Question 1

The relationship between people's heights and weights is positive.

Accepted Answer

Generally speaking, as people's height increases, their weight also tends to increase, resulting in a positive correlation between the two variables.

Question 2

Correlation does not imply causation.

Accepted Answer

Correlation means that two variables are related, but it does not mean that one causes the other. There may be other factors or variables that are affecting the relationship between the two variables. Therefore, correlation alone cannot prove causation.

Question 3

In a research study, a variable that is conceptualized as the cause of another variable is the dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

In a research study, a variable that is conceptualized as the cause of another variable is the independent variable, not the dependent variable. The dependent variable is the variable that is being affected or changed by the independent variable.

Question 4

Most research in psychology is conducted using convenience samples.

Accepted Answer

Convenience samples are commonly used in psychology research because they are easy to recruit and require less time and resources. However, convenience samples may not be representative of the larger population, which can limit the generalizability of the findings.

Question 5

Experiments do not have the directionality problem.

Accepted Answer

Experiments are designed to have a clear independent variable and dependent variable, which eliminates the directionality problem that can arise in correlational studies where it is unclear whether one variable is causing changes in the other variable or vice versa. In an experiment, the manipulation of the independent variable is directly causing changes in the dependent variable, providing a clear direction of causality.

Question 6

Differences between group means are typically presented using bar graphs.

Accepted Answer

Bar graphs are commonly used to visually display differences between group means.

Question 7

Good research questions should only come from previous research.

Accepted Answer

Good research questions can come from a variety of sources, including personal experience, current events, and gaps in knowledge. However, previous research can certainly inform and guide the development of research questions.

Question 8

In a study on the effect of visualization on golfing performance, the independent variable is visualization.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable being manipulated by the researcher to see if it has an effect on the dependent variable, which in this case would be golfing performance. Therefore, in this study, the independent variable is visualization.

Question 9

Research has shown that the use of human figure drawings improves children's memories for being touched.

Accepted Answer

Research has not conclusively shown that the use of human figure drawings improves children's memories for being touched. The effectiveness of such techniques in accurately aiding memory recall, especially in legal contexts, remains debated among professionals.

Question 10

Milgram's (1963) obedience study was inspired by his experience in the army.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's obedience study was inspired by the Holocaust and the trial of Adolf Eichmann, as he sought to understand the willingness of individuals to obey authority figures, even when it involved harming others.

Question 11

Pearson's r cannot be negative.

Accepted Answer

Pearson's r can be negative when there is an inverse relationship between the variables being measured. The range of Pearson's r is -1 to 1, with -1 indicating a perfect negative correlation, 0 indicating no correlation, and 1 indicating a perfect positive correlation.

Question 12

Two important considerations in evaluating research questions are their interestingness and feasibility.

Accepted Answer

Interestingness and feasibility are important factors to consider when evaluating research questions. Interestingness refers to the relevance, novelty, and significance of the research question, while feasibility refers to the practicality and achievability of conducting research on the question.

Question 13

If two variables are positively related, changes in one cause changes in the other.

Accepted Answer

A positive relationship between two variables indicates that they move in the same direction, but it does not imply causation. Correlation does not equal causation.

Question 14

The only good research questions in psychology are those that lead to new ways to help people.

Accepted Answer

While helping people is an important aspect of psychology, it is not the only goal of research. Research in psychology can also aim to expand our understanding of human behavior and mental processes, test theories, and inform public policy.

Question 15

In a negative relationship, higher scores on one variable are associated with lower scores on another variable.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of a negative correlation, which means that as one variable increases, the other variable decreases.

Question 16

Bar graphs are typically used to present relationships between quantitative variables.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Bar graphs use bars to represent each category or value of one variable and the height or length of the bar represents the quantity or frequency of that category or value.

Question 17

Pearson's r is appropriate for describing nonlinear relationships.

Accepted Answer

Pearson's r is only appropriate for describing linear relationships as it assumes a linear relationship between the two variables being compared. Nonlinear relationships require the use of other correlation coefficients such as Spearman's rho or Kendall's tau.

Question 18

Most research in psychology is conducted using random samples.

Accepted Answer

Most research in psychology often relies on convenience samples rather than random samples, due to practical constraints such as accessibility, cost, and time.

Question 19

Whether or not someone is clinically depressed is an example of a quantitative variable.

Accepted Answer

Clinical depression is categorized based on qualitative assessments of symptoms and behaviors, not quantifiable measures, making it a qualitative variable.

Question 20

Marital status is an example of a categorical variable.

Accepted Answer

Marital status is a categorical variable because it places people into distinct categories or groups based on their marital status, such as married, single, divorced, or widowed.

Quiz 2: Getting Started in Research