Question 1

Which of the following is a benefit of using a wiki to review psychological research?
A) The wiki's coverage of a topic is usually comprehensive.
B) The wiki page includes a comprehensive list of references.
C) The wiki page has been peer-reviewed.
D) The wiki page can be corrected quickly.

Accepted Answer

Using a wiki allows for easy and quick corrections to be made, which is particularly important in a field like psychology where research findings may evolve and change over time. Additionally, the other options (A, B, and C) are not necessarily benefits exclusive to using a wiki, as they can also be found in other forms of literature review.

Question 2

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," which two questions should you ask yourself as you read?
A) "What is the argument?" and "What is the evidence to support the argument?"
B) "What were the methods?" and "What are the results?"
C) "What is the hypothesis?" and "What are the explanations?"
D) "What research exists on this topic?" and "What research needs to be conducted to answer the question?"

Accepted Answer

The answer of When reading an empirical journal article "with...

Question 3

Which of the following is the correct ordering of the sections of an empirical journal article?
A) Introduction, Results, Discussion, Method, References
B) Introduction, Discussion, Method, Results, Abstract
C) Abstract, References, Introduction, Results, Discussion
D) Abstract, Method, Results, Discussion, References

Accepted Answer

The correct ordering of sections of an empirical journal article is: Abstract, Method, Results, Discussion, References. The abstract provides a brief overview of the entire article, the method section describes the methodology used in the study, the results section presents the findings of the study, the discussion section interprets the results and places them within the context of previous research, and the references section lists the sources cited in the article.

Question 4

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," why should you read the abstract first?
A) Because it is the shortest section
B) Because it provides an overview of the article
C) Because it is written by the journal's editor
D) Because it appears in PsycINFO

Accepted Answer

Reading the abstract first provides an overview of the key findings and main points of the article, allowing the reader to quickly determine if the article is relevant to their purpose for reading.

Question 5

Javier wants his lab partner to tell him if he thinks the article he found for their project is appropriate.Rather than have him read the article, which two parts of the paper could Javier have his lab partner read to get a summary of the article?
A) The abstract and the first paragraph of the introduction
B) The abstract and the first paragraph of the discussion
C) The abstract and the method section
D) The last paragraph of the introduction and the results section

Accepted Answer

The answer of Javier wants his lab partner to tell...

Question 6

How would you adopt the mindset of a scientific reasoner?
A) Using common sense to understand scientific data
B) Remaining objective as you interpret scientific data
C) Finding evidence that confirms your hypotheses
D) Reminding yourself that because you know about potential biases, you cannot fall prey to them

Accepted Answer

Adopting the mindset of a scientific reasoner requires remaining objective as you interpret scientific data. This means setting aside personal biases and opinions and focusing solely on the evidence. Using common sense may be helpful, but it is not enough to fully embrace the scientific mindset. Finding evidence that confirms your hypotheses can also lead to confirmation bias and is not recommended. While knowing about potential biases is important, simply being aware of them does not guarantee that you will avoid them.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a section or subsection commonly found in an empirical journal article?
A) Abstract
B) Outcomes
C) Participants
D) Procedure

Accepted Answer

The sections or subsections commonly found in an empirical journal article include abstract, introduction, literature review, method, participants, procedure, results, discussion, and conclusion. "Outcomes" is not a commonly used section or subsection name in empirical journal articles.

Question 8

Hannah just finished reading an empirical journal article for a class project.What information might she get out of reading the references section of her article?
A) A list of the measures used in the study
B) The name of an article that researched a similar topic
C) An idea for a future study
D) An explanation of the statistical tests used

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hannah just finished reading an empirical journal...

Question 9

Which of the following is the first section of an empirical journal article?
A) Abstract
B) Introduction
C) Results
D) References

Accepted Answer

The abstract is the first section of an empirical journal article, providing a concise summary of the study, including its purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions.

Question 10

Hannah just finished reading an empirical journal article for a class project.Where should she go if she wants to look for a list of the study's hypotheses or research questions?
A) First page of the article
B) First page of the method section
C) Last paragraph of the results section
D) Last paragraph of the introduction

Accepted Answer

The introduction section of an empirical journal article typically includes a clear statement of the study's research question(s) or hypotheses.

Question 11

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," which section should you read first?
A) Abstract
B) Introduction
C) Method
D) Discussion

Accepted Answer

The abstract provides a concise summary of the entire study, including the purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions, making it the best starting point for understanding the article's content and relevance.

Question 12

Looking for which of the following in a trade book will give you a hint as to its scientific rigor?
A) The cost of the book
B) The number of pages
C) The number of references
D) The number of authors

Accepted Answer

The number of references in a trade book can give a hint as to its scientific rigor as it indicates that the author has done extensive research and has based their claims on established scientific literature.

Question 13

What is the problem with being swayed by a good story?
A) A good story is never the true explanation for a scientific finding.
B) Scientific findings never have commonsense explanations.
C) A good story may not be supported by data.
D) Good stories are not falsifiable.

Accepted Answer

A good story may not be supported by data, which is necessary for scientific validity. It is important to base conclusions on evidence rather than just a compelling narrative.

Question 14

Compared with doing a generic Internet search, why is PsycINFO a superior way to find scientific sources?
A) It is free.
B) It searches only sources in psychology and related fields.
C) It can be done on any computer.
D) It searches research scientists' websites.

Accepted Answer

PsycINFO is a specialized database that searches only sources in psychology and related fields, so it is more likely to yield relevant and useful results compared to a generic Internet search.

Question 15

Which of the following is the last section of an empirical journal article?
A) Method
B) Results
C) Discussion
D) Introduction

Accepted Answer

The Discussion section is typically the last section of an empirical journal article, as it is where the authors discuss and interpret their results and make conclusions based on their findings. The Method section describes the study design and procedures, the Results section presents the data and analyses, and the Introduction section introduces the research question and provides background information on the topic.

Question 16

Lana is writing her first empirical journal article.Although she thinks she knows why she found the results she did, she also wants to mention some alternative explanations for her findings.In which section will she mention these alternative explanations?
A) Method
B) Results
C) Discussion
D) References

Accepted Answer

The Discussion section is typically where the author addresses alternative explanations for their findings, as well as limitations of the study and directions for future research.

Question 17

Which of the following is a limitation of Google Scholar compared to PsycINFO?
A) Google Scholar does not provide PDF versions of articles.
B) Google Scholar is not free to use.
C) Google Scholar is not limited to just psychology and related fields.
D) Google Scholar can only be accessed from certain computers.

Accepted Answer

Google Scholar includes articles from various fields, whereas PsycINFO specifically focuses on psychology and related disciplines. This means that while Google Scholar may provide more comprehensive results, they may not be as specific or specialized as those found in PsycINFO.

Question 18

After reading the chapter, Cyril says to himself, "I am sure other people might engage in faulty thinking, but I never would." What is Cyril experiencing?
A) Bias blind spot
B) Confirmation bias
C) Faulty intuition
D) Motivated thinking

Accepted Answer

Cyril is experiencing the bias blind spot, which is the tendency to recognize the impact of biases on others but not on ourselves. Cyril is overestimating his own ability to avoid faulty thinking while underestimating the probability that he may be susceptible to it, just like everyone else.

Question 19

Matthew is reading an empirical journal article and wants to know whether the authors used the Big Five Inventory (BFI-44) or the NEO-PI to measure extraversion.In which section would he find this information?
A) Introduction
B) Method
C) Results
D) Discussion

Accepted Answer

The method section typically includes information about the measures used in the study, including any questionnaires or assessments administered to participants. Therefore, Matthew would most likely find the information about the specific measure used to assess extraversion in the method section of the article.

Question 20

Which of the following sources is most likely to contain only information that has been rigorously peer-reviewed?
A) Chapters in edited books
B) Full-length books
C) Review journal articles
D) Wikis

Accepted Answer

Review journal articles are typically subjected to rigorous peer review processes before they are published, while edited books and full-length books may not undergo the same level of peer review. Wikis, on the other hand, are generally not considered reliable sources of information as they can be edited by anyone without any editorial oversight.

Quiz 2: Sources of Information: Why Research Is Best and How to Find IT

Which of the following is a benefit of using a wiki to review psychological research?

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," which two questions should you ask yourself as you read?

Which of the following is the correct ordering of the sections of an empirical journal article?

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," why should you read the abstract first?

Javier wants his lab partner to tell him if he thinks the article he found for their project is appropriate.Rather than have him read the article, which two parts of the paper could Javier have his lab partner read to get a summary of the article?

How would you adopt the mindset of a scientific reasoner?

Which of the following is NOT a section or subsection commonly found in an empirical journal article?

Hannah just finished reading an empirical journal article for a class project.What information might she get out of reading the references section of her article?

Which of the following is the first section of an empirical journal article?

Hannah just finished reading an empirical journal article for a class project.Where should she go if she wants to look for a list of the study's hypotheses or research questions?

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," which section should you read first?

Looking for which of the following in a trade book will give you a hint as to its scientific rigor?

What is the problem with being swayed by a good story?

Compared with doing a generic Internet search, why is PsycINFO a superior way to find scientific sources?

Which of the following is the last section of an empirical journal article?

Lana is writing her first empirical journal article.Although she thinks she knows why she found the results she did, she also wants to mention some alternative explanations for her findings.In which section will she mention these alternative explanations?

Which of the following is a limitation of Google Scholar compared to PsycINFO?

After reading the chapter, Cyril says to himself, "I am sure other people might engage in faulty thinking, but I never would." What is Cyril experiencing?

Matthew is reading an empirical journal article and wants to know whether the authors used the Big Five Inventory (BFI-44) or the NEO-PI to measure extraversion.In which section would he find this information?

Which of the following sources is most likely to contain only information that has been rigorously peer-reviewed?