Question 1

Dr. Bischer is conducting a study to determine if men 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. 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 of the uniform test, they are not told which of the uniforms is made from the new material. They are asked to wear their assigned uniforms and score as many goals as possible in a practice scrimmage game against one another. Dr. Bischer is noting the number of goals scored. Ultimately, the men who are wearing the old uniforms score more goals and therefore win the game. Dr. Bischer speculates that the new uniforms are not more beneficial to performance than the old uniforms, but she will rerun her study a few more times. 
-From a scientific viewpoint, why was it important for Dr. Bischer to randomly assign the men to wear new uniforms or old uniforms?

Accepted Answer

Random assignment helps ensure that the two groups are comparable in terms of ability, motivation, and other variables, so differences in performance can be attributed to the uniform material rather than pre-existing differences between the players.

Question 2

Dr. Bischer is conducting a study to determine if men 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. 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 of the uniform test, they are not told which of the uniforms is made from the new material. They are asked to wear their assigned uniforms and score as many goals as possible in a practice scrimmage game against one another. Dr. Bischer is noting the number of goals scored. Ultimately, the men who are wearing the old uniforms score more goals and therefore win the game. Dr. Bischer speculates that the new uniforms are not more beneficial to performance than the old uniforms, but she will rerun her study a few more times. 
-What was the experimental group in Dr. Bischer's study?

Accepted Answer

The experimental group in a study is the group that receives the treatment or condition being tested, which in this case is the new-material uniforms. The men who wore the new-material blue uniforms were the ones being tested for performance, making them the experimental group.

Question 3

Dr. Bischer is conducting a study to determine if men 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. 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 of the uniform test, they are not told which of the uniforms is made from the new material. They are asked to wear their assigned uniforms and score as many goals as possible in a practice scrimmage game against one another. Dr. Bischer is noting the number of goals scored. Ultimately, the men who are wearing the old uniforms score more goals and therefore win the game. Dr. Bischer speculates that the new uniforms are not more beneficial to performance than the old uniforms, but she will rerun her study a few more times. 
-Why might Dr. Bischer conduct this study again?

Accepted Answer

She wants to make sure her findings were not simply due to chance. Replicating the study helps to ensure that the results are consistent and not an anomaly.

Question 4

Dr. Bischer is conducting a study to determine if men 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. 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 of the uniform test, they are not told which of the uniforms is made from the new material. They are asked to wear their assigned uniforms and score as many goals as possible in a practice scrimmage game against one another. Dr. Bischer is noting the number of goals scored. Ultimately, the men who are wearing the old uniforms score more goals and therefore win the game. Dr. Bischer speculates that the new uniforms are not more beneficial to performance than the old uniforms, but she will rerun her study a few more times.
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In Dr. Bischer's study, the men did not know if they were wearing the old or the new uniforms, but Dr. Bischer knew who was wearing what. Thus, the research design can be considered __________.

Accepted Answer

In a single-blind study, the participants do not know which treatment (if any) they are receiving, but the researchers do. Since the men did not know whether they were wearing the new or old uniforms, but Dr. Bischer did, the study is considered single blind.

Question 5

Regis is conducting a study to see if air fresheners installed in classrooms can lead to students scoring higher grades on exams. What is the dependent variable in this study?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the outcome that the researcher is interested in observing or measuring, which in this case is the students' scores on exams. This is because the study aims to see if there is a relationship between the presence of air fresheners and students' academic performance, making the students' scores the variable that depends on the experimental conditions.

Question 6

Tracy's study examines whether students to whom she gives chocolate chip cookies will score better on exams than students to whom she gives peanut butter cookies. What is the independent variable in this study?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the factor that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on the dependent variable. In this study, Tracy manipulates the type of cookie given (chocolate chip or peanut butter), making it the independent variable.

Question 7

The group that will receive a treatment in a study is considered to be the __________.

Accepted Answer

The experimental group in a study is the group that receives the treatment or intervention being tested, to evaluate its effect compared to a control group that does not receive the treatment.

Question 8

Why is it important for researchers to use a control group in a scientific study?

Accepted Answer

The control group serves as a baseline to compare against the experimental group, ensuring that any changes observed can be attributed to the manipulation or intervention, not other variables.

Question 9

A psychologist in a laboratory is studying participants' perceptions of the attractiveness of several perfume odors. However, as he conducts his study, people are cooking their lunches in the break room next door, and the smell of onions and fish is making its way into the lab. He should cease his experiment for the day because the food smell is most likely __________.

Accepted Answer

The food smell is a confounding variable because it is an external influence that could affect the outcome of the experiment (participants' perceptions of perfume attractiveness) in an uncontrolled way.

Question 10

In ___________________ studies, neither the participants nor the researchers administering the treatment know which group is the experimental or the control group.

Accepted Answer

In double-blind studies, both the participants and the researchers do not know who is receiving the experimental treatment and who is receiving a placebo or control treatment, eliminating bias.

Question 11

Why would researchers design a study in which neither the participants nor the investigators interacting with them know whether the participants have been assigned to a control group or to an experimental group?

Accepted Answer

This type of study design is known as a double-blind study, which helps to prevent the researchers' expectations and the participants' behavior from being influenced by knowledge of the group assignments, thus reducing bias and increasing the reliability of the results.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Accepted Answer

Margaret's expectation of hating the party likely influenced her behavior and perceptions at the party, leading to her having a bad time, thus fulfilling her own prophecy.

Question 13

Interviews and questionnaires are considered to be what type of research measure?

Accepted Answer

Interviews and questionnaires are considered self-report measures because they rely on individuals providing information about themselves, their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or experiences directly.

Question 14

Which of the following is a major advantage of using a behavioral measure in a psychological study?

Accepted Answer

Behavioral measures allow for objective assessments because they rely on observable and quantifiable actions or reactions of participants, which can be independently rated or measured by trained individuals, reducing subjective bias.

Question 15

Psychologists who employ physiological measures in a research study may be interested in a participant's __________.

Accepted Answer

All of these options (heart rate, blood pressure, sweating) are physiological measures that psychologists might be interested in when conducting research, as they can provide insights into a participant's physical responses to stimuli or situations.

Question 16

The best way to further understanding about a particular human behavior is to design a study that incorporates __________.

Accepted Answer

Incorporating multiple measurements in a study allows for a more comprehensive understanding of human behavior by capturing different dimensions and perspectives, such as subjective experiences, observable actions, and physiological responses. This approach can provide a more nuanced and accurate picture of the behavior being studied.

Question 17

Psychologists use mathematical tools called _________________ to analyze, organize, interpret, and present data about human behavior.

Accepted Answer

Statistics are the mathematical tools used by psychologists to analyze, organize, interpret, and present data about human behavior.

Question 18

As stated in the Feist and Rosenberg text, advertisers can manipulate statistical findings to promote their products by __________.

Accepted Answer

Advertisers can use all these tactics to manipulate statistical findings: vague claims, misleading graphics, and impractical research findings.

Question 19

Using descriptive statistics, a psychologist can __________.

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics are used to summarize and organize data, which can help in determining differences between groups and making judgments about the probability of events.

Question 20

The arithmetic average of a series of numbers is called the __________.

Accepted Answer

The arithmetic average of a series of numbers is referred to as the mean.

Quiz 2: Conducting Psychological Research