Question 1

A descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a representative sample of a population is known as

Accepted Answer

Surveys involve asking individuals to report their own attitudes and behaviors, making them an effective way to obtain self-reported data from a representative sample of a population. Naturalistic observation involves observing people in their natural environment without any intervention or manipulation, which may not yield accurate or comprehensive data. Debriefing involves providing participants with information about the study after they have completed it, which is useful for ethical considerations but not for data collection. Case studies involve in-depth examination of a single individual or group, making them less suitable for obtaining attitudes and behaviors of a representative sample.

Question 2

Psychologists who carefully watch the behavior of chimpanzee societies in the jungle are using a research method known as

Accepted Answer

Psychologists who carefully watch the behavior of chimpanzee societies in the jungle are using a research method known as naturalistic observation. This method involves observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without manipulating or controlling the environment.

Question 3

Little Hans' extreme fear of horses was observed as part of a(n)

Accepted Answer

Little Hans' extreme fear of horses was extensively observed and analyzed in a case study by Sigmund Freud, rather than being part of an experiment or survey. A double-blind procedure is not applicable in this context.

Question 4

When every individual in a large population has a small but equal chance of being included in a survey,researchers are using a procedure known as

Accepted Answer

Random sampling involves every individual in a large population having an equal chance of being included in a survey or study. This method helps to ensure that the sample being studied is representative of the larger population and can therefore be generalized to the population as a whole. The other options listed (case study, double-blind procedure, naturalistic observation) do not involve random sampling.

Question 5

The case study is a research method in which

Accepted Answer

The case study method involves in-depth research on a single person or group. This can be done through interviews, observations, and analyzing existing documents or records. The focus is on understanding the individual or group's experiences, behaviors, and perspectives in detail, rather than generalizing to larger populations.

Question 6

Which research method would be most appropriate for investigating the relationship between the religious beliefs of Americans and their attitudes toward abortion?

Accepted Answer

A survey allows researchers to gather data from a large and diverse group of people, which is important when investigating beliefs and attitudes within a population. It is also appropriate for researching relationships between variables, such as religious beliefs and attitudes toward abortion. Additionally, surveys can provide relatively quick and efficient large-scale data collection.

Question 7

A descriptive technique of monitoring and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to change or control the situation is called

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing and recording behavior in real-life situations without any manipulation or interference from the researcher, whereas the other answer choices do not match this description.

Question 8

To compare the pace of life in different countries,investigators measured the speed with which postal clerks completed a simple request.Which research method did this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

This illustrates the method of naturalistic observation, as the investigators were observing and recording the behavior of postal clerks in their natural environment (i.e. at work).

Question 9

Surveys indicate that people are less likely to support "welfare" than "aid to the needy." These somewhat paradoxical survey results best illustrate the importance of

Accepted Answer

The survey results illustrate the importance of wording effects, as the difference in terminology ("welfare" vs. "aid to the needy") influenced people's attitudes and responses. Random sampling, the placebo effect, and naturalistic observation are not directly relevant to this particular scenario.

Question 10

The biggest danger of relying on case-study evidence is that it

Accepted Answer

The biggest danger of relying on case-study evidence is that it may be unrepresentative of what is generally true. Case studies are typically based on a small sample size and cannot be generalized to the broader population. Therefore, conclusions drawn from case studies may not be applicable to other situations or individuals.

Question 11

People often fail to make accurate generalizations because they are unduly influenced by ________ cases.

Accepted Answer

Vivid cases tend to stand out in our memory and capture our attention more than other cases. As a result, they can bias our thinking and lead us to make inaccurate generalizations.

Question 12

Professor Ober carefully observes and records the behaviors of children in their classrooms in order to track the development of their social and intellectual skills.Professor Ober is most clearly engaged in

Accepted Answer

Professor Ober's method of observing and recording behaviors in a natural setting, such as the classroom, is an example of naturalistic observation.

Question 13

Professor Ambra was skeptical about the accuracy of recently reported research on sleep deprivation.Which process would best enable her to assess the reliability of the findings?

Accepted Answer

Replication involves conducting the same study again to see if similar results are obtained. This process would enable Professor Ambra to verify the accuracy of the previous findings on sleep deprivation.

Question 14

To understand the unusual behavior of an adult client,a clinical psychologist carefully investigates the client's current life situation and his physical,social-cultural,and educational history.Which research method has the psychologist used?

Accepted Answer

The psychologist has used the case study method, as they are investigating one individual in-depth by examining their current life situation and past history. The survey method would involve gathering data from a large group of people through a questionnaire, experimentation involves manipulating variables to observe their effects, and naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in its natural setting without intervention.

Question 15

A representative sample is one that accurately reflects a larger

Accepted Answer

A representative sample is one that accurately reflects a larger population.

Question 16

New technologies such as smart-phone apps and body-worn sensors have enabled the collection of "big data" by means of

Accepted Answer

Smart-phone apps and body-worn sensors allow for the collection of big data through naturalistic observation, as they can track and record behavior in real-life settings without the need for experimental manipulation or case study analysis.

Question 17

One research team studied the ups and downs of human moods by counting positive and negative words in 504 million Twitter messages from 84 countries.The researchers' method best illustrates the use of

Accepted Answer

The research team counted positive and negative words in Twitter messages, which means they were observing natural behavior in real-world settings, making this an example of naturalistic observation.

Question 18

University of Texas students were fitted with electronically activated recorders so that researchers could sample their daily activities.The researchers employed a scientific method known as

Accepted Answer

The study described involves researchers observing and recording the daily activities of University of Texas students in their natural environment, without manipulating any variables or introducing any external influences. This is the definition of naturalistic observation, making option A the best choice.

Question 19

After noting that a majority of professional basketball players are African-American,Ervin concluded that African-Americans are better athletes than members of other racial groups.Ervin's conclusion best illustrates the danger of

Accepted Answer

Ervin's conclusion is an example of generalizing from vivid cases. He is making a sweeping generalization based on one specific observation and ignoring other factors that could contribute to the over-representation of African-Americans in the NBA, such as social and economic factors. This type of hasty generalization can lead to stereotypes and prejudice.

Question 20

Which of the following facilitates more exact descriptions of ongoing behaviors without explaining them?

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing and documenting ongoing behaviors in their natural environment without altering or explaining them. Random assignment, informed consent, and the double-blind procedure are all experimental techniques that involve manipulating variables and/or informing participants about the study.

Quiz 1: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science