Question 1

In the scientific method, which of the following is the correct order of events?
A) hypothesis, prediction, theory
B) theory, prediction, hypothesis
C) theory, hypothesis, prediction
D) hypothesis, theory, prediction

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the scientific method, which of the...

Question 2

Surveys, as discussed in the text, are associated most with ________.
A) correlational research
B) descriptive research
C) inferential research
D) experimental research

Accepted Answer

Surveys are a commonly used method in descriptive research, which seeks to describe and measure characteristics of a population or phenomenon without manipulating variables. Surveys typically involve gathering data through written or oral questions that can be analyzed using statistical techniques. While surveys may also be used in other types of research, such as correlational or inferential, they are most closely associated with descriptive research.

Question 3

According to the authors, the term "correlation" is defined as ________.
A) a relationship among at least three variables
B) a relationship in which changes in the measurements of one variable are compared to changes in the measurement of at least three other variables
C) a relationship in which changes in the measurements of one variable are compared to changes in the measurement of at least two other variables
D) a relationship in which changes in the measurements of one variable are compared to changes in the measurements of another variable

Accepted Answer

Correlation refers to a statistical relationship between two variables, where changes in one variable are associated with changes in another.

Question 4

The authors note that the first step of the scientific method is ________.
A) specifying a problem
B) systematically observing events
C) forming a hypothesis
D) testing the hypothesis

Accepted Answer

The answer of The authors note that the first step...

Question 5

The term ________ refers to careful, objective descriptions or numerical measurements of a phenomenon.
A) science
B) variable
C) data
D) hypothesis

Accepted Answer

The term "data" refers to objective descriptions or numerical measurements of a phenomenon. Science is a broader term encompassing the systematic study of the natural world. Variable refers to a factor or condition that can change in an experiment. Hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested through experimentation.

Question 6

When you watch dogs play in the park or watch how your professors conduct their classes, you are engaging in a form of ______.
A) case study research
B) naturalistic observation
C) survey research
D) psychometric study

Accepted Answer

Watching dogs play in the park or observing professors conduct their classes is a form of naturalistic observation, which involves observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without manipulating or controlling the situation.

Question 7

"Children who watch violent cartoons will become more aggressive." According to the scientific method, this statement is most likely a ____________.
A) conclusion
B) result
C) hypothesis
D) fact

Accepted Answer

The statement is a hypothesis because it proposes a cause-and-effect relationship (violent cartoons causing increased aggression in children) and has not yet been proven through experimentation and data analysis.

Question 8

Systematically collecting data in real-world environments that can be replicated by others is the essence of which descriptive research method?
A) case studies
B) naturalistic observation
C) surveys
D) correlational research

Accepted Answer

Systematically collecting data in real-world environments that can be replicated by others is the essence of naturalistic observation. Case studies focus on in-depth analysis of a single individual or situation, surveys collect data through questionnaires or interviews, and correlational research examines relationships between variables.

Question 9

A set of concepts or principles that explain a set of research findings is a(n)________.
A) hypothesis
B) variable
C) operational definition
D) theory

Accepted Answer

A theory is a set of concepts or principles that explain a set of research findings. Hypotheses are educated guesses about the relationship between variables. Variables are factors that can change in an experiment or study. Operational definitions are specific, measurable definitions of concepts or terms used in research.

Question 10

Which of the following questions could be answered best by using the survey method?
A) What is the effect of ingesting alcohol on problem-solving ability?
B) Does wall color affect the frequency of violence in prison populations?
C) Do students prefer a grading system with or without pluses and minuses?
D) What is the relationship between number of hours of study per week and grade point average?

Accepted Answer

The survey method is best suited for gathering information about opinions, preferences, and attitudes, and therefore, question C about student preferences for a grading system is best answered using this method. A laboratory experiment or field study might be more appropriate for questions A and B, as they involve measuring cause-and-effect relationships. Question D could be answered using both a survey and observational methods.

Question 11

You overhear psychology students preparing for a test. They note that one of the research methods often "fails to generalize." Which method is the most likely topic of their discussion?
A) correlation
B) case study
C) experiment
D) surveys

Accepted Answer

The case study method often involves studying a single individual or a small group, which raises concerns about the generalizability of findings to larger populations. Therefore, it is likely that the psychology students are discussing the limitations of case studies in terms of generalizing their findings.

Question 12

Adaris has always been drawn to the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," and she decides to incorporate this saying into her research project. Adaris is trying to define absence in a way that can be empirically tested. She is attempting to find an appropriate __________.
A) hypothesis
B) operational definition
C) double-blind study
D) theory

Accepted Answer

Adaris is trying to define absence in a way that can be empirically tested. An operational definition is a definition that describes the actions or operations that will be used to measure or control a variable in a study. In this instance, Adaris is attempting to operationalize the concept of absence in order to test its relationship to love or fondness.

Question 13

As part of a psychology experiment, Brett decides to measure a person's "anxiety" by noting the number of blinks a person makes in a twenty minute social interaction with a stranger. Brett appears to have offered a(n) ________ of anxiety.
A) variable
B) operational definition
C) theory
D) hypothesis

Accepted Answer

Brett has offered an operational definition of anxiety, as he is defining anxiety in terms of the specific measurable behavior of blinking during a social interaction with a stranger.

Question 14

A researcher stops people at the mall and asks them questions about their attitudes toward gun control. Which research technique is being used?
A) survey
B) experiment
C) case study
D) naturalistic observation

Accepted Answer

The researcher is conducting a survey by stopping people at the mall and asking them questions about their attitudes towards gun control.

Question 15

After reading about the possible causes of schizophrenia, a scientist thinks that a virus is the most likely cause. What term most accurately describes the scientist's idea?
A) hypothesis
B) dependent variable
C) extraneous variable
D) experimental estimate

Accepted Answer

The scientist's idea is a possible explanation or prediction based on existing evidence and is not yet proven. This is known as a hypothesis.

Question 16

A case study examines in detail ________.
A) a single participant
B) multiple instances of a situation
C) a set of questions put to participants
D) the relationship between two variables

Accepted Answer

A case study typically involves the in-depth examination of a single participant or a small group of individuals or organizations. It involves gathering detailed information and analyzing various aspects of the situation, such as behaviors, emotions, attitudes, beliefs, and experiences. The focus is on gaining rich, nuanced insights into the complexity of the phenomenon being studied, rather than on generalizing findings to a larger population or establishing causal relationships between variables.

Question 17

An operational definition is ___________________.
A) a statement that attempts to predict a set of phenomena and specifies relationships among variables that can be empirically tested
B) an organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships
C) the precise meaning of a term used to describe a variable, such as a type of behavior, that researchers want to measure
D) the principle that a scientific theory must make predictions that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation

Accepted Answer

An operational definition specifies the meaning of a term used to describe a variable, such as a type of behavior, that researchers want to measure. It clarifies exactly what is being studied, allowing for accurate and consistent measurements. Options A, B, and D are not accurate definitions of operational definition. Option A describes a hypothesis, option B describes a theory, and option D describes falsifiability.

Question 18

The administration of Midwest State University wants to know if arrangement of chairs affects student participation in classrooms. What would be a good operational definition of the dependent variable in an experiment designed to measure this relationship?
A) class size: under 50 or over 50
B) number of students enrolled in each class
C) chair arrangement: theater style or circular
D) frequency with which students ask questions

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable in this experiment is the level of student participation, which can be operationalized as the frequency with which students ask questions. The other options (class size, number of students enrolled, and chair arrangement) are not directly related to student participation and would be better suited as independent variables or control variables in the experiment.

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true about naturalistic observation?
A) It recreates natural conditions in the laboratory as closely as possible to make an experiment more valid.
B) It involves observing behavior in its natural context.
C) It is basically the same process as objective introspection.
D) It involves observing behavior in the lab without taking formal notes or using technological equipment to measure the experimental findings.

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in its natural context, rather than in a laboratory setting or without taking formal notes. Objective introspection is a different method of observation that involves analyzing one's own subjective experiences. Naturalistic observation may result in less control over extraneous variables, but can provide valuable insights into how people behave in their daily lives.

Question 20

Sally proposes the idea that one's sexual history prior to marriage may be linked to whether one ends up getting divorced. This best represents which step of the scientific method?
A) testing the hypothesis
B) observing events
C) forming a hypothesis
D) formulating a theory

Accepted Answer

Sally is proposing a hypothesis (one's sexual history prior to marriage may be linked to whether one ends up getting divorced). This aligns with the third step of the scientific method, which is forming a hypothesis.

Quiz 1: Introduction to the Science of Psychology: History and Research Methods

In the scientific method, which of the following is the correct order of events?

Surveys, as discussed in the text, are associated most with ________.

According to the authors, the term "correlation" is defined as ________.

The authors note that the first step of the scientific method is ________.

The term ________ refers to careful, objective descriptions or numerical measurements of a phenomenon.

When you watch dogs play in the park or watch how your professors conduct their classes, you are engaging in a form of ______.

"Children who watch violent cartoons will become more aggressive." According to the scientific method, this statement is most likely a ____________.

Systematically collecting data in real-world environments that can be replicated by others is the essence of which descriptive research method?

A set of concepts or principles that explain a set of research findings is a(n) ________.

Which of the following questions could be answered best by using the survey method?

You overhear psychology students preparing for a test. They note that one of the research methods often "fails to generalize." Which method is the most likely topic of their discussion?

Adaris has always been drawn to the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," and she decides to incorporate this saying into her research project. Adaris is trying to define absence in a way that can be empirically tested. She is attempting to find an appropriate __________.

As part of a psychology experiment, Brett decides to measure a person's "anxiety" by noting the number of blinks a person makes in a twenty minute social interaction with a stranger. Brett appears to have offered a(n) ________ of anxiety.

A researcher stops people at the mall and asks them questions about their attitudes toward gun control. Which research technique is being used?

After reading about the possible causes of schizophrenia, a scientist thinks that a virus is the most likely cause. What term most accurately describes the scientist's idea?

A case study examines in detail ________.

An operational definition is ___________________.

The administration of Midwest State University wants to know if arrangement of chairs affects student participation in classrooms. What would be a good operational definition of the dependent variable in an experiment designed to measure this relationship?

Which of the following statements is true about naturalistic observation?

Sally proposes the idea that one's sexual history prior to marriage may be linked to whether one ends up getting divorced. This best represents which step of the scientific method?