Question 1

Which of the following statements is true about naturalistic observation?

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in its natural context, which could be in a person's home, school, workplace, or any other natural setting. The purpose is to observe and record behavior without manipulating variables or controlling the environment. This method allows researchers to gain insight into how people behave in their everyday lives and helps to ensure greater external validity of their findings. The other options (A, C, and D) do not accurately describe naturalistic observation.

Question 2

Kerri wanted to study the effects of having the oldest child in a family go off to college.She decided to use her own family after her brother went off to a college in France.She took notes each day on her parents' behavior and kept a diary on her own reactions.Kerri was using the technique called ____________________.

Accepted Answer

Kerri is participating in the study by observing her own family, making it participant observation.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT an empirical question?

Accepted Answer

Whether or not Martin Luther King, Jr. would have been a good president is not an empirical question because it cannot be answered through observation and experimentation. It is a subjective question that requires opinions and perspectives, rather than facts and data.

Question 4

Which of the following is an empirical question?

Accepted Answer

An empirical question can be answered through observation, experiment, or data analysis. The question "Is there life on other planets?" is empirical because it can be answered through scientific exploration and observation. The other options are more philosophical or subjective in nature and cannot be definitively answered through empirical means.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring settings without interfering or manipulating the situation. Watching dogs play in the park or observing a professor conduct their class are examples of naturalistic observation as the observer is simply observing and recording behavior as it naturally occurs. Case study research involves in-depth analysis of a single individual or a small group of individuals, survey research involves collecting data through questionnaires or interviews, and psychometric study involves developing and validating psychological tests.

Question 6

Which research method involves watching behaviors as they occur without intervening or altering the behaviors in any way?

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves watching behaviors as they occur without intervening or altering them in any way. This method is useful for studying behaviors in their natural settings and can provide valuable insights into how people or animals behave in their everyday lives.

Question 7

Researchers must report their results completely whether the hypothesis was supported or not.Complete reporting is necessary for the purpose of ______________.

Accepted Answer

Complete reporting is necessary for the purpose of replication, which means that other researchers can repeat the study and determine if the results are reliable and valid. This is an essential part of the scientific process and helps to verify findings.

Question 8

A case study would be the most appropriate method to investigate which of these topics?

Accepted Answer

A case study would be appropriate to investigate the unique and complex situation of a male baby raised as female. The other topics could be investigated through different methods such as survey, observation, or experimental research.

Question 9

Roger went to McDonald's to observe people eating in fast-food restaurants.He brought a camera crew and bright lights,and they all wore yellow jump suits.Roger said he wanted to do a naturalistic observation but may have had some problems because of ________________.

Accepted Answer

Observer effects refer to changes in behavior that occur due to the presence of an observer. In this case, Roger and his camera crew wearing bright lights and yellow jumpsuits may have caused people to behave differently than they would in a typical fast-food restaurant setting, thus affecting the naturalistic observation.

Question 10

Dr.Littman-Smith is conducting research in Kenya into the ways that mothers and their toddlers interact throughout the day.Given the purpose of her study,it is most likely that she is engaged in ______________________.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Littman-Smith's study is focused on observing and understanding natural behavior between mothers and toddlers in their everyday lives. This is most likely achieved through naturalistic observation rather than other research methods, such as laboratory observation or experimental research. Case study research may involve observation as well, but the emphasis on understanding behavior in context would make naturalistic observation a more fitting approach.

Question 11

In the 1970s,a 13-year-old girl was found locked up in a room,strapped to a potty chair.Since she had grown up in a world without human speech,researchers studied "Genie's" ability to acquire words,grammar,and pronunciation.This type of research is called ________________________.

Accepted Answer

The given scenario describes a case study where researchers studied the language acquisition abilities of "Genie". A case study is a research method in which an individual or a small group is studied intensively and in detail with the aim of revealing universal principles.

Question 12

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?

Accepted Answer

The scientist's idea about a virus being the most likely cause of schizophrenia is a hypothesis, which is a tentative explanation or prediction that can be tested through scientific research.

Question 13

Observing behavior as it happens in real-life natural settings without imposing laboratory controls is known as the ______.

Accepted Answer

The naturalistic observation method involves observing behavior in natural settings without manipulating any variables or imposing laboratory controls. This method allows researchers to observe behavior as it naturally occurs, without any artificial influences, and can provide valuable insights into how people behave in their everyday lives.

Question 14

What is one of the major reasons that psychologists report results publicly?

Accepted Answer

Psychologists report results publicly to allow researchers to replicate experiments, which is essential for verifying the validity of the findings and building a body of knowledge in the field. Replication also helps to identify any limitations or flaws in the original study and to refine the research questions and methods for future studies.

Question 15

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?

Accepted Answer

Sally is proposing a hypothesis, which is the first step of the scientific method.

Question 16

Systematically collecting data in real-world environments is the essence of which descriptive research method?

Accepted Answer

The method of systematically collecting data in real-world environments is naturalistic observation. Case studies involve in-depth analysis of a single individual or group, surveys involve self-report responses to a set of questions, and correlational research involves examining the relationship between two variables.

Question 17

A detailed description of a particular individual being studied or treated is called ______________________.

Accepted Answer

A detailed description of a particular individual being studied or treated is called a case study. This involves researching and analyzing the person's background, lifestyle, behaviors, and psychological state in order to gain a deeper understanding of a particular phenomenon or disorder. Case studies are often used in clinical psychology and medicine to explore and develop new treatments for individuals with specific conditions.

Question 18

Sam conducted a naturalistic observation as a project for a psychology class.He observed the interactions of parents and children at a restaurant.Many of the people he observed seemed to notice him.When Sam described his work to his teacher,she suggested he find out more about the _________________.

Accepted Answer

The observer effect refers to the phenomenon of participants altering their behavior simply because they know they are being observed. This seems to be happening in Sam's observation, as many people noticed him watching and may have modified their behavior as a result.

Question 19

The tendency to look for information that supports one's own belief is called _____.

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or attitudes. This bias can result in cherry-picking information that supports one's views while ignoring information that contradicts them.

Question 20

Sandi believes that people who eat at McDonald's are overweight,so she decides to do a naturalistic observation of people who eat at McDonald's.What should most concern us about Sandi's observations?

Accepted Answer

Sandi's pre-existing belief that people who eat at McDonald's are overweight may influence her observations and interpretations, leading to observer bias. The other options (observer effect, bystander effect, and subject bias) do not seem relevant to Sandi's situation.

Quiz 1: The Science of Psychology