Question 1

A ________ is best defined as a quantitative method for combining the results of all the published and even unpublished results on one question and drawing a conclusion based on the entire set of studies on the topic.

Accepted Answer

A meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple scientific studies to arrive at a conclusion about the overall body of research on a particular topic, making it the correct choice.

Question 2

A variable can be defined as ________.

Accepted Answer

A variable is defined as anything that can change or vary within or between individuals, which includes characteristics, quantities, or conditions that can be measured or observed.

Question 3

________ are defined as subtle cues, often unconscious, given by experimenters to the participants as to how they should behave in the role of participant.

Accepted Answer

Demand characteristics refer to the cues that participants pick up from the experimenter about what behaviors are expected or desired in the context of an experiment, which can influence the participants' behavior and potentially bias the results.

Question 4

Which of the following is the first basic process of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

Observation is the first basic step in the scientific method. It involves gathering information about phenomena or events using the senses or tools to notice and record details.

Question 5

________ involve the systematic observation of people's actions either in their normal environment or in a laboratory setting.

Accepted Answer

Behavioral measures involve the systematic observation of people's actions, which can be conducted in natural settings or controlled environments like laboratories. This method focuses on observing and recording behaviors as they occur.

Question 6

In the fourth step of the scientific method, scientists use mathematical techniques to ________ the results and determine whether they are significant and whether they closely fit the prediction.

Accepted Answer

In the fourth step of the scientific method, scientists interpret the results using mathematical techniques to determine their significance and how closely they fit the prediction. This involves analyzing the data collected during the experiment to draw conclusions.

Question 7

When the central tenet of knowing is not what people think and believe, but rather how nature behaves, then we must accept the data and follow them wherever they take us. This attitude is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When the central tenet of knowing is...

Question 8

Which of the following is a unique characteristic of a true experiment?

Accepted Answer

A true experiment is characterized by the manipulation of an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable, establishing causal relationships.

Question 9

Identify a true statement about human observation.

Accepted Answer

Human observation is subject to biases and generalizations, meaning individuals often extrapolate from specific instances to broader contexts, assuming that what they observe in one situation will hold true in others. This tendency can lead to inaccuracies but is a common aspect of how people process and interpret their experiences.

Question 10

The following is an excerpt from an in-depth paper that Dr. Smith, a therapist, wrote about her client: "Irene experienced the loss of her parents at an early age. She is now 36, divorced, and has two children. Irene has difficulty maintaining steady employment. Eight months ago, she was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Irene is responding well to an experimental antidepressant and to cognitive behavioral therapy. She has a hopeful prognosis." This research method can be best termed as a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a case study, which is an in-depth analysis of a single individual, group, event, or situation.

Question 11

Susan was asked to participate in a self-report questionnaire on prejudice. In order to look good and avoid coming across as a person who is prejudiced against African Americans, she gave neutral answers on the questionnaire. This phenomenon is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Social desirability bias occurs when respondents answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others, often leading to overreporting of "good" behavior or underreporting of "bad" behavior to appear more socially acceptable. This is what Susan is doing by giving neutral answers to avoid seeming prejudiced.

Question 12

Irene Bialy, a psychologist, wants to study how the habit of telling lies affects marital relationships. She contacts married couples from across the country to participate in her study. She lets them know that the only cost of participation would be that they would need to reveal if they have ever lied to their parents. Irene also informs them that they will be paid an amount of $1,000 each for participating in the study. In this scenario, which guideline of psychological research best describes the one followed by Irene?

Accepted Answer

Irene is ensuring that participants receive a benefit ($1,000) for their involvement, aligning with the principle of beneficence, which involves maximizing benefits and minimizing harm to participants.

Question 13

When interpreting correlations, it is important to remember that a

Accepted Answer

Correlation indicates a statistical relationship between two variables, but it does not imply causation.

Question 14

When can scientists help ensure accurate and honest presentation of results?

Accepted Answer

Allowing work to be evaluated by other scientists through peer review is a fundamental process in science to ensure accuracy, honesty, and integrity in research findings. This process helps identify errors, biases, or oversights and ensures that the results are reliable and valid before they are published or accepted as scientific knowledge.

Question 15

Dr. Adriana conducts a study to determine if players who wear a new type of soccer uniform made from a specially designed fabric will perform better in soccer matches. She recruits a professional soccer team to participate in her study. She randomly assigns half of the men to wear the new-material uniforms made in the color blue and the other half to wear old-material uniforms made in the color red. Although the men know about the test, they are not told which one of the two uniforms is made from the new material. They are asked to wear their assigned uniforms and score as many goals as possible in a game against one another. Dr. Adriana notes the number of goals scored. Ultimately, the players who are wearing the old uniforms score more goals, and therefore, win the game. Dr. Adriana speculates that the new uniforms are not more beneficial to performance than the old uniforms, but she decides to conduct the test a few more times. What is the dependent variable in Dr. Adriana's study?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable in an experiment is the outcome that is measured to see if it is affected by the independent variable. In this study, the number of goals scored is the outcome being measured to determine the effect of wearing different types of uniforms.

Question 16

________ is defined as the procedures, consisting of five basic processes, by which scientists conduct research.

Accepted Answer

The scientific method is defined as the procedures, consisting of five basic processes (question, hypothesis, experiment, observation, and conclusion), by which scientists conduct research.

Question 17

Dr. Adriana conducts a study to determine if players who wear a new type of soccer uniform made from a specially designed fabric will perform better in soccer matches. She recruits a professional soccer team to participate in her study. She randomly assigns half of the men to wear the new-material uniforms made in the color blue and the other half to wear old-material uniforms made in the color red. Although the men know about the test, they are not told which one of the two uniforms is made from the new material. They are asked to wear their assigned uniforms and score as many goals as possible in a game against one another. Dr. Adriana notes the number of goals scored. Ultimately, the players who are wearing the old uniforms score more goals, and therefore, win the game. Dr. Adriana speculates that the new uniforms are not more beneficial to performance than the old uniforms, but she decides to conduct the test a few more times. From a scientific viewpoint, why was it important for Dr. Ariana to randomly assign the players to wear new or old uniforms?

Accepted Answer

Random assignment is crucial in experiments to ensure that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group. This helps to distribute participant characteristics evenly across groups, reducing the impact of confounding variables and increasing the validity of the experiment's findings.

Question 18

A(n) ________ can be defined as a study design in which a psychologist, often a therapist, observes one person over a long period of time.

Accepted Answer

A case study is a detailed examination of an individual or group, often over a prolonged period, to gather in-depth data and insights into their behaviors, motivations, and other psychological aspects.

Question 19

Which of the following sciences studies the world of things-the inanimate world of stars, light, waves, atoms, the Earth, compounds, and molecules?

Accepted Answer

Physical sciences encompass the study of non-living systems, including astronomy, physics, chemistry, and Earth sciences, which cover the inanimate aspects of the world such as stars, light, waves, atoms, the Earth, compounds, and molecules.

Question 20

Dr. Adriana conducts a study to determine if players who wear a new type of soccer uniform made from a specially designed fabric will perform better in soccer matches. She recruits a professional soccer team to participate in her study. She randomly assigns half of the men to wear the new-material uniforms made in the color blue and the other half to wear old-material uniforms made in the color red. Although the men know about the test, they are not told which one of the two uniforms is made from the new material. They are asked to wear their assigned uniforms and score as many goals as possible in a game against one another. Dr. Adriana notes the number of goals scored. Ultimately, the players who are wearing the old uniforms score more goals, and therefore, win the game. Dr. Adriana speculates that the new uniforms are not more beneficial to performance than the old uniforms, but she decides to conduct the test a few more times. What is the independent variable in Dr. Adriana's study?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable in an experiment is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on the dependent variable. In this study, Dr. Adriana manipulates the type of uniform worn by the players (old or new material) to see its effect on their performance, making it the independent variable.

Quiz 2: Conducting Research in Psychology