Question 1

Leleti believes that her friend spilled soda all over her backpack in order to get revenge for a remark Leleti made a few days ago,even though her friend claims that the incident was an accident.Leleti is making a:

Accepted Answer

Leleti is making a causal attribution by assuming that her friend spilled soda intentionally as an act of revenge, rather than considering alternative explanations such as the possibility that it was an accident.

Question 2

Within the scientific method,a theory is:

Accepted Answer

A theory is an explanation for how and why variables are related to each other. It is a well-substantiated explanation for a phenomenon that is based on empirical observations and supported by a large body of evidence. It is more than just a guess or a hypothesis, as it has been rigorously tested and can be used to make predictions about future observations or experiments. Theories are a fundamental aspect of scientific thinking and are constantly refined and improved as new evidence emerges.

Question 3

In a famous study,participants were told they were "teachers" in an experiment who were going to give instructions to a "learner." When the learner failed to do well,the participants were ordered to give the learner electric shocks.The learner was actually an actor working for the study organizers,and not a real participant.The learner in this study was what is called:

Accepted Answer

The learner in this study was actually an actor working for the study organizers and not a real participant, thus making the learner a confederate.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a reason why researchers are often skeptical about people's self-reported accounts and explanations of their own behavior?

Accepted Answer

One reason why researchers are skeptical about people's self-reported accounts and explanations of their own behavior is that people often rely on a priori causal theories to explain their behavior, which may not necessarily be accurate or objective. Additionally, people sometimes repress unpleasant information, and they may not always tell the truth. However, people do not have internal access to the processes that lead to their thoughts, judgments, and preferences, as these processes are often unconscious and outside of their awareness.

Question 5

Emiliano believes that dogs are better than cats.One day,he decides to search the internet to see if his opinion is rooted in fact.He reads several articles that consider all sides of the matter,presenting a rather blurry picture of whether humans should prefer the company of dogs or cats.What does research suggest Emiliano is most likely to conclude based on reading all this new information?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Emiliano believes that dogs are better than...

Question 6

What is the definition of cultural knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Cultural knowledge refers to a store of information accumulated in a culture about how the world works. This includes knowledge about beliefs, values, customs, traditions, and social norms within a particular society or community. Cultural knowledge shapes the way individuals within that culture see and interact with the world around them.

Question 7

Lord and colleagues had psychology students read about two studies on the social impact of capital punishment.One study seemed to confirm that the death penalty is effective as a crime deterrent,while the other study suggested that it is not effective.Students on both sides of the debate came away holding their initial positions even more strongly than before.This finding is evidence of:

Accepted Answer

This finding is evidence of confirmation bias, where individuals seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms their preexisting beliefs and attitudes, while ignoring or dismissing information that contradicts them.

Question 8

Researchers Nisbett and Wilson found that when shoppers were asked to choose among different silk stockings,the primary factor influencing their decision was the positioning of the stockings on the table.However,when asked why they chose the stockings they chose,the shoppers generated a variety of different reasons but never mentioned the positioning of the stockings.This finding is evidence that:

Accepted Answer

The finding suggests that people may not be aware of the factors that are influencing their behavior and instead rely on preconceived notions or theories to explain their choices. This aligns with the idea that people have a priori causal theories that drive their reasoning about the world.

Question 9

In the scientific method,_____ are derived from _____,in order to test the accuracy of the latter.

Accepted Answer

Hypotheses are derived from theories as a way to test the validity or accuracy of those theories. A hypothesis is a specific, testable prediction about what you expect to happen in your study, based on a broader theory.

Question 10

Which of the following instances is an example of the way we use social comparisons to self-evaluate?

Accepted Answer

Looking at how tall she is compared to the other children in the classroom is an example of social comparison. The other options do not involve comparing oneself to others. The instructor's feedback is a direct evaluation, the paper ball task is an individual performance, and the mother's decision is based on personal preference rather than comparison to others.

Question 11

Akira got in a car accident recently.After assessing the situation,he believes that the accident was the other driver's fault.Akira now pays close attention to the behavior of other drivers,trying to anticipate how their mistakes might cause an accident.What does this example BEST demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

Akira's behavior demonstrates the influence of social cognition, which refers to how we process, store, and apply information about other people and social situations. In this case, Akira's experience of the car accident has led him to pay closer attention to the behavior of other drivers, and to anticipate how their mistakes might cause an accident. This shows how our prior experiences and beliefs can shape our social cognition and influence our behavior in social situations.

Question 12

Lucas has never seen a "germ," and he also hasn't read any of the medical research supporting germ theory.However,Lucas believes that if he catches a cold,it is because of a germ.Lucas is relying on _____ to understand how colds happen.

Accepted Answer

Lucas's belief that colds are caused by germs is likely based on cultural knowledge or common understanding, as opposed to individual experience or scientific research. He may have learned this from his family, friends, or community members who hold similar beliefs.

Question 13

What is one of the ultimate conclusions to be drawn from Nisbett and Wilson's research demonstrating people's limitations in explaining their own behavior?

Accepted Answer

Nisbett and Wilson's research suggests that people have limited access to their own thought processes and are unable to accurately explain why they behave in a certain way. This indicates that people may not have as much control over their behavior as they think they do and that their explanations for their behavior may not be entirely accurate. Therefore, option A is the ultimate conclusion that can be drawn from their research.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a reason why people are often limited in their ability to explain the causes of others' behavior?

Accepted Answer

People do not always spend as much cognitive energy as possible trying to uncover why a given situation happened. Rather, people often rely on quick and automatic heuristics or mental shortcuts, which can lead to errors in attribution.

Question 15

Confirmation bias is:

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias is the tendency to process information in a manner that conforms to what we desire and expect, rather than considering all possible alternatives. It occurs when we selectively notice, interpret, and remember information that confirms our preexisting beliefs and ideas, while ignoring or discounting information that contradicts them.

Question 16

Which aspect of social psychology MOST distinguishes it from many other ways of understanding the causes and consequences of people's social behavior,such as philosophy or general cultural knowledge?

Accepted Answer

The emphasis on the scientific method distinguishes social psychology from other ways of understanding social behavior, such as philosophy or general cultural knowledge, as social psychology uses empirical research to study and understand human behavior in a systematic and scientific way.

Question 17

The fact that people tend to latch onto quick and easy answers to questions,rather than expending much mental effort,has led researchers to conclude that people are:

Accepted Answer

The term "cognitive misers" refers to the tendency of people to conserve their mental effort by relying on easy and efficient cognitive shortcuts, rather than engaging in more effortful and reflective thinking. This concept has been widely studied in the field of social psychology, and is supported by numerous empirical findings.

Question 18

A study demonstrated that if a participant is being interviewed by a person who taps her feet,the participant is also more likely to tap his feet;and if he is being interviewed by a person who scratches her head,the participant is also more likely to scratch his head.Which principle does this finding BEST demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

This finding is best explained by the principle that the act of observing behavior can change that behavior. The participants in the study were likely unconsciously mimicking the behavior of the interviewer, which can be attributed to the phenomenon of social contagion, where people unconsciously imitate the behavior of others around them.

Question 19

Which theory suggests that people are like "intuitive scientists," using reasoning and observation to understand the nature of the social world?

Accepted Answer

Attribution theory suggests that people are like "intuitive scientists," using reasoning and observation to understand the nature of the social world by making attributions about the causes of behavior and events.

Question 20

The process whereby scientists observe events,look for patterns,and evaluate theories proposed to explain those patterns is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is the scientific method, which is a systematic approach to gaining knowledge through observation, experimentation, and analysis. This process is commonly used in scientific research to test hypotheses and theories, and to establish the validity of empirical evidence. Choice B) a priori causal theory suggests that causality can be deduced from principles or assumptions without empirical observation, which is not consistent with the scientific method. Choice C) intuitive knowledge refers to knowledge gained through experience or common sense, which may be unreliable or subjective. Choice D) causal attribution is a concept used in social psychology to explain how people attribute causes to behavior or events, but it does not describe the scientific method.

Quiz 1: The Revealing Science of Social Psychology