Question 1

Six of the children in Mr.Myers' class were born on exactly the same day.This strikes him as astonishing and improbable.In this instance,he should be reminded that

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is an example of the clustering illusion, where we perceive patterns in random events that are actually not significant. Random sequences can often have patterns that appear non-random, leading us to believe they are improbable.

Question 2

The tendency to perceive order in random events often leads to overestimating the value of

Accepted Answer

The tendency to perceive order in random events is known as the illusion of control, and can lead individuals to overestimate the value of their intuition.

Question 3

Mike Crampton's stockbroker has informed him that he has suffered substantial investment losses.When Mike tells his wife,she angrily responds,"I could have told you that your investment plan would fail!" Her comment best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The wife's comment reflects hindsight bias, which refers to the tendency to believe, after an event has occurred, that one would have foreseen or predicted the outcome. In this case, Mike's wife is claiming that she knew all along that this investment plan would fail, even though she may not have actually expressed this belief before the losses occurred.

Question 4

The explanatory power of a scientific theory is most closely linked to its capacity to generate testable

Accepted Answer

The ability of a scientific theory to generate testable predictions is a key factor in its explanatory power. By making specific predictions about what should happen in certain circumstances, the theory can be tested and its accuracy can be evaluated. This helps to build confidence in the theory's ability to explain the phenomenon under investigation.

Question 5

On a series of coin tosses,Oleg has correctly predicted heads or tails seven times in a row.In this instance,we can reasonably conclude that Oleg's predictive accuracy

Accepted Answer

The answer of On a series of coin tosses,Oleg has...

Question 6

Professor Delano suggests that because people are especially attracted to those who are good-looking,handsome men will be more successful in getting a job.The professor's prediction regarding employment success is an example of

Accepted Answer

The professor's statement about the relationship between attractiveness and job success is a proposed explanation or prediction, which is known as a hypothesis.

Question 7

In a published report of a research study on social anxiety,psychologists included a 30-item questionnaire,which they had used to assess levels of social anxiety.The psychologists have thus provided their readers with a(n)

Accepted Answer

The psychologists have provided an operational definition through the use of a 30-item questionnaire to assess levels of social anxiety.

Question 8

Our tendency to believe we know more than we do best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Overconfidence refers to our tendency to overestimate our own abilities and knowledge, which can lead us to believe that we know more than we actually do. This cognitive bias can have negative consequences, such as leading us to make poor decisions or not seeking out additional information when we need it.

Question 9

A theory is an explanation using an integrated set of principles that ______ observations and ______ behaviors or events.

Accepted Answer

A theory organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events by using an integrated set of principles.

Question 10

A statement describing the exact procedures for measuring an anticipated experimental outcome is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

An operational definition is a statement that describes the exact procedures or methods used in a study, including the variables being measured and the specific ways in which those variables are being manipulated or measured. It is a key component of a well-designed study, as it ensures that the results obtained are reliable, consistent, and objective. Hypotheses, control conditions, and replications are all important aspects of the scientific method, but they do not specifically relate to the procedures for measuring an anticipated outcome.

Question 11

Repeating the essence of a previous research study to verify whether its findings extend to a new group of research participants and to different circumstances is called

Accepted Answer

Replication is the process of repeating a research study with different participants and/or in different circumstances to see if the original findings can be extended or replicated. Random sampling involves selecting participants for a study in a way that ensures each member of the population has an equal chance of being included. Naturalistic observation involves observing and recording behavior in natural settings without intervening or manipulating variables. The double-blind procedure is a research technique in which both the participant and researcher are unaware of the group assignments, used to eliminate bias. Therefore, only the answer A is correct as it relates to the process of replicating a research study.

Question 12

Replication of a research study is most likely to be facilitated by

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions are specific definitions of variables used in a research study that allow for consistent replication of the study. This clarity and specificity make it easier for other researchers to conduct the same study with the same methods and variables. Massed practice, debriefing, and the placebo effect are not directly related to facilitation of study replication.

Question 13

Several weeks after a political election,voters often exaggerate their ability to have predicted the election outcome.This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias refers to the tendency for people to believe, after an event has occurred, that they would have predicted or expected the outcome, even if they didn't actually make the prediction beforehand. This phenomenon is often seen after political elections, when people claim they knew all along who would win, even if they didn't actually predict the outcome beforehand.

Question 14

Megan was certain that she would never live far away from her family.However,when offered a job in another state,she decided to move.Megan's experience best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Megan's decision to move despite her initial belief that she would never live far away from her family demonstrates overconfidence, or the tendency to have excessive confidence in one's own abilities or beliefs. This is a common cognitive bias that can lead individuals to make decisions that contradict their initial beliefs or values.

Question 15

A sense of humility regarding the accuracy of our intuitions is most likely to be undermined by

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias can lead us to believe that our intuitions were accurate all along, even if they may not have been. This can undermine our sense of humility regarding the accuracy of our intuitions. Correlational evidence, random assignment, and operational definitions do not necessarily have an impact on our humility regarding our intuitions.

Question 16

Professor Smith told one class that drinking alcohol has been found to increase sexual desire.He informed another class that drinking alcohol has been found to reduce sexual appetite.The fact that neither class was surprised by the information they received best illustrates the power of

Accepted Answer

The fact that each class was not surprised by the information they received suggests that they already had preexisting beliefs or biases about the effects of alcohol on sexual behavior. This is a classic example of hindsight bias, which refers to the tendency to perceive events as more predictable than they actually are after they have occurred. Replication refers to the process of repeating a study to see if the same results are achieved, the double-blind procedure relates to controlling for researcher and participant biases in an experiment, and the placebo effect refers to the phenomenon of a person experiencing a physiological or psychological effect from a fake treatment. None of these concepts accurately reflect the scenario described.

Question 17

Professor Shalet contends that parents and children have similar levels of intelligence largely because they share common genes.His idea is best described as a(n)

Accepted Answer

Professor Shalet's idea is a proposed explanation or framework for understanding the relationship between parental and child intelligence, making it a theory.

Question 18

A hypothesis is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a testable prediction that gives direction to research. It is an educated guess or explanation for a phenomenon, based on existing observations and knowledge. It is used to guide research and help researchers explore and understand the relationship between variables. While it may be based on observations, it is not an observable relationship itself, nor is it a set of principles that organize observations or an assumption about unobservable processes.

Question 19

Testing hypotheses and refining theories in light of those tests is central to

Accepted Answer

Testing hypotheses and refining theories in light of those tests is a fundamental part of the scientific method. Debiriefing is a process of disclosing information after a research study, informed consent is gaining the subject's consent before the research study, and the testing effect refers to the phenomenon of enhanced memory retention after being tested on learned material.  Therefore, the correct answer is C - the scientific method.

Question 20

Formulating testable predictions before conducting research is most directly useful for restraining a thinking error known as

Accepted Answer

Formulating testable predictions before conducting research can help to prevent researchers from falling victim to hindsight bias, which is the tendency to interpret findings in a way that supports one's prior beliefs or expectations. By having clear predictions in advance, researchers are less likely to selectively interpret or remember evidence that confirms their hypotheses, and are better equipped to objectively evaluate the data they collect.

Quiz 1: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science