Question 1

The text describes an example of experimental design to test the hypothesis that talking on a cell phone impairs driving skills.Explain why a control condition would be important to include in testing this hypothesis.How should subjects be assigned to conditions? How can the researchers design the experiment so that the only difference between both conditions is the use of a cell phone?

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Question 2

Norman Cousins wrote a bestseller explaining how humor and vitamins cured him of a life-threatening disease.What rule of science did he violate?

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Question 3

In what circumstances is a psychological case study of limited use?

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Question 4

Dr.Benjamin Rush treated yellow fever by bloodletting.He attributed each recovery to the bloodletting and each death to the severity of the yellow fever.What rule of science did he violate?

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Question 5

Think of a topic in psychology (from Chapter One,from your own experience,or from the media)that interests you.Write a hypothesis regarding this topic and explain what research method you would use in order to investigate the topic.

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Question 6

If TV watching is correlated positively with children's aggressiveness,then what possible ways could this relationship be explained?

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Question 7

The authors recommend distrusting all statistics because statistics confuse and mislead.

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The statement is incorrect. The authors do not recommend distrusting all statistics, but rather suggest being critical of them and understanding the context and potential biases involved.

Question 8

Briefly outline how you could conduct a study of "personal space."

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Question 9

Compare the advantages and the disadvantages of conducting a laboratory observation.What are the advantages and disadvantages of conducting an experiment? Describe a topic that you believe would be most effectively studied by laboratory observation rather than by an experiment.

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Question 10

List five characteristics of an ideal scientist.

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Question 11

Dr.Slocum is interested in studying brain lateralization,that is,how the two sides of the brain serve different functions.In order to investigate this topic,she notes whether parents tend to carry their infants in a "left-sided" hold or in a "right-sided" hold.Explain what research method Dr.Slocum is using.What are the limitations of this method?

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Question 12

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." How would you frame this question in clear and concrete terms? Specify an operational definition for the major terms.

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Question 13

In what circumstances is a psychological case study informative?

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Question 14

Experiments have long been the method of choice in psychology.However,the experiment does have its limitations.Describe these limitations and explain why many psychologists have called for more field research.

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Question 15

If you hear that a particular treatment causes a 100 percent increase in some serious side effect,you must reject the treatment.

Accepted Answer

A 100 percent increase means the side effect rate has doubled, but without knowing the initial risk, the absolute risk increase might still be small. The decision should consider the overall benefits and risks.

Question 16

When statistical findings have important implications for the decisions people make,it is important to try to examine the data dispassionately.

Accepted Answer

When making decisions, it is important to base them on objective and neutral data analysis rather than emotional or biased reactions. Examining data dispassionately helps to ensure that decisions are rational and informed.

Question 17

Explain the purpose and process of peer review.

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Question 18

Animals have always been used in only a small percentage of psychological studies,and in recent years the number has declined further.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. While animals have been used in some psychological studies, the number of studies using animals has been declining in recent years. Many researchers are now looking to non-animal alternatives and ethical considerations have become increasingly important.

Question 19

When two variables are correlated,it is easy to assume that if "A" predicts "B," then "A" must be causing "B." Explain why this is not necessarily so,using this example: The higher a male monkey's level of the hormone testosterone,the more aggressive he is likely to be.

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Question 20

A psychologist has the option of gathering information through psychological tests or through self-evaluations by the subjects.Which option would be more effective in clarifying the differences/similarities between individuals? Why?

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Quiz 2: Exstintion: How Psychologists Do Research