Question 1

Your study's hypothesis will tend to be initially found in a research paper's ________ section.

Accepted Answer

The hypothesis of a study is typically stated in the introduction section of a research paper. This section provides background information, establishes the research problem and goals, and clearly states the hypothesis or research question being investigated.

Question 2

Results that are not attributable to chance are referred to as ______________.

Accepted Answer

Results that are not attributable to chance are referred to as statistically significant. This means that the probability of obtaining the observed results due to chance is very low, usually less than 5%.

Question 3

The Method section contains all of the following parts except ________.

Accepted Answer

The Method section typically includes information about the participants, materials used, procedure employed, and any measures taken to analyze the data. However, the results are reported in a separate section of the research article. Therefore, C is the correct answer because results are not typically included in the Method section.

Question 4

Statistical significance ______________.

Accepted Answer

Statistical significance only indicates that the results are unlikely to have occurred by chance, and does not necessarily relate to the practical or psychological significance of the findings. A and C are incorrect because statistical significance does not suggest that a result is highly probable by chance alone or that it is likely to occur with a small sample. D is incorrect because identical mean, median, and mode do not guarantee statistical significance.

Question 5

Bob is reading a research report and is attempting to understand several possible answers to the main research question provided by the investigators. As such, he appears to be focusing on the ________ part of the QALMRI method.

Accepted Answer

Bob is focusing on the "alternatives" part of the QALMRI method, which involves considering different possible answers or hypotheses that could address the main research question.

Question 6

Which of the following is most accurate when applying the QALMRI method to writing research papers?

Accepted Answer

The QALMRI method stands for Question, Alternatives, Logic, Method, Results, and Inferences. When writing a research paper, all of these components should be applied to ensure a thorough and well-supported argument. The question component establishes the research question, the alternatives component considers alternative explanations or hypotheses, the logic component ensures that the argument is well-reasoned and based on sound evidence, the method component describes the research methods used, the results component presents the findings, and the inferences component draws conclusions based on the evidence presented. Therefore, choice C ("All components apply") is the most accurate when applying the QALMRI method to writing research papers.

Question 7

The "I" in the QALMRI method stands for ________.

Accepted Answer

The "I" in the QALMRI method stands for "inferences," which refers to the conclusions or deductions made based on the evidence and reasoning presented in a study.

Question 8

Which correlation coefficient indicates a negative relationship?

Accepted Answer

A negative relationship is indicated by a negative correlation coefficient. -0.8 is the only choice that is negative.

Question 9

The "Q" in the QALMRI method stands for ________.

Accepted Answer

The "Q" in the QALMRI method stands for "Question." This method is a structured approach to understanding and evaluating research, where each letter represents a different aspect to consider: Question, Approach, Logic, Methods, Results, and Inferences.

Question 10

When writing a Results section, according to the authors, you should first ________.

Accepted Answer

The first step in writing a Results section, according to the authors, is to present results that directly address the question and alternative answers. It is not necessary to remind the reader of the initial question, review prior results from previous research or review the hypotheses at this stage.

Question 11

The "L" in the QALMRI method stands for ________.

Accepted Answer

The "L" in the QALMRI method stands for "logic," which refers to the ability to reason and solve problems logically.

Question 12

In their application of the QALMRI method to studying whether mental practice can change subsequent golf putting, your text authors offer which of the following alternatives?

Accepted Answer

The authors offer the alternative that mental practice might not have any effect on putting, indicating that there is uncertainty about the potential impact of mental practice on golf putting performance. This alternative is mentioned in order to highlight the need for empirical research to investigate the effectiveness of mental practice in this context.

Question 13

Your text authors suggest that the QALMRI method can serve the practical purpose(s) of ________.

Accepted Answer

The QALMRI method is designed to help researchers understand the meaning of a research study and to report their own research in a clear and comprehensive manner. It includes steps for evaluating the quality, applicability, logic, meaning, relevance, and impact of a study, which can help researchers make informed decisions about how to interpret and use the results. While the method does involve some statistical analysis, its primary focus is on understanding the broader implications of a study and communicating those implications effectively.

Question 14

Which correlation coefficient demonstrates the strongest relationship?

Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient measures the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables on a scatterplot. The value of a correlation coefficient ranges between -1 and 1. A coefficient of +1 indicates a perfect positive linear relationship, -1 indicates a perfect negative linear relationship, and 0 indicates no linear relationship. Therefore, -0.7 (choice B) indicates the strongest linear relationship among the given options because +1.2 and -3.2 are outside the possible range for correlation coefficients.

Question 15

The "alternatives" component of the QALMRI method focuses on ________.

Accepted Answer

The "alternatives" component of the QALMRI method focuses on providing at least two possible answers to the question and explaining why both are plausible. This helps to consider multiple perspectives and options before arriving at a conclusion.

Question 16

Which correlation coefficient indicates a positive relationship?

Accepted Answer

A correlation coefficient of +1 indicates a perfect positive relationship, while a correlation coefficient of 0 indicates no relationship. Therefore, a positive correlation will be indicated by any coefficient greater than 0, and the closest option to +1 without going over is B (0.8). Options A and D are both greater than +1, which is not possible, and option C is negative, indicating a negative relationship.

Question 17

In writing a research report, you would expect a discussion of the step-by-step process of what happened in a study to be discussed (in) ________.

Accepted Answer

The step-by-step process of what happened in a study is typically discussed in the procedure section within the Methods section of a research report. This section outlines the specific procedures, materials, and participants used in the study. The Results section reports the findings, while the Discussion section interprets and contextualizes the results. Additionally, while the step-by-step process may be mentioned elsewhere in the Methods section, it is typically most detailed and explicit in the procedure section.

Question 18

After reviewing several results in a psychology paper, Jim is trying to determine which results are "statistically significant." In order to do so, he should look for "p values" that are ________.

Accepted Answer

A p value less than or equal to .05 is considered statistically significant in psychology research. This means that there is less than a 5% chance that the results occurred by chance alone. Choice A, less than 5, is too vague and could refer to any value less than 5. Choice B, less than .10, is also too lenient and would include results that are not necessarily strong enough to be considered significant. Choice C, less than .05, is close but does not include results that are exactly equal to .05, which are still considered significant in most cases.

Question 19

The Discussion section of a research paper tends to be associated with ________.

Accepted Answer

The Discussion section of a research paper typically contains the author's interpretation and analysis of the results, which includes making inferences about the findings.

Question 20

In writing an Introduction section for a study, you should aim to be ________.

Accepted Answer

The purpose of the Introduction section is to provide enough background information to contextualize the study being presented. It should be concise and relevant to the research question, without being overly inclusive or critical of other studies.

Quiz 14: Statistics Part B : How to Think About Research Studies