Question 1

To prevent the possibility that a placebo effect or researchers' expectations will influence a study's results,scientists employ

Accepted Answer

The double-blind procedure is designed to prevent both the placebo effect and the influence of the researchers' expectations on the outcome of the study. This procedure involves neither the participants nor the researchers knowing which participants are receiving the experimental treatment and which are receiving a placebo or alternative treatment. This helps to remove any biases or expectations that could affect the results. Control groups, experimental groups, and random assignment are all important aspects of experimental design but do not specifically address the issue of placebo effects or researcher expectations.

Question 2

In an experiment to determine the effects of exercise on motivation,exercise is the

Accepted Answer

In this experiment, exercise is the independent variable as it is being manipulated to see its effect on motivation (the dependent variable). The control condition refers to the group that does not receive the intervention (in this case, exercise), and the intervening variable refers to a variable that comes between the independent and dependent variables (there is no clear intervening variable in this scenario).

Question 3

Your best friend criticizes psychological research for being artificial and having no relevance to behavior in real life. In defense of psychology's use of laboratory experiments you point out that

Accepted Answer

Psychologists intentionally study behavior in simplified environments in order to gain greater control over variables and to test general principles that help to explain many behaviors. This allows researchers to isolate and manipulate specific variables in order to make causal inferences about their effects on behavior. While these simplified environments may not completely replicate everyday situations, they allow for a more rigorous and controlled examination of behavior that can provide important insights into psychological processes.

Question 4

The procedure designed to ensure that the experimental and control groups do not differ in any way that might affect the experiment's results is called

Accepted Answer

Random assignment is the procedure designed to ensure that the experimental and control groups are as similar as possible before the experiment begins. This is achieved by randomly assigning participants to either the experimental or control group, which reduces the likelihood of any pre-existing differences between the groups that might affect the results of the study. Variable controlling, representative sampling, and stratification are all important considerations in research design, but they are not specifically designed to address the issue of group differences in experimental and control groups.

Question 5

Psychologists' personal values

Accepted Answer

Psychologists' personal values can bias both scientific observation and interpretation of data. While statistical techniques guard against subjective bias to some extent, personal values can still impact the choices of variables, methods, and measures used in experiments, as well as the interpretation of results. It is important for psychologists to be aware of their own values and to try to minimize their influence on their research.

Question 6

The study of the links between physiology activity and psychological events is called

Accepted Answer

Biological psychology is the study of the links between physiological activity and psychological events, including the functioning of the brain, nervous system, and other bodily processes. Neurology is a branch of medicine that focuses on disorders of the nervous system, while cognitive psychology focuses on mental processes such as attention, perception, and memory. Endocrinology is the study of hormones and their impact on bodily processes, including behavior, but it is not specifically focused on the links between physiological and psychological events.

Question 7

In an experiment to determine the effects of attention on memory,memory is the

Accepted Answer

In this experiment, attention is the independent variable and memory is the dependent variable. The researcher is manipulating attention to see how it affects memory. Therefore, memory is the variable that is being measured and is dependent on the level of attention.

Question 8

Which of the following procedures is an example of the use of a placebo?

Accepted Answer

A placebo is a substance or procedure that has no therapeutic effect, but is given to a participant as if it were a real treatment in order to deceive them into thinking they are receiving active treatment. In option A, the participant is given a harmless pill but is led to believe that it contains an active drug, making it a classic example of a placebo.

Question 9

An axon is

Accepted Answer

An axon is the long, slender projection of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body.

Question 10

Dendrites are branching extensions of

Accepted Answer

Dendrites are the branching extensions of neurons, which receive signals from other neurons and transmit them towards the cell body.

Question 11

Rashad,who is participating in a psychology experiment on the effects of alcohol on perception,is truthfully told by the experimenter that he has been assigned to the "high-dose condition." What is wrong with this experiment?

Accepted Answer

By informing Rashad that he has been assigned to the "high-dose condition," the experimenter has potentially created an expectancy effect in Rashad. This means that Rashad may behave or react in a certain way because he expects certain effects from the high dose of alcohol. This introduces a potential confound into the experiment and makes it difficult to accurately assess the true effects of the alcohol on perception.

Question 12

To study the effects of lighting on mood,Dr. Cooper had students fill out questionnaires in brightly lit or dimly lit rooms. In this study,the independent variable consisted of

Accepted Answer

The independent variable in this study is the room lighting, as it is the factor being manipulated by the researcher to see if it affects mood. The other options listed are not independent variables in this study.

Question 13

Which statement about the ethics of experimentation with people and animals is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. According to the Humane Society of the United States, approximately 6-8 million animals enter shelters each year and about half are euthanized, while the number of animals used in psychological research is only a fraction of that amount.

Question 14

The function of dendrites is to

Accepted Answer

Dendrites are branched extensions of a neuron's cell body that receive incoming signals from other neurons. They are the main site of communication between neurons.

Question 15

Dr. Wolski does research on the potential relationship between neurotransmitter deficiencies and mood states. Which psychological specialty does Dr. Wolski's research best represent?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Wolski's research focuses on the biological basis of behavior, specifically the relationship between neurotransmitter deficiencies and mood states. This aligns with the field of biological psychology, which explores the physiological and genetic influences on behavior and mental processes.

Question 16

A biological psychologist would be most interested in conducting research on the relationship between

Accepted Answer

Biological psychology focuses on the study of how the brain and nervous system influence behavior and mental processes. Therefore, a biological psychologist would be most interested in studying the relationship between neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) and depression, as neurotransmitters play a critical role in the regulation of mood and emotions.

Question 17

A friend majoring in anthropology is critical of psychological research because it often ignores the influence of culture on thoughts and actions. You point out that

Accepted Answer

Despite differences in specific thoughts and actions, underlying psychological processes are often similar across cultures. Therefore, while cultural context should be taken into account in psychological research, it does not necessarily negate the validity of the research findings.

Question 18

In a test of the effects of air pollution,groups of students performed a reaction-time task in a polluted or an unpolluted room. To what condition were students in the unpolluted room exposed?

Accepted Answer

The students in the unpolluted room were the control group, which is the group used as a basis of comparison with the experimental group (students in the polluted room). The control group is not exposed to the variable being tested (air pollution in this case) and serves as a standard of comparison to determine the effect of the variable.

Question 19

The concept of control is important in psychological research because

Accepted Answer

Experimental control is crucial as it allows researchers to isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable, minimizing the influence of extraneous variables.

Question 20

Martina believes that high doses of caffeine slow a person's reaction time. To test this belief,she has five friends each drink three 8-ounce cups of coffee and then measures their reaction time on a learning task. What is wrong with Martina's research strategy?

Accepted Answer

Martina's research strategy lacks a control group. Without a control group, it is difficult to determine whether any changes in reaction time are due to caffeine or other factors, such as fatigue or individual differences in learning ability. A control group that receives no caffeine would allow for a comparison of reaction times between those who received caffeine and those who did not.

Quiz 1: Doing Social Psychology