavioral observation.
C) physiological measures.
D) behavioral choice.

Question 60

The goal of a psychological measure is to:

A) minimize error so that the raw score is similar to the true score.
B) minimize error so that the raw score is distinct from the true score.
C) maximize error so that the raw score is similar to the true score.
D) maximize error so that the raw score is distinct from the true score.

Question 61

Random error:

A) can be eliminated.
B) is minimized in large datasets.
C) is minimal in small datasets.
D) does not need to be eliminated because it is not a point of concern for researchers.

Question 62

Alec is designing a self-report measure to assess participants' feelings toward salary caps on professional athletes.Which of the following would be the appropriate number of response items for each measure to ensure sensitivity and flexibility,as well as meaningful distinctions?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 7
D) 15

Question 63

_____ is the process of keeping the experimental situation the same for everyone.

A) Replication
B) Social desirability
C) Standardization
D) Quota sampling

Question 64

Which of the following represents a societal example of systematic error?

A) the national debt
B) the elevated divorce rate
C) the unpredictable nature of hurricanes
D) bias SAT scores against minorities

Question 65

Random error is to chance as:

A) systematic is to accidental.
B) bias is to systematic.
C) bias is to haphazard.
D) chance is to systematic.

Question 66

Generally speaking,the ____ response options a scale has the _____ sensitivity that measure is.

A) fewer;less
B) fewer;more
C) more;less
D) more;more

Question 67

Researchers have _____ chance of eliminating bias as compared to random error.

A) a greater
B) a worse
C) the same
D) no

Question 68

Sensitivity is:

A) the range of data a researcher can gather from a particular instrument.
B) when respondents choose responses that are consistent with social values but not necessarily accurate.
C) the extent to which a research method measures what it is intended to measure.
D) the extent to which a research method will produce the same results each time it is used.

Question 69

Error can be reduced:

A) by the use of scripts.
B) by running participants in different conditions at different geographic locations.
C) when the researcher varies his treatment of participants.
D) when social desirability bias is high.

Question 70

Bias is:

A) an extraneous influence that causes the raw score to deviate from the true score in unpredictable ways.
B) error that consistently pushes scores in a given direction.
C) the extent to which a measure will produce the same results each time it is used.
D) the extent to which a research method measures what it is intended to measure.

Question 71

The ceiling effect is when most participants to select the _____ response,and the floor effect is when most participants to select the _____ response.

A) lowest;lowest
B) lowest;highest
C) highest;lowest
D) highest;highest

Question 72

School uniforms are designed to _____ the learning environment and have been shown to increase academic performance.

A) confuse
B) frustrate
C) standardize
D) humanize

Question 73

Observer bias can be minimized in behavioral data by:

A) making measures more sensitive.
B) training observers how to objectively code the variable of interest.
C) eliminating random error.
D) using a representative sample.

Question 74

Ollie drafted a script for his study,which should ____ in his study.

A) maximize the amount of observer error
B) minimize the amount of observer error
C) maximize the amount of bias
D) minimize the amount of bias

Question 75

The _____ occurs when the upper boundary of a measurement tool is set too low,leading most participants to select the highest response.

A) ceiling effect
B) floor effect
C) elevator effect
D) door effect

Question 76

Observer bias is:

A) the misinterpretation of an observation based on the participants' beliefs,experiences,or expectations.
B) the misinterpretation of an observation based on the researcher's beliefs,experiences,or expectations.
C) unpredictable influences that impact the true score.
D) an outside influence that affect the true score in a consistent way.

Question 77

Given their unique vantage point,the observer in a research study is often the:

A) participant.
B) IRB.
C) experimenter.
D) confederate.

Question 78

Which of the following is the LEAST problematic for a research study?

A) random error
B) bias
C) systematic error
D) lack of validity

Question 79

Removing observer bias completely is:

A) easy.
B) difficult.
C) impossible.
D) mandatory.

Question 80

The floor effect is:

A) when the upper boundary of a measurement tool is set too high,leading most participants to select the lowest response.
B) when the upper boundary of a measurement tool is set too high,leading most participants to select the highest response.
C) when the lower boundary of a measurement tool is set too high,leading most participants to select the highest response.
D) when the lower boundary of a measurement tool is set too high,leading most participants to select the lowest response.