Question 1

Correlational research allows us to:

Accepted Answer

Correlational research allows us to identify relationships between two variables and make predictions about how changes in one variable may impact another variable. However, it does not establish causation, control for other variables, or uncover independent variables.

Question 2

In the context of social psychology,identify a true statement about correlational research:

Accepted Answer

Correlational research is a type of research design that examines the relationship between two or more variables, without manipulating them. It can show if there is a relationship between variables, but it cannot establish cause and effect. Therefore, option C is correct - correlational research cannot tell researchers whether one variable's effects cause another variable's effects. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately describe correlational research.

Question 3

In 1936,the newsmagazine Literary Digest obtained the opinions of over two million Americans regarding the presidential candidates prior to the election.Among the more than 2 million returns,Alf Landon won by an overwhelming majority over Franklin Roosevelt. A few weeks later,Roosevelt won the real election by a landslide.The results of the survey were not valid due to:

Accepted Answer

The survey had an unrepresentative sample, as it only reached out to those who could afford a subscription to the Literary Digest, therefore omitting a significant portion of the population.

Question 4

Ammar,a researcher,studies about the possible links between wealth and popularity.He finds that popularity increases with wealth.Which of the following statements is most likely true about this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Ammar's research involves studying the relationship between two variables - wealth and popularity. Since he finds that popularity increases with wealth, this suggests a positive correlation between the two variables. Therefore, Ammar is most likely conducting correlational research to investigate this relationship. Stratified sampling and random sampling are methods used to select samples from a population and are not directly related to the type of research being conducted. Experimental research involves manipulating variables to observe their effects on an outcome, which is not applicable in this scenario as Ammar is only observing the relationship between wealth and popularity.

Question 5

Which of the following is a disadvantage of correlational research?

Accepted Answer

Correlational research can only identify a relationship between two variables, but it cannot determine which variable caused the change in the other. Therefore, it cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables. The other options are not accurate drawbacks of correlational research.

Question 6

A psychology professor conducts a research study to determine if there is a relationship between the time spent on studying and the grades achieved by college students.Which type of research is this?

Accepted Answer

This study is investigating the relationship between two variables (time spent studying and grades achieved), without manipulating any variables or randomly assigning participants to different conditions. This is characteristic of correlational research.

Question 7

A study conducted by Douglas Carroll and his colleagues (1994)examined the relationship between socioeconomic status and health using grave markers.Which type of research was this?

Accepted Answer

The research conducted by Douglas Carroll and his colleagues (1994) is an example of correlational research because they examined the relationship between two variables (socioeconomic status and health) without manipulating them. The use of grave markers as a source of data is a non-invasive means to collect information about wealth and status of individuals, allowing for the analysis of the relationship between socioeconomic status and health.

Question 8

In the context of correlation and causation,the relationship between self-esteem and academic achievement concludes that:

Accepted Answer

Though self-esteem and academic achievement may have a positive correlation, it is likely that other variables, such as motivation or socio-economic status, may also play a role in this relationship. It is difficult to establish causation between the two variables.

Question 9

A sample in which every person in the population being studied has an equal chance of inclusion is called a _____ sample.

Accepted Answer

A random sample is a sample in which every person in the population being studied has an equal chance of inclusion. This helps to reduce bias and increase the representativeness of the sample.

Question 10

Studies have shown that a person's occupational status is _____ correlated with his or her longevity in Britain.

Accepted Answer

Studies have found a positive correlation between occupational status and longevity in Britain, meaning that individuals in higher occupational status tend to have longer lifespans.

Question 11

To generalize information from a survey to apply to the whole country,you will need to get information from at least _____ people.

Accepted Answer

To generalize information from a survey to apply to the whole country, a sample size of at least 1,200 people is often considered sufficient for most purposes, assuming it is a representative sample of the population.

Question 12

A time-lagged correlation is an advanced correlational technique that reveals _____ variables or events,such as achievement and self-esteem.

Accepted Answer

A time-lagged correlation can show the sequence of events or variables, allowing for examination of how one variable may influence another over time. This can be particularly useful for studying variables like achievement and self-esteem, where it may be important to understand whether changes in one variable occur before or after changes in the other. Choice A is partially correct, as a time-lagged correlation does reveal the relationship between variables. However, it specifically shows the relationship over time, not just a general relationship. Choice B is not applicable to this technique, as it does not look at differences between variables. Choice D is not correct, as a confounding variable refers to a third variable that may be influencing the relationship between the two variables of interest, and is not related to the technique of time-lagged correlation itself.

Question 13

If you ask conservative,liberal,independent,and Green Party voters their opinions of political candidates,rather than just conservative voters,you are attempting to ensure that your sample is:

Accepted Answer

By including voters from different political parties, the sample becomes more representative of the population and therefore more likely to accurately reflect the opinions of the larger population. This increases the validity of the results and makes them less biased towards one particular political ideology.

Question 14

One may infer that the postal-code regions of Scotland with the least overcrowding and unemployment also have the:

Accepted Answer

There is a known correlation between socio-economic factors such as overcrowding and unemployment with health and lifespan. Therefore, postal-code regions with the least overcrowding and unemployment are likely to have longer average lifespans.

Question 15

Ann Landers's survey of the opinion of women readers about affection and sex was probably:

Accepted Answer

The survey likely had a self-selection bias, where only certain types of readers, those who read Ann Landers and felt compelled to respond, participated. This does not accurately represent all American women, making the survey unrepresentative.

Question 16

You ask all those students who fail a class if they believe the course is difficult,and you find that they think it is.Although you have conducted a basic survey,the results of it are limited because of your sample's:

Accepted Answer

The results of the survey may be limited because of the sample's lack of representativeness, meaning it may not accurately reflect the views and experiences of all students who fail the course. Therefore, the sample may not be truly representative of all students who fail the course, and the results of the survey may not be generalizable to the larger population.

Question 17

Banele,a researcher,conducts a laboratory experiment.He places the participants to the conditions of the experiment in such a way that all persons have the same chance of being in each condition.In the context of social psychology,this scenario exemplifies the concept of:

Accepted Answer

This scenario exemplifies the concept of random assignment, which refers to the process of randomly assigning participants to different conditions in an experiment. This ensures that every participant has an equal chance of being in any given condition, which helps to control for potential confounding variables and increases the internal validity of the study.

Question 18

The great strength of correlational research is the:

Accepted Answer

Correlational research is often conducted in real-world settings, which allows for the examination of relationships between variables in a way that is more representative of how they occur in everyday life. While correlational research cannot establish cause and effect, it can still provide valuable information about the nature and strength of relationships between variables. Confounding variables may still have an influence on the observed relationship, but researchers can attempt to control for these factors through statistical analysis. Therefore, the great strength of correlational research is its ability to examine relationships between variables in a more naturalistic and ecologically valid way.

Question 19

Variable X is correlated with variable Y.Which of the following could potentially explain this correlation?

Accepted Answer

All of the options provided are valid explanations for a correlation between two variables. X could cause Y, Y could cause X, or a third variable could influence both X and Y, leading to their correlation.

Question 20

The finding that obese women earned lower salaries than women in a nonobese comparison group was most likely the result of which type of research study?

Accepted Answer

The finding that obese women earned lower salaries than nonobese women suggests a correlation between obesity and salary, rather than a causation that could be established through an experimental or laboratory study. It is also unlikely to be a qualitative study, as this type of research typically involves more in-depth, subjective analysis of data.

Quiz 1: Introducing Social Psychology