Question 1

When comparing fMRIs to PET scans, you can see that:

Accepted Answer

PET scans require several minutes to capture brain activity, whereas fMRIs provide a picture of brain activity averaged over seconds. Therefore, choice C is correct. Choice A is incorrect as fMRIs provide a more precise and detailed image of brain activity than PET scans. Choice B is incorrect as PET scans require the injection of a radioactive tracer, which can be more harmful than the magnetic fields used in fMRIs. Choice D is incorrect as fMRIs can be used to study smaller brain structures than PET scans.

Question 2

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI):

Accepted Answer

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) combines the ability to produce a detailed image of the brain's structures with the capacity to track the brain's activity and functioning. Option B describes positron emission tomography (PET), option C is not true as fMRI can be used to track changes in brain activity over time, and option D is not true as fMRI produces highly detailed images of brain activity.

Question 3

To identify which brain areas are most active when a person suffering from schizophrenia has hallucinations, researcherscould use a(n) _____ scan to track the use of radioactively tagged glucose throughout the brain.

Accepted Answer

A PET (positron emission tomography) scan is the best choice, as it tracks the use of radioactively tagged glucose throughout the brain, allowing researchers to identify which brain areas are most active during hallucinations in individuals with schizophrenia. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans produce images of brain structure and function but do not track glucose use. ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) is a treatment for severe depression that involves passing an electric current through the brain and is not used to identify brain activity associated with schizophrenia hallucinations.

Question 4

In one natural experiment investigating weight gain during the first year of college, it was found that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In one natural experiment investigating weight gain...

Question 5

According to the Focus on Neuroscience "PsychologicalResearch Using Brain Imaging,"which of the followingstatements is a potential limitation of brain imaging?

Accepted Answer

Brain-imaging studies usually involve a small number of participants and tend to focus on simple aspects of behavior.

Question 6

Juanita participated in a psychology research project thatinvolved solving a number of arithmetic problems. During the experiment, she was informed that her solutions were incorrect.After the experiment was completed, a research assistant explained the purpose of the experiment. He told Juanita thatshe had actually answered all items correctly, and then explained why the experiment required that she be told that her answers were wrong. This stage of the research represents:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of debriefing, where the participant is informed about the true nature and purpose of the experiment after it has been completed. The participant had been misled during the experiment and was given the correct information afterward, which is a standard procedure in ethical research. Informed consent pertains to informing the participant about the nature and purpose of the experiment before their participation. Confidentiality pertains to the protection of the participant's personal information. Voluntary participation pertains to the participant's right to freely choose to participate in the experiment without external pressures or coercion.

Question 7

You and your co-researchers want to compare the brain structures of musically gifted young adolescents with those of aclosely matched control group of normal, nonmusical adolescents using a noninvasive technique. You and your colleagues are conducting a(n) _____ brain imaging study, and will use _____ to study the details of the brain structures.

Accepted Answer

The study described is descriptive, as it aims to observe and describe differences in brain structures between two groups. The best noninvasive technique for studying brain structures in detail is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), making choice D the best option. PET scanning (choice A) and TMS (choice C) can provide information about brain function, but are less suited for examining brain structures. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is not a brain imaging technique, making choice B an incorrect option.

Question 8

Limitations of the experimental method include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Some issues cannot be ethically or practically investigated using experiments, limiting the method's applicability.

Question 9

Dr. Gomez wanted to investigate the effects of nicotine on theactivity of the brain. Because she did not want to expose people to radioactivity or use any invasive procedures to measure brain activity, Dr. Gomez chose to use _____ for her measures of brain activity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dr. Gomez wanted to investigate the effects...

Question 10

One criticism of Crum and Langer's hotel experiment was that:

Accepted Answer

This criticism suggests that the members of the informed group may have engaged in healthier behaviors after being told about the benefits of exercise, but it was not reflected in their self-reported behavior in the study. This could potentially affect the validity of the results, as the informed group may have been influenced by the information they received, even if they did not consciously change their behavior.

Question 11

Ethical standards for animal research in psychology:

Accepted Answer

Ethical standards for animal research in psychology are set by the American Psychological Association and by state and federal laws. These standards require that researchers ensure the animals are treated humanely, that the research is justified, that potential harm to the animals is minimized, and that alternative methods that do not use animals are considered. These standards are not identical to those for research using human participants, but they are similarly rigorous. It is important to note that animal research should only be conducted when there is no other feasible way to answer the research question, and the potential benefits of the research outweigh the harm to the animals involved.

Question 12

A study investigating the effects of a naturally occurring eventon the research participants is known as:

Accepted Answer

This study involves the manipulation of an independent variable by a natural event, without any interference from the experimenter, and is therefore known as a natural experiment. Choice A, correlational research, involves observing and measuring the relationship between two variables. Choice B, case study research, involves in-depth investigation of a single individual or group. Choice C, the double-blind technique, involves a method of conducting an experiment in which neither the researchers nor the participants know which group they have been assigned to in order to prevent bias.

Question 13

Six-year-old Gary couldn't stop throwing up after being hit onhis head. To help detect possible damage or brain swelling,doctors took a detailed image of the boy's brain structures using a powerful, non-invasive technique that involves harmless magnetic fields. What instrument was used?

Accepted Answer

The non-invasive technique that involves harmless magnetic fields is an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanner. This technique can provide detailed images of brain structures and help detect possible damage or brain swelling. PET scanners, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) instruments, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are not appropriate for this purpose.

Question 14

Which of the following techniques or instruments generatescolor-coded images of the brain's activity by tracking a small amount of radioactively tagged glucose that is injected into theperson's bloodstream?

Accepted Answer

Positron emission tomography (PET) generates color-coded images of the brain's activity by tracking a small amount of radioactively tagged glucose that is injected into the person's bloodstream. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) do not involve the injection of radioactive glucose and therefore cannot generate such images. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can produce images of the brain's structure but not its activity.

Question 15

Under the American Psychological Association's ethical codefor psychologists, psychological researchers:

Accepted Answer

The APA ethical code requires psychologists to respect the dignity and welfare of research participants, which includes obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, minimizing harm, and providing debriefing. B, C, and D are not requirements or accurate statements according to the APA ethical code.

Question 16

Deception in psychology experiments:

Accepted Answer

Deception in psychology experiments is still allowed when it is not feasible to use alternatives that do not involve deception, and when the potential findings justify its use because of the scientific, educational, or applied value. However, researchers are required to justify the use of deception in their research proposals and to take steps to minimize the potential negative effects on the participants. The ethical guidelines and regulations of the APA do not expressly forbid deception, but they do require that researchers obtain informed consent from participants, maintain confidentiality, and minimize harm and discomfort.

Question 17

The results of experiments conducted in the laboratory may not_____ well, meaning that the results cannot be applied to real-world situations or to more general populations beyond the participants in the study.

Accepted Answer

Generalize is the best choice because it refers to the ability to apply the results to a broader population beyond the study participants or to real-world situations. Replicate and duplicate both refer to the ability to repeat the experiment and obtain similar results, but this does not necessarily mean that the results are generalizable. Internalize does not make sense in the context and is not related to the issue of generalizability.

Question 18

The ethical requirement of informed consent means that:

Accepted Answer

Informed consent requires that participants are fully informed about the purpose and conditions of the research, including any potential risks, and are given the freedom to choose whether or not to participate. They must also be allowed to withdraw from the study at any time without fear of reprisal. Option A is not a requirement of informed consent, and participants do not have the right to approve or disapprove of research reports before they are published. Option C is not a requirement of informed consent as participants have the right to discuss the study with others if they so choose. Option D is incorrect as participants have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, not just for medical necessity.

Question 19

In accordance with the APA Ethical Guidelines, at the conclusion of the Crum and Langer hotel study, the participants would have been:

Accepted Answer

In accordance with the APA Ethical Guidelines, participants in psychological research must be debriefed at the end of the study. This involves explaining the true purpose of the study, the procedures involved, and addressing any questions or concerns the participants may have. This is important for ensuring that participants fully understand the study and their role in it, and also helps to mitigate any potential psychological harm that may have occurred during the study. Choices A, B, and D are not aligned with ethical guidelines or best practices for debriefing participants.

Question 20

Once a person has agreed to participate in a research study as a subject:

Accepted Answer

Once a person has agreed to participate in a research study as a subject, he or she is still free to withdraw from the research at any time. This is a fundamental right of research participants and helps ensure their protection and well-being. It is important for researchers to respect participants' autonomy and provide clear and accurate information about the study to facilitate informed consent. Additionally, researchers must maintain confidentiality of participants' information, and deception should be avoided or minimized to the extent possible.

Quiz 1: Introductionand Research Methods