Question 1

Professor O'Brian has used correlational evidence to reach a potentially incorrect conclusion about a cause-effect relationship. Questioning the validity of drawing this conclusion from the evidence best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, and considering alternative explanations. By questioning the validity of the conclusion drawn from correlational evidence, someone is engaging in critical thinking. The other answer choices relate to different research methods or phenomena and do not address the issue of validity in drawing cause-effect relationships from correlational evidence.

Question 2

A statement describing how a researcher manipulates an independent variable is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

An operational definition is a statement that describes how a researcher manipulates an independent variable. It outlines the specific steps or procedures that will be taken to measure or manipulate the independent variable in a study. The other choices are not related to describing how a researcher manipulates an independent variable.

Question 3

When psychologists insist that "the rat is always right," they are emphasizing the scientific attitude of

Accepted Answer

The statement "the rat is always right" emphasizes the scientific attitude of humility, which is the recognition and acceptance of the limitations and fallibility of one's own knowledge and expertise. It acknowledges that the results of scientific research, including animal studies, are subject to error and uncertainty, and that scientists must remain open to new evidence and ideas that may challenge their assumptions and conclusions.

Question 4

To verify the reliability of a new scientific finding, psychological researchers are most likely to engage in

Accepted Answer

Replication is the process of repeating a study using the same methods and variables to determine if the same results are obtained. This is a crucial step in verifying the reliability of a new scientific finding in psychology. Naturalistic observation and random sampling are techniques used in data collection, while positive correlation is a statistical relationship between two variables and not a process used in verifying the reliability of a new finding.

Question 5

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A theory is an explanation that integrates observations and predicts behaviors or events. It goes beyond a simple hypothesis, which is an educated guess based on limited evidence, to offer a more comprehensive and well-supported explanation. An independent variable is a variable that is manipulated by the researcher in an experiment, while a survey is a method of gathering data by asking people to respond to a series of questions.

Question 6

A refusal to consider potential evidence that might conflict with one's preconceived ideas best illustrates a lack of

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves actively and objectively considering all potential evidence and arguments, even if they are in conflict with one's preconceived ideas. Therefore, a refusal to consider potential conflicting evidence suggests a lack of critical thinking. Informed consent refers to a process in research where participants are fully informed about the study and give their consent to participate. Operational definition is the description of a concept or variable in a way that allows it to be measured or manipulated in research. Predictive hypotheses are hypotheses that make specific predictions about the relationship between variables in a study.

Question 7

Hypotheses are best described as

Accepted Answer

Hypotheses are statements or predictions about the relationship between variables that are then tested through research. They are not assumptions, replications, or explanations, but rather attempts to provide an explanation for observed phenomena or to predict future outcomes based on available evidence. Therefore, the best answer is D) predictions.

Question 8

Daniel and Donald are identical twins who were separated at birth and raised in different countries. When they were finally reunited for the first time as adults, the men were amazed to discover that they were both plumbers, both avid tennis players, and both addicted to chocolates. The men would be best advised to recognize the danger of

Accepted Answer

The men should recognize the danger of perceiving order in random events, as the fact that they share these three similarities could simply be a coincidence and not necessarily indicative of a deeper connection or shared trait. It is important to be aware of how our minds may read patterns into events that are actually random, in order to avoid making incorrect assumptions or attributions.

Question 9

According to Professor Fayad, we like people who like us because their affection for us boosts our own self-esteem. His idea is an example of

Accepted Answer

Professor Fayad's idea is a theoretical explanation for why we tend to enjoy the company of people who have a positive view of us.

Question 10

Replication involves

Accepted Answer

Replication involves repeating an earlier research study to confirm or contradict its findings. Therefore, option C is the most appropriate answer. Option A refers to random sampling, which is an important aspect of research design but not directly related to replication. Option B refers to the concept of the human tendency to perceive patterns or order in random events, which is not directly related to replication. Option D refers to the concept of falsifiability, which is important in scientific research but not directly related to replication.

Question 11

As scientists, psychologists adopt an attitude of skepticism because they believe that

Accepted Answer

Psychologists adopt an attitude of skepticism because they believe that claims about human behavior need to be supported with evidence. They do not necessarily believe that people are unlikely to reveal what they are really thinking or that most commonsense ideas about human behavior are wrong. While it is true that events never occur randomly, this is not the primary reason for adopting a skeptical attitude in psychology.

Question 12

Jean Piaget developed his ideas about children's thinking after carefully observing and questioning only a few children. Which research method did he use?

Accepted Answer

Piaget used the case study method, which involves in-depth observation and questioning of a small number of individuals. Piaget's research was based on his detailed observations of his own children and a few other children.

Question 13

Operational definitions are most likely to facilitate

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions are specific and detailed descriptions of how variables are measured or manipulated in a study. By providing specific criteria for measuring a variable, operational definitions facilitate replication of the study by other researchers. This ensures that subsequent research can reliably build on previous findings. The other answer choices are not related to the purpose or function of operational definitions.

Question 14

Based on scientific theory of social influence, researchers tested the prediction that a threat to self-esteem increases conformity to peer pressure. The prediction that was tested best illustrates a(n)

Accepted Answer

The prediction that "a threat to self-esteem increases conformity to peer pressure" is a hypothesis, which is a testable prediction based on a theoretical explanation.

Question 15

Psychologists attempt to let the facts speak for themselves by using an approach that is best described as

Accepted Answer

Psychologists rely on empirical evidence, which means that their approach is based on observation, experimentation, and measurement, in order to draw conclusions about human behavior and mental processes. This approach emphasizes the importance of using objective data to test theories and hypotheses, and to avoid relying on intuition, speculation, or personal belief. This way, psychologists attempt to let the facts speak for themselves, rather than imposing their own biases or prejudices onto the data.

Question 16

Professor Bolden claims that his experimental research demonstrates that eating an apple every day improves children's reading skills. How might he best offer further support for the reliability of this finding?

Accepted Answer

Replication is the best way to offer further support for the reliability of the finding. By conducting the same study with a different sample, the researcher can determine if the same results are consistently found. This increases the confidence that the findings are reliable and not just a fluke.

Question 17

To better understand how brain malfunctions influence behavior, Dr. Mosher extensively and carefully observes and questions two stroke victims. Which research method is Dr. Mosher using?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Mosher is using a case study method by observing and questioning two stroke victims.

Question 18

Critical thinkers can best be described as

Accepted Answer

Critical thinkers are known for their ability to ask questions and seek out more information in order to make informed decisions. They are not necessarily cynical, pessimistic, or impatient, as their focus is on evaluating evidence and arguments rather than simply reacting to them.

Question 19

In reporting the effect of drinking alcohol on self-consciousness, psychological researchers would specify exactly how they measured self-consciousness. They are thereby providing a(n)

Accepted Answer

The researchers are providing an operational definition, which specifies how a variable is measured or manipulated in a study. In this case, they are specifying how self-consciousness was measured, which is an example of an operational definition.

Question 20

The King James Version of the Bible was completed when William Shakespeare was 46 years old. In Psalm 46 of this translation, the forty-sixth word is "shake," and the forty-sixth word from the end is "spear." Before concluding that the biblical translators were trying to be humorous with these specific word placements, you would be best advised to recognize the danger of

Accepted Answer

The danger in concluding that the biblical translators were trying to be humorous with the specific word placements in Psalm 46 is perceiving order in coincidental events. It is important to recognize the possibility of coincidence rather than automatically assuming a deliberate action or pattern.

Quiz 1: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science