Question 1

Which of the following is the correct ordering of the sections of an empirical journal article?
A)Introduction, Results, Discussion, Method, References
B)Introduction, Discussion, Method, Results, Abstract
C)Abstract, References, Introduction, Results, Discussion
D)Abstract, Method, Results, Discussion, References

Accepted Answer

The correct ordering of the sections of an empirical journal article is Abstract, Method, Results, Discussion, References. The abstract provides a brief overview of the study, the method section explains how the study was conducted, the results section presents the findings of the study, the discussion section interprets the results and relates them to existing research, and the references section lists all the sources cited in the article.

Question 2

Which of the following is a limitation of Google Scholar compared to PsycINFO?
A)Google Scholar does not provide PDF versions of articles.
B)Google Scholar is not free to use.
C)Google Scholar is not limited to just psychology and related fields.
D)Google Scholar can only be accessed from certain computers.

Accepted Answer

Google Scholar is not limited to just psychology and related fields, whereas PsycINFO specifically focuses on psychology and related disciplines. This could be a limitation for researchers who solely need psychology-specific literature.

Question 3

Which of the following is a benefit of using a wiki to review psychological research?
A)The wiki's coverage of a topic is usually comprehensive.
B)The wiki page includes a comprehensive list of references.
C)The wiki page has been peer-reviewed.
D)The wiki page can be corrected quickly.

Accepted Answer

Wikis allow for rapid updates and corrections by a wide range of contributors, making them a dynamic resource that can quickly reflect new information or corrections. This is particularly useful in fields like psychology where new research findings are constantly emerging.

Question 4

How would you adopt the mindset of a scientific reasoner?
A)Using common sense to understand scientific data
B)Remaining objective as you interpret scientific data
C)Finding evidence that confirms your hypotheses
D)Reminding yourself that because you know about potential biases, you cannot fall prey to them

Accepted Answer

Adopting the mindset of a scientific reasoner involves remaining objective while interpreting scientific data. This means avoiding personal biases, preconceived notions, and subjective opinions that can lead to flawed conclusions. Scientific reasoners approach evidence with an open mind and subject it to rigorous testing and analysis, allowing the data to speak for itself. They rely on empirical evidence, rather than speculation or intuition, to build reliable explanations and theories.

Question 5

Matthew is reading an empirical journal article and wants to know whether the authors used the Big Five Inventory (BFI-44) or the NEO-PI to measure extraversion. In which section would he find this information?
A)Introduction
B)Method
C)Results
D)Discussion

Accepted Answer

The information about the specific measures used to assess extraversion would be found in the Method section, which describes the participants, measures, and procedures used in the study.

Question 6

Javier wants his lab partner to tell him if he thinks the article he found for their project is appropriate. Rather than have him read the article, which two parts of the paper could Javier have his lab partner read to get a summary of the article?
A)The abstract and the first paragraph of the introduction
B)The abstract and the first paragraph of the discussion
C)The abstract and the method section
D)The last paragraph of the introduction and the results section

Accepted Answer

The answer of Javier wants his lab partner to tell...

Question 7

What is the problem with being swayed by a good story?
A)A good story is never the true explanation for a scientific finding.
B)Scientific findings never have commonsense explanations.
C)A good story may not be supported by data.
D)Good stories are not falsifiable.

Accepted Answer

A good story may be compelling and entertaining, but it may not be supported by actual data and evidence. It's important to rely on scientific evidence and data, rather than just a good story, when making decisions or drawing conclusions.

Question 8

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," why should you read the abstract first?
A)Because it is the shortest section
B)Because it provides an overview of the article
C)Because it is written by the journal's editor
D)Because it appears in PsycINFO

Accepted Answer

The abstract provides a brief summary of the article, including the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions. By reading the abstract first, you can quickly determine if the article is relevant to your research question and decide whether or not to read the entire article.

Question 9

Compared with doing a generic Internet search, why is PsycINFO a superior way to find scientific sources?
A)It is free.
B)It searches only sources in psychology and related fields.
C)It can be done on any computer.
D)It searches research scientists' websites.

Accepted Answer

PsycINFO is a database that specifically focuses on psychology and related fields. A generic Internet search may yield a lot of irrelevant results, but PsycINFO narrows the search to only scientific sources that are relevant to the field.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a section or subsection commonly found in an empirical journal article?
A)Abstract
B)Outcomes
C)Participants
D)Procedure

Accepted Answer

Outcomes is not a standard section or subsection in an empirical journal article. Common sections include the Abstract, Introduction, Methodology (which may include sections on Participants and Procedure), Results, and Discussion.

Question 11

Looking for which of the following in a trade book will give you a hint as to its scientific rigor?
A)The cost of the book
B)The number of pages
C)The number of references
D)The number of authors

Accepted Answer

The number of references in a trade book can give an indication of its scientific rigor, as citations show that the author has used reliable sources to support their claims. The cost of the book, number of pages, and number of authors are not necessarily indicative of scientific rigor.

Question 12

Lana is writing her first empirical journal article. Although she thinks she knows why she found the results she did, she also wants to mention some alternative explanations for her findings. In which section will she mention these alternative explanations?
A)Method
B)Results
C)Discussion
D)References

Accepted Answer

The Discussion section is the appropriate place to mention alternative explanations and interpretations of the results, as well as to address limitations and future directions of the study.

Question 13

Which of the following is the first section of an empirical journal article?
A)Abstract
B)Introduction
C)Results
D)References

Accepted Answer

The abstract is the first section of an empirical journal article, providing a concise summary of the study, including its purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions.

Question 14

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," which section should you read first?
A)Abstract
B)Introduction
C)Method
D)Discussion

Accepted Answer

The abstract provides a concise summary of the entire study, including the purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions, making it the best starting point for understanding the article's content and relevance.

Question 15

Hannah just finished reading an empirical journal article for a class project. Where should she go if she wants to look for a list of the study's hypotheses or research questions?
A)First page of the article
B)First page of the method section
C)Last paragraph of the results section
D)Last paragraph of the introduction

Accepted Answer

The hypotheses or research questions are typically presented in the introduction section of a journal article. Specifically, they may be found in the last paragraph of the introduction where the author(s) provide a clear statement of the purpose of the study, the research questions or hypotheses being tested, and the rationale for conducting the research.

Question 16

After reading the chapter, Cyril says to himself, "I am sure other people might engage in faulty thinking, but I never would." What is Cyril experiencing?
A)Bias blind spot
B)Confirmation bias
C)Faulty intuition
D)Motivated thinking

Accepted Answer

Cyril is experiencing the bias blind spot, which is the tendency for individuals to believe that they are less biased than others. This can lead individuals to overlook their own biases and engage in faulty thinking without even realizing it.

Question 17

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," which two questions should you ask yourself as you read?
A)"What is the argument?" and "What is the evidence to support the argument?"
B)"What were the methods?" and "What are the results?"
C)"What is the hypothesis?" and "What are the explanations?"
D)"What research exists on this topic?" and "What research needs to be conducted to answer the question?"

Accepted Answer

When reading an empirical journal article with a purpose, it's important to understand the main argument the authors are making and the evidence they provide to support that argument. This helps in critically evaluating the validity and reliability of the study's conclusions.

Question 18

Which of the following is the last section of an empirical journal article?
A)Method
B)Results
C)Discussion
D)Introduction

Accepted Answer

The Discussion section is typically the last section of an empirical journal article, as it provides a summary and interpretation of the results presented in the previous sections (Method and Results). The Introduction usually comes before the Method section.

Question 19

Which of the following sources is most likely to contain only information that has been rigorously peer-reviewed?
A)Chapters in edited books
B)Full-length books
C)Review journal articles
D)Wikis

Accepted Answer

Review journal articles are written by experts in the field and are subjected to a thorough peer-review process before publication, ensuring that the information presented is accurate and reliable. Chapters in edited books and full-length books may not undergo the same level of rigorous peer-review, and Wikis are not peer-reviewed at all.

Question 20

Hannah just finished reading an empirical journal article for a class project. What information might she get out of reading the references section of her article?
A)A list of the measures used in the study
B)The name of an article that researched a similar topic
C)An idea for a future study
D)An explanation of the statistical tests used

Accepted Answer

The references section lists all the sources cited in the article, which can include articles on similar topics.

Quiz 2: Sources of Information: Why Research Is Best and How to Find It

Which of the following is the correct ordering of the sections of an empirical journal article?

Which of the following is a limitation of Google Scholar compared to PsycINFO?

Which of the following is a benefit of using a wiki to review psychological research?

How would you adopt the mindset of a scientific reasoner?

Matthew is reading an empirical journal article and wants to know whether the authors used the Big Five Inventory (BFI-44) or the NEO-PI to measure extraversion. In which section would he find this information?

Javier wants his lab partner to tell him if he thinks the article he found for their project is appropriate. Rather than have him read the article, which two parts of the paper could Javier have his lab partner read to get a summary of the article?

What is the problem with being swayed by a good story?

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," why should you read the abstract first?

Compared with doing a generic Internet search, why is PsycINFO a superior way to find scientific sources?

Which of the following is NOT a section or subsection commonly found in an empirical journal article?

Looking for which of the following in a trade book will give you a hint as to its scientific rigor?

Lana is writing her first empirical journal article. Although she thinks she knows why she found the results she did, she also wants to mention some alternative explanations for her findings. In which section will she mention these alternative explanations?

Which of the following is the first section of an empirical journal article?

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," which section should you read first?

Hannah just finished reading an empirical journal article for a class project. Where should she go if she wants to look for a list of the study's hypotheses or research questions?

After reading the chapter, Cyril says to himself, "I am sure other people might engage in faulty thinking, but I never would." What is Cyril experiencing?

When reading an empirical journal article "with a purpose," which two questions should you ask yourself as you read?

Which of the following is the last section of an empirical journal article?

Which of the following sources is most likely to contain only information that has been rigorously peer-reviewed?

Hannah just finished reading an empirical journal article for a class project. What information might she get out of reading the references section of her article?