Question 1

When asked to define 'popularity,' Brianna offers,"It's when everyone likes you." Chrissy suggests,"It's basically the number of friends you have." In this example,an operational definition is being offered by

Accepted Answer

An operational definition specifies how a concept is measured or identified in practical terms. Chrissy's definition of popularity as "the number of friends you have" provides a measurable criterion, making it an operational definition.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is the best operational definition of "test score"?

Accepted Answer

The best operational definition of "test score" is the objective measure of the number of questions answered correctly. This can be easily quantified and used for comparisons and evaluations. A and B are subjective experiences and cannot be accurately measured. D is also subjective and may not necessarily reflect actual knowledge or performance on the test.

Question 3

A behaviour,event,or other characteristic that can take on different values is termed a(n)___.

Accepted Answer

A variable is defined as a behavior, event, or characteristic that can take on different values. The other options, such as theory, operational definition, and hypothesis, do not fit the definition of a variable. A theory is an explanation for a phenomenon that is supported by empirical evidence, an operational definition is a specific method for measuring a variable, and a hypothesis is a testable prediction about the relationship between variables.

Question 4

Which of the following researchers is using an acceptable operational definition of a variable?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Selkirk's definition of aggression as the number of swear words spoken in an hour is an operational definition because it specifies a measurable and observable criterion.

Question 5

Two research assistants are collecting data for a study examining child aggression on the playground by observing children as they are playing.The first research assistant measures aggression by counting the number of times children hit each other.When the second research assistant goes to the playground,he counts the number of times children push each other.What is the greatest flaw with this study?

Accepted Answer

The greatest flaw with this study is that the two research assistants are working with different operational definitions. One research assistant is counting hits, while the other is counting pushes. This inconsistency in measurement could significantly impact the accuracy and reliability of the results. Ideally, all research assistants should use the same operational definition for the behavior being measured to ensure consistency and reliability in the data collected.

Question 6

Which of the following researchers is using an acceptable operational definition of a variable?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Byrne is using a standardized measure to define intelligence, which is an acceptable operational definition.

Question 7

You are writing a history of psychology,focusing on the major themes and perspectives that have dominated the field over the past 150 years.Which phrase below offers the most fitting completion to the partial title,The Story of Psychology: ___?

Accepted Answer

The history of psychology has often focused on understanding and observing mental processes and behaviors that are not directly observable, such as thoughts, emotions, and unconscious processes.

Question 8

"Opposites attract." "Birds of a feather flock together." These aphorisms most closely resemble

Accepted Answer

These aphorisms are most similar to hypotheses because they are statements that can be tested or predictions about the relationship between two things.

Question 9

Dr.Vesner is examining how exposure to Drug X affects levels of aggression in rats.She gives each rat one of four doses of Drug X: no drug (saline injection),low dose,medium dose,and a high dose.After 20 minutes so the drug has time to take effect,she measures aggression by the intensity with which the rat bites a probing rod that is entered into the apparatus.In this study,what is the independent variable?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the factor being manipulated, which is the dose of Drug X administered to the rats. The other variables, such as aggression levels, 20-minute delay, and intensity of biting, are all dependent variables that are being measured in response to the independent variable.

Question 10

A researcher observed the eating patterns of laboratory rats while manipulating the amount of sleep they received during a week-long study.In this example,what type of variable is "sleep"?

Accepted Answer

"Sleep" is being intentionally manipulated by the researcher, which makes it the independent variable. The dependent variable in this experiment would likely be the eating patterns of the laboratory rats. Observable variables are those that can be directly observed or measured, whereas extraneous variables are those that are not intentionally manipulated but may still have an effect on the dependent variable.

Question 11

Recall the levels of analysis described in Chapter 1 of your text.If you were sympathetic to the notion that psychology should limit itself to clearly observable phenomena,on which level of analysis might you concentrate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Recall the levels of analysis described in...

Question 12

A hypothesis is best defined as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a specific prediction or statement about the relationship between variables that is based on previous observations or theoretical principles. It is not a broad explanation, a specification of a variable, or a characteristic that can assume different values.

Question 13

Why do many psychologists find current advances in brain imaging especially exciting,considering your text's discussion of the goals of psychology at the beginning of Chapter 2?

Accepted Answer

Many psychologists find current advances in brain imaging especially exciting because they promise to expand the realm of that which is directly observable. This is in line with the goal of psychology discussed at the beginning of Chapter 2, which states that psychologists seek to observe, describe, explain, predict, and control behavior and mental processes using scientific methods. Brain imaging provides a direct way of observing the brain and its activity, which is relevant to understanding mental processes and behavior.

Question 14

"The process of observation is a challenging one for psychology,given its subject matter," offers Frederico."That's why psychology should investigate only phenomena which are clearly observable," Grady responds."But psychologists can use observable behaviour to make reliable statements about internal processes that can't be seen," counters Holly."Not to mention,technology continues to expand the range of psychological processes we can actually observe," Indira notes.Which of these discussants is paired with the psychological perspective they most clearly reflect?

Accepted Answer

Indira reflects the neuroscience perspective, which emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between the brain, behavior, and mental processes. Her statement about technology expanding the range of observable psychological processes reflects this perspective.

Question 15

If Corby hypothesizes that sleep deprivation in university students results in lower GPAs,what are the variables in his hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

The variables in Corby's hypothesis are sleep deprivation and GPA. Option A is a factor within the sleep deprivation variable, and option B is a factor within the GPA variable. Option C is not a variable but rather a potential confounding variable.

Question 16

What will always be a challenging task for psychologists doing research?

Accepted Answer

Mental functioning is abstract and cannot be directly observed, making it difficult to define and measure objectively. This presents an ongoing challenge for psychologists conducting research.

Question 17

Dr.Morris is studying how sleep deprivation affects semantic memory.He has each participant study a list of random facts and then undergo sleep deprivation for either 24 hours,30 hours,or 36 hours.Then,following an additional 48-hour delay period,each participant's memory for the random facts is tested.In this study,what is the independent variable?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable in this study is the number of hours of sleep deprivation, as this is the factor that is being manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on semantic memory. The other variables listed (number of random facts remembered, 48-hour delay, and amount of time spent trying to remember random facts) are either dependent variables or extraneous variables that may affect the results, but are not being directly manipulated by the researcher.

Question 18

Psychologists operationalize the ___ in a ___.

Accepted Answer

Operationalization is the process of defining a variable in specific terms that can be objectively measured or manipulated. This is typically done in the context of a hypothesis, where a researcher proposes how two or more variables may be related. Therefore, psychologists operationalize the variables in a hypothesis.

Question 19

Each of the following is an operational definition of 'happiness' EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions specify how a concept is measured or manipulated in a specific study. Choices B, C, and D all provide measurable or observable ways to assess happiness, making them operational definitions. Choice A describes happiness in abstract terms without specifying how to measure or observe it, making it the exception.

Question 20

Helena proposes that the more impulsive a student is,the more likely he or she will be to change answers on a multiple-choice test.The variable(s)in this statement is/are

Accepted Answer

The statement includes both impulsivity and answer-changing as variables, so the correct answer must include both. Therefore, the best choice is (C)- both impulsivity and answer-changing. The other options do not capture both variables mentioned in the statement.

Quiz 2: Psychology as a Science

When asked to define 'popularity,' Brianna offers,"It's when everyone likes you." Chrissy suggests,"It's basically the number of friends you have." In this example,an operational definition is being offered by

Which of the following statements is the best operational definition of "test score"?

A behaviour,event,or other characteristic that can take on different values is termed a(n) ___.

Which of the following researchers is using an acceptable operational definition of a variable?

Which of the following researchers is using an acceptable operational definition of a variable?

You are writing a history of psychology,focusing on the major themes and perspectives that have dominated the field over the past 150 years.Which phrase below offers the most fitting completion to the partial title,The Story of Psychology: ___?

"Opposites attract." "Birds of a feather flock together." These aphorisms most closely resemble

A researcher observed the eating patterns of laboratory rats while manipulating the amount of sleep they received during a week-long study.In this example,what type of variable is "sleep"?

Recall the levels of analysis described in Chapter 1 of your text.If you were sympathetic to the notion that psychology should limit itself to clearly observable phenomena,on which level of analysis might you concentrate?

A hypothesis is best defined as a(n)

Why do many psychologists find current advances in brain imaging especially exciting,considering your text's discussion of the goals of psychology at the beginning of Chapter 2?

If Corby hypothesizes that sleep deprivation in university students results in lower GPAs,what are the variables in his hypothesis?

What will always be a challenging task for psychologists doing research?

Psychologists operationalize the _ in a _.

Each of the following is an operational definition of 'happiness' EXCEPT

Helena proposes that the more impulsive a student is,the more likely he or she will be to change answers on a multiple-choice test.The variable(s) in this statement is/are