Question 1

The ____________________ is a measurement of the amount of variation among scores in a normal distribution.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ____________________ is a measurement of the...

Question 2

In both science and the legal system,the "burden of proof" is on the side that

Accepted Answer

The burden of proof refers to the responsibility of proving a claim or argument. In both science and the legal system, the burden of proof is on the side that should find it possible to present convincing evidence, if in fact it is right. This means that the burden of proof is on the side that makes a claim or accusation, rather than the side that is defending against it. Therefore, the best choice is C.

Question 3

Describe three examples of the following situations: one in which two variables are positively correlated,one in which two variables are negatively correlated,and one in which there is zero correlation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe three examples of the following situations:...

Question 4

A solid theory would be one that

Accepted Answer

A solid theory should be able to predict many observations, meaning that it can explain a variety of phenomena or events. The more predictions a theory can make, the stronger it is. Making many assumptions does not necessarily make a theory stronger, as some assumptions may be unsupported or unnecessary. A theory that is not falsifiable cannot be scientifically tested and therefore cannot be considered a solid theory. Avoiding independent variables would also weaken a theory, as it would limit its ability to explain causality.

Question 5

The goal of scientific research is to establish comprehensive explanations of observable events.These explanations are called

Accepted Answer

The explanations established by scientific research are called theories, which aim to provide comprehensive and reliable explanations of observable events. Facts are individual pieces of data or information, predictions are educated guesses about future events, and hypotheses are proposed explanations that need to be tested and validated through scientific research.

Question 6

"Falsifiability" is considered a desirable characteristic for a scientific theory because a falsifiable theory

Accepted Answer

A theory that is falsifiable makes clear, testable predictions, meaning that it can be tested and potentially proven false through empirical evidence. This is important because it helps ensure that scientific research is conducted objectively and follows the scientific method, rather than relying on anecdotal evidence or subjective interpretations.

Question 7

A falsifiable theory is one that

Accepted Answer

A falsifiable theory must make clear and precise predictions that can be tested through experimentation or observation. A theory that lacks this quality cannot be tested and hence cannot be proven or disproven. Hence, option A is correct. Option B is incorrect because a theory that disagrees with established evidence is unfalsifiable. Option C is incorrect because unnecessary assumptions do not necessarily make a theory unfalsifiable, and Option D is incorrect since a vague theory could still be testable and hence falsifiable.

Question 8

Which of the following is a desirable feature of a scientific theory?

Accepted Answer

A desirable feature of a scientific theory is that it is falsifiable, meaning that it can be tested and potentially proven false through empirical evidence. The other options are not desirable features - restating the facts would not provide any new insight or understanding, illusory correlations are not based on actual evidence, and complex assumptions can make a theory more difficult to test and evaluate.

Question 9

Which of the following do researchers generally regard as desirable?

Accepted Answer

Researchers generally regard falsifiable theories as desirable because these theories can be tested and either supported or refuted by evidence, which is important for advancing scientific knowledge. Illusory correlations, selective attrition, and demand characteristics are examples of factors that can undermine the validity of research findings and are generally viewed as undesirable.

Question 10

To say that a theory is falsifiable is to say that

Accepted Answer

Falsifiability refers to the ability to imagine results that would contradict a theory. Option A is not correct as falsifiability requires replicable results. Option B is incorrect as replacing a theory with a simpler or more accurate one does not necessarily mean the original theory was unfalsifiable. Option D is incorrect as a theory that fits any and all possible results would be considered unfalsifiable.

Question 11

Statements about a large population based on an inference from a small sample,is called ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Statements about a large population based on...

Question 12

Falsifiability,independent variables,dependent variables,blind observers,and demand characteristics are all potential characteristics of an experiment.Which of these would an experimenter try to minimize or avoid and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Falsifiability,independent variables,dependent variables,blind observers,and demand characteristics are...

Question 13

The ____________________ is the sum of all the scores divided by the total number of scores.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ____________________ is the sum of all...

Question 14

Which of the following would NOT be falsifiable?

Accepted Answer

This statement about dreams relies on subjective interpretation and cannot be objectively tested or observed, making it unfalsifiable. All of the other options can be tested and potentially proven false through empirical research.

Question 15

If a theory is "falsifiable," then it

Accepted Answer

A falsifiable theory makes specific predictions that can be tested through observation and experimentation. If these predictions are found to be false, the theory can be rejected or modified. This is an important aspect of scientific theories, as it allows for the advancement and refinement of scientific knowledge.

Question 16

A mother is attempting to minimize the number of times that her toddler pulls on his kitty's tail.She wants to assess whether different types of discipline have any effect on his behavior.For three weeks during the month,the mother gives the toddler one week of one specific type of discipline.One week the toddler receives time outs,one week he has a toy taken away,and one week he is told to clean the kitty's bowl for each kitty tail pull.At the end of each week,the mother tallies up the number of kitty tail pulls for the week.Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A mother is attempting to minimize the...

Question 17

A psychic claims that he can read the minds of people on the planet Zipton,which is millions of light years away.The main scientific objection is that this claim

Accepted Answer

The claim cannot be tested or proven false, as it is not possible to observe or measure what is happening millions of light years away. Therefore, it is not falsifiable and does not meet the criteria of a scientific claim.

Question 18

To say that a theory is falsifiable means that

Accepted Answer

Falsifiability is a key characteristic of scientific theories. It means that a theory can be tested using empirical evidence and there is at least one conceivable observation or experiment that could potentially contradict the theory. This does not mean that the theory has already been falsified, but that it is open to being disproven if evidence to the contrary arises. Therefore, the correct answer is (B) - one can imagine evidence that would contradict the theory. The other choices do not accurately describe what it means for a theory to be falsifiable.

Question 19

A falsifiable theory

Accepted Answer

A falsifiable theory is one that can be tested and proven false if the data does not match its clear and unambiguous predictions. Option A would mean the theory is already disproven and therefore not falsifiable. Option C would mean there is no clear way to test the theory and option D would mean it has not yet been proven or disproven, but it still needs to make clear and testable predictions to be considered falsifiable.

Question 20

After defining the variables involved in a study,scientists have to identify individuals to study.The population is the group of individuals to whom we hope our conclusions will apply.Researchers generally hope that their conclusions will apply to a large population,such as all 5-year-olds or all people with schizophrenia.Because it is not practical to examine everyone in the population,researchers study a sample of people and assume that the results for the sample apply to the whole population.Briefly define the following types of samples and give one example for each;convenience sample,representative sample,random sample,and cross cultural sample.

Accepted Answer

The answer of After defining the variables involved in a...

Quiz 2: Scientific Methods in Psychology