Deck 1: Basic Concepts

Question 1

The scientific method stresses the importance of _____________ as fundamental to developing explanations about the world.

A) similar methodologies
B) systematic observation
C) conceptual ideas
D) a good theoretical background

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The concept of observation dictates that outcomes of experimentation must be:

A) discernable
B) visible
C) independent
D) measurable

Answer 2

A,D

Question 3

Using the scientific method as an investigative tool would benefit which of the following (choose all that apply; if "e," only circle "e")

A) advancing major scientific theories
B) improving our relationships with significant others
C) evaluating teachers' efficacy of instruction
D) evaluating domestic policy decisions
E) all of these would benefit from the scientific method

Answer 3

E

Question 4

In general, a _____(a)_____ hypothesis is a prediction about the relationship between constructs, and guides the purposes of a research study; a _____(b)_____ hypothesis is a testable prediction about specific relationships and the direction of these relationships.

A) conceptual; conceptual
B) research; conceptual
C) conceptual; research
D) research; research

Question 5

Which of the following techniques is a common method of generating hypotheses? (circle all that apply)?

A) logical deduction from an established theory
B) case studies
C) personal beliefs about the relationship between variables
D) observations of seemingly paradoxical behavior

Question 6

Which of the following examples is NOT an operationalization? (circle all that apply)

A) using liking to measure attraction
B) using photographs of models to determine ratings of attractiveness
C) using the amount of trash on the ground to assess adherence to social norms
D) using the galvanic skin response to measure stress

Question 7

Which of the following statements is characteristic of the concept of a "variable?" (circle all that apply)

A) it is the basic unit of observation in a scientific study
B) it is an attribute that differs among individuals
C) it must be operationalized to be considered a "variable"
D) it is an attribute that remains the same across all individuals

Question 8

Benny and Jerome investigated whether people held different attitudes toward certain types of desserts. To do so, they had participants rank six types of desserts, with 1 = best and favorite, and 6 = worst, least favorite. This example would be considered a(n):

A) nominal scale
B) interval scale
C) ordinal scale
D) ratio scale

Question 9

Researchers wanted to know the evolutionary advantages of being able to jump, so they measured the maximum height at which hundreds of species were able to jump. This measurement would be considered a(n):

A) ordinal scale
B) nominal scale
C) ratio scale
D) interval scale

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true regarding a theory?

A) scientists can eventually prove that a theory is true
B) successive replications of the same conceptual relationship, especially using different methodologies, strengthens a theory
C) successive hypothesis tests allow for the qualification or broadening of relationships that are encompassed by a particular theory
D) A and B
E) B and C
F) all of the above

Question 11

The scientific method:

A) is a specific statistical technique
B) aims to control extraneous factors that may influence results
C) can be either subjective or objective
D) relies on systematic observation
E) can only be applied to scientific theories

Question 12

The key difference between a conceptual hypothesis and a research hypothesis is that:

A) conceptual hypotheses contain several simpler, sub-hypotheses
B) a research hypothesis offers a specific prediction in a given study
C) research hypotheses are more abstract than conceptual hypotheses
D) conceptual and research hypotheses offer competing explanations for the same phenomenon of interest

Question 13

Name and briefly describe two methods of hypothesis generation in social scientific research.

A) Deduction of expectation from theory
B) Conflicting findings
C) Observing paradoxical behavior
D) Attention to everyday behavioral tactics
E) Case studies

Question 14

A researcher decides to measure aggression by recording the number of shocks participants administer to a confederate. This constitutes:

A) operationalization of the conceptual variable
B) a constant
C) a research hypothesis
D) a perfectly defined measure of aggression

Question 15

The process of multiple operationalization is most successful when:

A) diverse measures with non-overlapping sources of error are used
B) measures that are similar to each other are used to tap the same phenomenon
C) constructs are poorly defined
D) all measures used have similar sources of error
E) it is a specific statistical technique
F) it aims to control extraneous factors that may influence results
G) it can be either subjective or objective
H) it relies on systematic observation
I) it can only be applied to scientific theories

Question 16

The key difference between a conceptual hypothesis and a research hypothesis is that:

A) conceptual hypotheses contain several simpler, sub-hypotheses
B) a research hypothesis offers a specific prediction in a given study
C) research hypotheses are more abstract than conceptual hypotheses
D) conceptual and research hypotheses offer competing explanations for the same phenomenon of interest

Question 17

Name and briefly describe two methods of hypothesis generation in social scientific research.

A) Deduction of expectation from theory
B) Conflicting findings
C) Observing paradoxical behavior
D) Attention to everyday behavioral tactics
E) Case studies

Question 18

A researcher decides to measure aggression by recording the number of shocks participants administer to a confederate. This constitutes:

A) operationalization of the conceptual variable
B) a constant
C) a research hypothesis
D) a perfectly defined measure of aggression

Question 19

The process of multiple operationalization is most successful when:

A) diverse measures with non-overlapping sources of error are used
B) measures that are similar to each other are used to tap the same phenomenon
C) constructs are poorly defined
D) all measures used have similar sources of error

Question 20

Explain three different ways scientists might go about generating hypotheses. Specifically, how do we, as scientists, initially develop hypotheses and research questions for scientific investigation, and what are three different methods of doing so?

Question 21

What does it mean for a theory to be "falsifiable?" Why is falsifiability an important aspect of the scientific method?

Question 22

Define "operationalization." Provide an example by operationalizing the research question: "Does attraction increase liking?" Be sure to explain why your example is an appropriate operationalization of this research question.

Question 23

Explain the rationale behind multiple operationism. Why should scientists use multiple operations to define a theoretical concept? Provide an example of three different operationalizations that a researcher might use to test the theoretical relationship between aggression and violence.

Question 24

Explain how the process of hypothesis testing and successive scientific investigations into the same concept or research question is a defining element of scientific research, but that we can never "prove" a theory. To illustrate your point, use the example of a master chef who claims to be the best chef in the entire world. Specifically, in your response, (a) use the provided chef example to explain the process of generating a hypothesis, operationalizing variables, testing hypotheses, and replicating findings from previous studies. In other words, provide a narrative walk-through of the hypothesis generating and testing process, starting at "a rogue chef walks into town and claims to be the best chef in the entire world." Also in your response, (b) be sure to explicitly identify what the hypothesis, operationalizations, results, and replications might be, in terms of the example scenario. (c) Explain how the chef's claim would be strengthened by successive replications of the same conceptual hypotheses. Finally, (d) explain whether the chef can ever "prove" that she (or he - you can choose) is the world's best chef.

Question 25

What is the role of theory in social scientific research?

Question 26

What is the conceptual relationship between theory purification and the falsification of hypotheses?

Question 27

Suppose a researcher obtains results that contradict the theory that helped inform the research question at hand. What possible explanations are there for unexpected findings? What are the implications for the theory? [most of chapter deals with this issue]

Question 28

Explain three different ways scientists might go about generating hypotheses. Specifically, how do we, as scientists, initially develop hypotheses and research questions for scientific investigation, and what are three different methods of doing so?

Question 29

What does it mean for a theory to be "falsifiable?" Why is falsifiability an important aspect of the scientific method?

Question 30

Define "operationalization." Provide an example by operationalizing the research question: "Does attraction increase liking?" Be sure to explain why your example is an appropriate operationalization of this research question.

Question 31

Explain the rationale for multiple operationism. Why should scientists use multiple operations to define a theoretical concept? Provide an example of three different operationalizations that a researcher might use to test the theoretical relationship between aggression and violence.

Question 32

Compare and contrast a theory, a conceptual hypothesis, and a research hypothesis. Specifically, discuss how each of these should be used at the outset of conducting a research study.

Question 33

What comes first: a theory or a hypothesis? Why?

Question 34

Compare and contrast operationalization and introspectionism.

Question 35

This chapter discussed the important of operationalization in research. Why is operationalization important in research?

Question 36

How would you operationalize the six phenomena below? Provide two or three unique operationalizations per phenomenon.
a. Aggression
b. Discrimination (i.e. as result of gender expression, age, race/ethnicity, etc.)
c. Intoxication (i.e. as result of substance abuse)
d. Happiness
e. Love
f. Creativity

Question 37

You have a colleague who is interested in studying her legal team's experience related to people with disabilities. She wants to send her employees a short email, but is not confident how she should best set up the questions or response scales. Choose the type of response scale you would use, provide an example question/item using the response scale of your choice for item 1-6 below, and briefly explain why you chose this type of response scale.
a. Team member age
b. Sex/gender of team member
c. Race/ethnicity of team member
d. Team member familiarity with disability laws
e. Number of currently disabled clients assigned to team member
f. Degree of comfort working with disabled clients