Question 1

Research is the foundation of the field of psychology.

Accepted Answer

Research forms the backbone of any scientific field, including psychology. Besides shedding new light on the workings of the human brain and behavior, research helps improve human well-being by guiding interventions, creating policies, and informing public opinion.

Question 2

Relying on an authority to learn about behavior gives researchers a more accurate understanding of the causes of behaviors than other methods of gaining knowledge.

Accepted Answer

Relying solely on an authority may lead to bias or incomplete information, and other methods such as observation, experimentation, and surveys can also provide valuable insights into behavior.

Question 3

One lab observation is enough to be sure about the knowledge we are gaining.

Accepted Answer

One lab observation may provide initial information, but it is not enough to fully understand a phenomenon or draw conclusions. Multiple observations and experiments are necessary to ensure the validity and reliability of the knowledge gained.

Question 4

As you encounter descriptions of psychological research, you may find that not all research fits neatly into basic or applied categories.

Accepted Answer

Some research can have elements of both basic and applied research or may not fit neatly into either category.

Question 5

The only goal of psychological research is to be able to explain behavior by understanding the causes of different types of behavior.

Accepted Answer

Psychological research aims not only to explain behavior but also to predict, control, and improve mental processes and behavior through various methods and applications.

Question 6

How is falsifiability used in psychological science? Define and explain.

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

It takes many studies conducted in many different contexts that produce results consistent with an explanation of behavior to support it.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. One study alone cannot provide enough evidence to support an explanation for behavior. It is necessary to replicate the study in different contexts and with different populations to ensure that the findings are consistent and reliable.

Question 8

Assuming a link between two things means one caused the other is a common pitfall in behavioral research.

Accepted Answer

Just because two things are related or correlated does not necessarily mean that one caused the other. There could be other factors involved, such as a third variable or a reverse causation. Therefore, it is important to conduct rigorous experimental designs and statistical analyses to identify causality in behavioral research.

Question 9

Explain why the scientific method is not used to determine if an afterlife exists after death.

Accepted Answer

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Question 10

It takes only a few studies with results inconsistent with an explanation of behavior to falsify it.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. In science, a hypothesis or explanation must be falsifiable, meaning that it can be proven false if the evidence does not support it. If multiple studies consistently show results that contradict an explanation of behavior, it is likely that the explanation is incorrect.

Question 11

What is external validity?

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

There are six primary facets or canons (i.e., rules or principles that guide a field of study) that define the scientific method.

Accepted Answer

The scientific method is generally defined by five key steps: making observations, forming a hypothesis, conducting an experiment, analyzing the data and drawing conclusions, and refining the hypothesis. There is no universally agreed-upon set of six primary canons that define it.

Question 13

For behaviors, such as mental processes, that cannot be directly observed (e.g., thoughts or memories) how do psychologists use empiricism for inferring information about these behaviors?

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

Some behaviors, such as mental processes, can be directly observed.

Accepted Answer

Mental processes, such as thoughts and emotions, occur within an individual's mind and cannot be directly observed by others. They can only be inferred through observable behaviors or reported by the individual themselves.

Question 15

Making choices leads people to think more analytically study by Savani, Stephens, and Markus (2017) is an example of basic research.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately describes the research conducted by Savani, Stephens, and Markus (2017) as basic research, which seeks to gain knowledge for its own sake rather than solving a practical problem or application. The study examined how choices impact cognitive processes and found a link between decision-making and analytical thinking.

Question 16

What is the difference between basic and applied research? In what ways do these types of research interact in the field of psychology?

Accepted Answer

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Question 17

What are the four canons of the scientific method? Explain how each canon is used in scientific research.

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

The applications of basic research may not be obvious when it is initially conducted.

Accepted Answer

Basic research is conducted to expand knowledge, and its practical applications may not be immediately apparent. It may take time for the findings of basic research to be translated into practical applications.

Question 19

The goal of applied research is to understand the most fundamental processes of behavior and how they operate.

Accepted Answer

The goal of applied research is to solve practical problems or answer specific questions related to improving the application of theories and principles in real-world settings. The goal of basic research, on the other hand, is to understand fundamental processes of behavior and how they operate.

Question 20

How do the goals of basic and applied research differ? Provide an example of a research question for each type of research.

Accepted Answer

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Quiz 1: Psychological Research: the Whys and Hows of the Scientific Method