Question 1

Cause-and-effect relationships regarding human behavior are determined through the use of which of the following research methods?

Accepted Answer

Experimental method is the best choice for determining cause-and-effect relationships regarding human behavior as it involves manipulating an independent variable and observing its effect on a dependent variable while controlling for other variables. This allows researchers to establish a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The other methods mentioned are not as effective in determining causality, as correlational studies only establish a relationship between variables and nonexperimental methods do not involve manipulation of variables. Case studies may provide detailed information, but do not necessarily establish causality.

Question 2

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 cameras can reduce the observer effect as it allows the observed behavior to be more natural and unaffected by the presence of an observer. This method can be especially useful in situations where the presence of an observer could distort or bias the behavior being observed. Other options such as taking careful notes or using behavioral assessment instruments may still influence the observed behavior as the observer is still present and taking notes or recording. Making friends with the observed may also influence their behavior if they feel pressured to act differently than they normally would in order to maintain the friendship.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Researchers using naturalistic observations must avoid making friends with the animals to minimize the potentially confounding effects of the observer on the observed. By becoming too friendly with the animals, the researchers risk altering the animals' behavior, biasing their sampling, and clouding their observations. It is crucial to maintain objectivity and limit interference with the animals' natural behavior.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in real-life situations without manipulating or controlling them in any way, making it the best fit for the given definition. Choices A and B are not relevant to the concept, and while correlation can be used in naturalistic observation, it is not the defining characteristic of the method.

Question 5

Psychologists who want to study behavior as it unfolds in natural settings use a technique called

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing and recording behaviors in the environment in which they occur without any manipulation or control by the researcher. This allows for a more accurate representation of behavior in its natural context, as opposed to methods like surveys or experiments that may be affected by artificial settings or biases.

Question 6

Naturalistic observation,correlational studies,the clinical method,and the survey method are considered __________ methods.

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation, correlational studies, clinical method, and survey method are all forms of non-experimental methods, meaning that they do not involve manipulating the independent variable like in experimental methods. Instead, they involve observing, measuring, or assessing variables as they naturally occur in a real-world setting.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

The fact that a subject's behavior may change when they know they are being watched is known as the observer effect.

Question 8

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 used naturalistic observation by studying chimpanzees in their natural habitat without manipulating any variables or imposing any experimental controls.

Question 9

A psychologist using the method of naturalistic observation would

Accepted Answer

The method of naturalistic observation involves observing behavior as it happens in actual settings outside the laboratory or clinic. Option A refers to controlled situations, which is not a part of naturalistic observation. Option B refers to responses to questionnaires, which is not an observation of actual behavior. Option D refers to behavior of clients during therapy, which is not a general observation of behavior.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Surveys are the best method to gather information about the opinions and behavior of large groups of people. They allow researchers to collect data from a large sample size, making it easier to generalize the findings to the larger population. Surveys can also be administered in various forms, such as online, mail, phone or in-person, making it more accessible for a larger group of people to participate.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Concealing the observer can minimize the observer effect, which occurs when the presence of an observer affects the behavior of the individuals being observed. This helps to ensure more accurate observations of natural behavior without the influence of the observer. The double-blind effect refers to the possibility that the expectations of the observer or subject can influence the outcome of an experiment, which is not addressed by concealing the observer. The placebo effect refers to the beneficial effects of a treatment that are not due to the treatment itself, and is also not addressed by concealing the observer. The effects of extraneous correlations refer to the presence of confounding variables that can affect the relationship between the variables being studied, which is not addressed by concealing the observer.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

The survey method is not used to establish cause-and-effect relationships regarding human behavior, as it only involves gathering self-reported data from participants and does not manipulate any variables.

Question 13

When studying mental disorders,such as depression or anxiety,and the therapies used to treat them,psychologists are more likely to use the _______  method.

Accepted Answer

Case studies are particularly useful for studying mental disorders and therapies because they allow for an in-depth examination of an individual or small group of individuals. Psychologists can gather extensive information about the person's symptoms, background, and experiences with various treatments, which can provide valuable insights into the disorder and potential treatment options. Correlational studies, surveys, and naturalistic observations are less useful for studying mental disorders and therapies because they do not provide the same level of detail or individualized information.

Question 14

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 valid scientific methods and cannot be used to gather evidence or test hypotheses. Therefore, all of the other options (case study, correlational, and naturalistic observation) can be used as nonexperimental methods in psychology.

Question 15

The findings from naturalistic observations allow us to

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observations involve observing and describing behavior as it naturally occurs in a real-world setting. These observations can provide rich descriptions of behavior but do not involve manipulating variables or testing specific hypotheses, so they do not allow for predicting or explaining behavior or establishing cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The correlational method is the technique used by psychologists to make measurements to discover relationships between events. The method involves observing and measuring two or more variables to see if there is a relationship between them. This can help psychologists understand how different factors influence behavior or mental processes. The other options, such as the case study method, survey method, and naturalistic observation, can be useful in certain situations but do not involve measuring relationships between variables in the same way as the correlational method.

Question 17

A psychologist observes the confrontation between two rival neighborhood gangs from the window of an abandoned building.This method of collecting observations is best described as

Accepted Answer

The method of collecting observations described in the scenario is naturalistic observation. The psychologist is passively observing the behavior of the gangs in their natural environment without any interference or manipulation of variables, which is characteristic of naturalistic observation.

Question 18

An advantage of naturalistic observation is that

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation allows researchers to observe behavior in its natural setting, without manipulating any variables or introducing outside influences. This means that the behavior being observed is more likely to be a true representation of how individuals would behave in their natural environment, without any interference from an experimental setting.

Question 19

Nonexperimental methods of research include

Accepted Answer

All three options are nonexperimental methods of research commonly used in psychology. The case study method involves intensive examination of a single individual or a small group of individuals. Correlational studies investigate the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating them. The survey method involves collecting data from a large sample through questionnaires or interviews. Therefore, D (all of these) is the best answer.

Question 20

Limitations of naturalistic observation include the

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation can suffer from observer effects and observer bias because the researchers are often directly observing the behavior being studied and may bring their own expectations and beliefs into the observation, leading to biased conclusions. While there may be limitations in terms of the amount of information gained or the practical logistics of conducting observations, these are not specifically related to the limitations of observer effects and observer bias. Additionally, the APA code of research ethics can still be followed in naturalistic observation as long as researchers obtain informed consent and take steps to protect the privacy and well-being of their subjects.

Quiz 6: Introducing Psychology: Non-Experimental Research Methods