Question 1

In one natural experiment investigating weight gain during the first year of college, it was found that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In one natural experiment investigating weight gain...

Question 2

A study investigating the effects of a naturally occurring event on the research participants is known as:

Accepted Answer

A natural experiment involves studying the effects of a naturally occurring event on the research participants, without direct manipulation by the researcher. This is different from other types of research designs where the researcher directly manipulates variables for comparison.

Question 3

In an experiment, the control group is the group of:

Accepted Answer

The control group in an experiment is the group of participants who are exposed to all the experimental conditions except the independent variable or treatment. This is done to establish a baseline level of behavior that can be compared to the experimental group that is exposed to the independent variable. The control group is essential for drawing valid conclusions about the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable. Option A is incorrect as scientists do not constitute the control group, rather they design and execute the experiment. Option B is incorrect as administrators' role is to ensure ethical procedures are maintained, they do not form the control group. Option D is incorrect as the participants in the experiment exposed only to the dependent variable are not tested by comparison to another group or intervention.

Question 4

Limitations of the experimental method include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The experimental method may face ethical or practical constraints that prevent certain issues from being studied experimentally.

Question 5

The results of experiments conducted in the laboratory may not _____ well, meaning that the results cannot be applied to real-world situations or to more general populations beyond the participants in the study.

Accepted Answer

Generalize is the best choice as it refers to the ability of the results of an experiment to be applied to a wider population or real-world situations beyond the study participants. Replicate and duplicate both refer to the ability to repeat the experiment with similar results, which may or may not be related to generalization, while internalize is not relevant to describing the applicability of experimental results.

Question 6

The results of Crum and Langer's hotel experiment:

Accepted Answer

The results of Crum and Langer's hotel experiment provided additional support for the idea that people's beliefs and expectations can have a powerful influence. The other answer choices are incorrect because there is no mention of a contradiction with correlational research, flawed statistical analysis, or the evidence being purely correlational.

Question 7

A natural experiment is a study that:

Accepted Answer

A natural experiment involves observing and analyzing the effects of a naturally occurring event on the research participants. This type of study does not involve any manipulation or intervention by the researcher. The event occurs naturally, and the researcher observes and records its effects on the research participants. Examples of natural experiments may include studying the effects of a natural disaster on mental health or analyzing the impact of a policy change on a specific population.

Question 8

The dependent measure(s) obtained in Crum and Langer's hotel experiment was (were):

Accepted Answer

Crum and Langer's hotel experiment measured physical health indicators such as weight, body fat percentage, blood pressure, and BMI, as well as questionnaire responses about health and diet, to assess the impact of mindset on health outcomes.

Question 9

What constituted the dependent variable in Crum and Langer's hotel experiment?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable in Crum and Langer's hotel experiment was the responses to questionnaires about exercise and diet and measures of physical health, as these were the outcomes being measured to assess the impact of the intervention.

Question 10

How did Crum and Langer formally report the findings of their hotel experiment about the effect of perceiving work as exercise?

Accepted Answer

Crum and Langer wrote up their study and it was published in Psychological Science, a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Question 11

The purpose of the control group in an experiment is to:

Accepted Answer

The control group serves as a baseline to which changes in the experimental group can be compared. This allows for the researchers to determine whether any changes observed in the experimental group are actually the result of the treatment or intervention being tested, as opposed to other factors.

Question 12

At the conclusion of the Crum and Langer hotel experiment:

Accepted Answer

The best choice is D because it is standard practice and ethical to debrief participants after psychological experiments, informing them about the true nature and purpose of the study. The other choices are not mentioned in the experiment and do not align with ethical guidelines.

Question 13

After the dictatorship ended in Slobonia, many children were found in state-run orphanages where they had been badly treated and often neglected. These children were placed for adoption and researchers followed their progress over a number of years, measuring psychological and physical indicators of well-being. This type of research is called:

Accepted Answer

This is a natural experiment as the researchers did not manipulate any variables but observed the effects of the independent variable (the experience of being placed in state-run orphanages) on the dependent variables (psychological and physical well-being). While unethical treatment occurred before the study, it is not unethical to measure the effects of such treatment after the fact. It is also not comparative psychology, as there is only one group being studied. Pseudoscientific research is not a valid option as natural experiments are a legitimate form of scientific inquiry.

Question 14

Six-year-old Gary couldn't stop throwing up after being hit on his head. To help detect possible damage or brain swelling, doctors took a detailed image of the boy's brain structures using a powerful, non-invasive technique that involves harmless magnetic fields. What instrument was used?

Accepted Answer

The non-invasive technique that involves harmless magnetic fields is commonly associated with MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanning, making D the best choice. A PET scanner involves radioactive materials, TMS involves a magnetic coil on the scalp and ECT involves electric current applied to the scalp, which are all not mentioned in the article.

Question 15

One criticism of Crum and Langer's hotel experiment was that:

Accepted Answer

This criticism highlights the potential for the informed group to engage in healthier behaviors after being told about the benefits of exercise, even if they did not report any changes in their behavior. This could have influenced the results of the study, making it difficult to draw clear conclusions.

Question 16

Experiments can provide important information, but they also have limitations. Which of the following is one of the limitations discussed in the textbook?

Accepted Answer

Experiments are often conducted in highly controlled laboratory environments, which may not reflect the complexity of actual behavior in the real world. Therefore, the results may have limited external validity.

Question 17

The results of the Crum and Langer hotel experiment were that:

Accepted Answer

The results of the Crum and Langer hotel experiment showed that the informed group participants, who perceived housekeeping work as exercise, experienced significant improvements in all physical health measures except diastolic blood pressure.

Question 18

In combination, the ginkgo biloba experiment and the hotel experiment demonstrated that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In combination, the ginkgo biloba experiment and...

Question 19

In one natural experiment investigating weight gain during the first year of college, it was found that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In one natural experiment investigating weight gain...

Question 20

During the month-long hotel experiment conducted by Crum and Langer:

Accepted Answer

The answer of During the month-long hotel experiment conducted by...

Quiz 1: Introduction and Research Methods

In one natural experiment investigating weight gain during the first year of college, it was found that:

A study investigating the effects of a naturally occurring event on the research participants is known as:

In an experiment, the control group is the group of:

Limitations of the experimental method include which of the following?

The results of experiments conducted in the laboratory may not _____ well, meaning that the results cannot be applied to real-world situations or to more general populations beyond the participants in the study.

The results of Crum and Langer's hotel experiment:

A natural experiment is a study that:

The dependent measure(s) obtained in Crum and Langer's hotel experiment was (were) :

What constituted the dependent variable in Crum and Langer's hotel experiment?

How did Crum and Langer formally report the findings of their hotel experiment about the effect of perceiving work as exercise?

The purpose of the control group in an experiment is to:

At the conclusion of the Crum and Langer hotel experiment:

Six-year-old Gary couldn't stop throwing up after being hit on his head. To help detect possible damage or brain swelling, doctors took a detailed image of the boy's brain structures using a powerful, non-invasive technique that involves harmless magnetic fields. What instrument was used?

One criticism of Crum and Langer's hotel experiment was that:

Experiments can provide important information, but they also have limitations. Which of the following is one of the limitations discussed in the textbook?

The results of the Crum and Langer hotel experiment were that:

In combination, the ginkgo biloba experiment and the hotel experiment demonstrated that:

In one natural experiment investigating weight gain during the first year of college, it was found that:

During the month-long hotel experiment conducted by Crum and Langer: