Question 1

Which of the following defines a variable in terms of the specific procedures used to measure it?
A)Dependent variable
B)Independent variable
C)Operational definition
D)Archival measure

Accepted Answer

Operational definition defines a variable in terms of the specific procedures used to measure or manipulate it, making it clear how the variable is quantified or categorized.

Question 2

If a research study found that career motivation was higher among recent immigrants to America than among Americans, most people could readily offer several reasonable explanations for this finding. However, if the study found that career motivation was higher among Americans than recent immigrants to America, most people could generate an equally convincing set of explanations. This example demonstrates the problems associated with
A)operational definitions
B)hypotheses
C)after-the-fact explanations
D)theoretical predictions

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates the issue with after-the-fact explanations, where people can create convincing explanations for any outcome after it is known, which can lead to biased interpretations of data.

Question 3

Which of the following statements regarding theories and hypotheses is TRUE? Hypotheses
A)use independent variables, whereas theories use dependent variables
B)specify lawful relations between behaviours and their causes, whereas theories do not
C)are derived from theories
D)do not use operational theories but theories do

Accepted Answer

Hypotheses are often derived from theories as specific, testable predictions about how variables are related or will behave under certain conditions.

Question 4

The social desirability bias was discussed as a limitation of which of the major ways of measuring behaviour?
A)Physiological measures
B)Behavioural observations
C)Reports by others
D)Self-report measures

Accepted Answer

Social desirability bias is a limitation of self-report measures because respondents may answer questions in a manner that is viewed favorably by others, rather than how they truly feel or behave, to present themselves in a better light.

Question 5

A friend of yours is telling you about the results of a multimillion-dollar government-funded study she heard about on the news last night. She complains that she could have predicted the results of the study before it was done and that here is yet another instance of the government wasting the taxpayers' hard-earned money. Which of the following issues would have the most relevance to the potential accuracy of your friend's complaints? It is the ______________________.
A)limitations of hindsight explanations
B)problem of demand characteristics
C)limitations of correlational research
D)problem of experimenter expectancy effects

Accepted Answer

The relevance of the limitations of hindsight explanations is most pertinent here because it addresses the tendency to believe one could have predicted the outcome of an event after it has already happened, which is what the friend is claiming. This phenomenon can lead to the mistaken belief that the results of a study were obvious and thus the study was unnecessary, without considering the value of empirical evidence to confirm or refute assumptions.

Question 6

Researchers decide to measure depression by evaluating the participants' levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. The operational definition for depression is the ____________.
A)depression
B)level of serotonin
C)researcher
D)participant

Accepted Answer

The operational definition for depression in this study is the level of serotonin, as it is the specific, measurable factor researchers are using to quantify or assess depression.

Question 7

A psychologist decides that she will assess stress by measuring subjects' blood pressure. This is an example of a(n)
A)control group
B)operational definition
C)population
D)case study

Accepted Answer

An operational definition specifies exactly how a concept will be measured, in this case, using blood pressure as a measure of stress.

Question 8

In neuropsychology, researchers often measure how quickly/slowly participants respond to commands or sensory stimulations. This is often termed?
A)Participation time
B)Response threshold
C)Reaction time
D)Movement time

Accepted Answer

Reaction time is the correct term used in neuropsychology to describe the time it takes for a participant to respond to a command or sensory stimulation.

Question 9

The tendency to respond in what is believed to be a socially appropriate manner rather than according to how a person actually thinks, feels, or behaves is called ______________.
A)reactivity
B)the social desirability bias
C)confounding
D)the placebo effect

Accepted Answer

The social desirability bias refers to the tendency of respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others, often leading to overreporting of "good" behavior or underreporting of "bad" behavior, rather than answering honestly according to their true thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.

Question 10

If a researcher conducting an observational study of people at a shopping mall is making use of an unobtrusive measure, which of the following will he NOT have to worry about?
A)Potential experimenter expectancy effects contaminating his observations.
B)Using operational definitions to define the variables in which he is interested.
C)The generalizability of the findings from his study.
D)The people in the mall changing their behaviour because they know they are being watched.

Accepted Answer

Unobtrusive measures are used to observe subjects without their knowledge, thus eliminating concerns about participants altering their behavior because they are aware they are being observed.

Question 11

You develop a new theory that resolves several seemingly conflicting findings and theories, and explains the research results within a single broad framework. This best demonstrates which characteristic of a good theory? Your theory
A)conforms to the law of parsimony
B)predictions are supported by new research
C)is testable
D)organizes information in a meaningful way

Accepted Answer

A good theory organizes information in a meaningful way, which is exactly what is described by resolving conflicting findings and theories and explaining research results within a single broad framework.

Question 12

Which of the following is a characteristic of a good theory?
A)Testability
B)Different than existing research
C)Complexity and intricacy
D)Does not require future research

Accepted Answer

A good theory should be testable, meaning it can be empirically tested through observation and experimentation. This allows for the validation or refutation of the theory.

Question 13

In research, an If-Then statement is associated with ___________.
A)theory
B)hypothesis
C)methods
D)results

Accepted Answer

An If-Then statement is typically associated with a hypothesis in research. It is a way to formulate predictions that can be tested through experiments or observations.

Question 14

The notion that if two theories can equally explain and predict the same phenomenon, then the simpler one is the preferred theory is referred to as the law of __________________.
A)least complexity
B)parsimony
C)consistency
D)simplicity

Accepted Answer

The law of parsimony, often associated with Occam's razor, suggests that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. This principle is widely used in various fields to guide the selection of theories or explanations.

Question 15

When presented with the findings of psychological research, it is not uncommon for people to comment that the results are trivial, obvious, and that they "knew that all along." This tendency is referred to as
A)the law of parsimony
B)hindsight bias
C)the bystander effect
D)an unobtrusive measure

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias refers to the common tendency for people to perceive events that have already occurred as having been more predictable than they actually were before the events took place. This is why people often claim they "knew it all along" after learning about research findings, even if they wouldn't have been able to predict those findings beforehand.

Question 16

The essential function of an operational definition is that it translates something
A)measurable into something observable
B)measurable into something abstract
C)observable into something abstract
D)abstract into something observable and measurable

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions are used to clarify precisely what is meant by each variable in the context of a study. They translate abstract concepts into something observable and measurable, allowing researchers to collect data and perform analyses based on those definitions. This ensures that the concept is clearly defined in terms of the operations or techniques used to measure or identify it.

Question 17

Producing a socially acceptable response as opposed to a true response is called?
A)Social anxiety variable
B)Social desirability bias
C)Social norm expectation
D)Good social manners

Accepted Answer

Social desirability bias occurs when respondents answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others, often leading to over-reporting of "good" behavior or under-reporting of "bad" behavior.

Question 18

One of the main differences between theories and hypotheses is that
A)theories tend to be broader than hypotheses
B)hypotheses tend to be broader than theories
C)theories tend to be externally valid, whereas hypotheses tend to be internally valid
D)theories use operational definitions, whereas hypotheses do not

Accepted Answer

Theories are broader in scope and encompass a wider range of phenomena, while hypotheses are specific statements that can be tested directly.

Question 19

Which of the following is a major problem of after-the-fact or "hindsight" explanations?
A)There are many ways of explaining past events and there is usually no way to know which of these explanations is correct.
B)Hindsight explanations fail to provide a foundation on which further scientific study can occur.
C)Science requires that theories be testable and hindsight explanations are usually too theoretically complex and sophisticated to be testable.
D)Hindsight explanations overemphasize the importance of external validity.

Accepted Answer

Hindsight explanations suffer from the issue that multiple explanations can seem plausible after the fact, but it's difficult to determine which one is actually correct. This is because knowing the outcome influences our perception of the events leading up to it, making it challenging to objectively assess the causes.

Question 20

Which of the following refers to any characteristic that can vary?
A)Operational definition
B)Hypothesis
C)Variable
D)Theory

Accepted Answer

A variable is any characteristic, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted. It varies from one individual or situation to another, making it a fundamental concept in research and statistics.

Quiz 2: Studying Behaviour Scientifically

Which of the following defines a variable in terms of the specific procedures used to measure it?

Which of the following statements regarding theories and hypotheses is TRUE? Hypotheses

The social desirability bias was discussed as a limitation of which of the major ways of measuring behaviour?

Researchers decide to measure depression by evaluating the participants' levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. The operational definition for depression is the ____________.

A psychologist decides that she will assess stress by measuring subjects' blood pressure. This is an example of a(n)

In neuropsychology, researchers often measure how quickly/slowly participants respond to commands or sensory stimulations. This is often termed?

The tendency to respond in what is believed to be a socially appropriate manner rather than according to how a person actually thinks, feels, or behaves is called ______________.

If a researcher conducting an observational study of people at a shopping mall is making use of an unobtrusive measure, which of the following will he NOT have to worry about?

You develop a new theory that resolves several seemingly conflicting findings and theories, and explains the research results within a single broad framework. This best demonstrates which characteristic of a good theory? Your theory

Which of the following is a characteristic of a good theory?

In research, an If-Then statement is associated with ___________.

The notion that if two theories can equally explain and predict the same phenomenon, then the simpler one is the preferred theory is referred to as the law of __________________.

When presented with the findings of psychological research, it is not uncommon for people to comment that the results are trivial, obvious, and that they "knew that all along." This tendency is referred to as

The essential function of an operational definition is that it translates something

Producing a socially acceptable response as opposed to a true response is called?

One of the main differences between theories and hypotheses is that

Which of the following is a major problem of after-the-fact or "hindsight" explanations?

Which of the following refers to any characteristic that can vary?