Question 1

One way to reduce the effects of the presence of the observer on the behavior of the observed is to

Accepted Answer

Concealing the observer or using hidden camera recorders minimizes the observer's influence on the behavior of the observed by reducing their awareness of being watched, leading to more natural behavior.

Question 2

From her studies of chimpanzees in the wild in Tanzania, Jane Goodall showed that humans are not the only tool-making animals. In discovering this information, Jane Goodall used which type of research method?

Accepted Answer

Jane Goodall's research method involved observing chimpanzees in their natural habitat without interfering, which is known as naturalistic observation. This method allows researchers to study behaviors as they occur in the wild.

Question 3

Zoologists have attached miniaturized cameras called "critter cams" directly to many species allowing observations in a wide range of natural environments with the use of these tiny cameras minimizing the

Accepted Answer

The observer effect refers to changes that the act of observation will make on the phenomenon being observed. In this context, attaching miniaturized cameras to animals allows for natural behavior observation without the direct influence of human presence, thus minimizing the observer effect.

Question 4

The findings from naturalistic observations allow us to

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observations are valuable for describing behavior as they involve observing subjects in their natural environment without interference. However, they do not allow for clear predictions, explanations, or the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships due to the lack of control over variables.

Question 5

Psychologists can determine clear cause-and-effect relationships regarding human behavior through a controlled research design called the __________ method.

Accepted Answer

The experimental method allows psychologists to manipulate variables and control the conditions of the study, enabling them to establish clear cause-and-effect relationships regarding human behavior.

Question 6

Concealing the observer behind a two-way mirror or using hidden cameras can be used to minimize the

Accepted Answer

Concealing the observer behind a two-way mirror or using hidden cameras helps minimize the observer effect, which occurs when the presence of the observer influences the behavior of those being observed.

Question 7

Researchers using naturalistic observations to study an animal colony must avoid making friends with the animals to minimize the

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation aims to study behaviors in their natural environment without interference. Making friends with the animals could alter their natural behaviors, thus affecting the validity of the observations. This is known as the effects of the observer on the observed, where the presence or actions of the observer inadvertently influence the behavior of the subjects being observed.

Question 8

A psychologist using the method of naturalistic observation would

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing subjects in their natural environment without interfering, which allows for the study of behavior in real-world settings.

Question 9

Which nonexperimental research method can demonstrate the existence of relationships, allows prediction, and can be used in a lab, clinic, or natural setting?

Accepted Answer

The correlational method is designed to identify and assess the relationships between variables, allowing researchers to make predictions based on observed correlations. This method can be applied in various settings, including laboratories, clinics, or natural environments, making it versatile for studying the existence of relationships between different factors.

Question 10

Psychologists who want to make measurements to discover relationships between events use a technique called

Accepted Answer

The correlational method is used by psychologists to discover and assess the relationships between different variables or events. This method allows researchers to determine whether a relationship exists and how strong that relationship is, but it does not establish causation.

Question 11

Questions about the opinions and behavior of large groups of people are often best answered using the __________ method.

Accepted Answer

Surveys are the most effective method for gathering data on the opinions and behaviors of large groups of people because they can reach a wide audience quickly and can be designed to gather a broad range of information.

Question 12

Which research method can address questions not answered by other approaches and allows information about large numbers of people to be gathered?

Accepted Answer

The survey method is designed to gather information from large numbers of people through questionnaires or interviews, making it suitable for addressing questions that other methods may not be able to answer due to the scale of data collection required.

Question 13

Recording the behavior of people or animals in their real-life settings without imposing laboratory conditions is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation is a research method in which the behavior of people or animals is observed in their natural environments without any manipulation by the researcher.

Question 14

Limitations of naturalistic observation include the

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation can lead to observer effects (where the presence of the observer alters the behavior of those being observed) and observer bias (where the observer's expectations influence their interpretation of the behaviors). These are significant limitations of this research method.

Question 15

Psychologists often obtain much information by observing the behavior of human and animals in their usual settings. They then use this information to form hypotheses and questions for future research. These psychologists are most likely using which research method?

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing subjects in their natural environment without interfering. This method allows psychologists to gather data on behaviors as they occur spontaneously, which is consistent with the description provided.

Question 16

Regarding the information provided by the nonexperimental methods, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The survey method is primarily used for collecting data about beliefs, opinions, behaviors, and other attributes, but it does not establish cause-and-effect relationships. Establishing causality typically requires experimental methods where variables are manipulated and controlled.

Question 17

When psychologists study individuals with an in-depth focus, often in clinical settings, they use the ___________ method.

Accepted Answer

The case study method involves an in-depth investigation of an individual or a small group, often used in clinical settings to gather detailed information that might not be obtainable through other research methods.

Question 18

Because it is not always possible to conduct experiments, psychologists gather evidence and test hypotheses by using all of the following nonexperimental methods EXCEPT for the __________ method.

Accepted Answer

Pseudoscientific methods are not recognized as valid scientific techniques in psychology or any other scientific field. They lack empirical support and are not based on the scientific method, unlike case studies, correlational studies, and naturalistic observations, which are legitimate nonexperimental methods used by psychologists to gather evidence and test hypotheses.

Question 19

An advantage of naturalistic observation is that

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation allows researchers to study behavior in its natural environment without any manipulation or interference, providing a more genuine picture of how subjects act in real-life situations.

Question 20

The fact that a subject's behavior may change when they know they are being watched is called

Accepted Answer

The observer effect refers to changes in a subject's behavior resulting from their awareness of being observed.

Quiz 1: Psychology, Critical Thinking, and Science