Deck 2: B: The Research Enterprise in Psychology

Question 1

Which science goal is a researcher pursuing by studying infant development in order to determine the range of normal development for language?

A)construction and revision
B)application and control
C)understanding and prediction
D)measurement and description

Answer 1

measurement and description

Question 2

Tina and Jake are conducting a study to look at what happens to skydivers when they jump out of an airplane. Tina is measuring the heart rates and cortisol levels of the participants, before and after a jump. Jake is interviewing the participants so that they can describe their experiences. Which of the following terms describes Tina's component of the study?

A)qualitative
B)quantitative
C)retrospective
D)theoretical

Answer 2

quantitative

Question 3

Monica is conducting a study to determine whether there are IQ differences between people who go to private school and people who go to public school. Which data collection technique will she use?

A)physiological recordings
B)questionnaires
C)psychological tests
D)direct observations

Answer 3

psychological tests

Question 4

With which goal of science are scientific theories most directly associated?

A)application and control
B)understanding and prediction
C)construction and revision
D)measurement and description

Question 5

Which science goal is reflected in psychologists' hopes that their research will help to solve some practical problem?

A)understanding and prediction
B)measurement and description
C)construction and revision
D)application and control

Question 6

Theresa has decided to test whether listening to music while studying improves retention of the studied information. Now that she knows what she wants to test, what is the next step in the scientific method?

A)selecting a research method and designing the study
B)collecting the data
C)formulating a testable hypothesis
D)analyzing the data and drawing conclusions

Question 7

Dr. McDougall is a researcher who measures blood alcohol level to determine intoxication. In this example, how is "blood alcohol level" being used?

A)as a hypothetical variable
B)as an independent variable
C)as an operational definition
D)as a covariant

Question 8

Dr. Tremblay is a clinical psychologist who notes that an unusually large number of depressed or anxious people tend to gain weight. She offers an explanation that the hormones associated with stress lead to changes in metabolism that causes weight gain. What is the term for her explanation?

A)a variable
B)an educated opinion
C)a verifiable fact
D)a theory

Question 9

Which science goal is a researcher pursuing by studying child development in order to help teachers develop better teaching methods?

A)measurement and description
B)application and control
C)understanding and prediction
D)construction and revision

Question 10

With which goal of science is scientists' work most closely associated when they attempt to explain why something happened?

A)application and control
B)measurement and description
C)construction and revision
D)understanding and prediction

Question 11

Psychologists use a variety of data collection techniques. Which of the following is well suited for studying attitudes?

A)direct observations
B)psychological tests
C)physiological recordings
D)questionnaires

Question 12

What is a theory?

A)a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations
B)an objective description of behaviour
C)the application of research to practical problems
D)a statement about the relationship between two or more variables

Question 13

In scientific investigations, a researcher must clearly outline the variables under study by precisely describing how they will be measured or controlled. What are these descriptions called?

A)independent variables
B)objective definitions
C)operational definitions
D)dependent variables

Question 14

Which term is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables?

A)hypothesis
B)research method
C)cause
D)theory

Question 15

Theresa is going to conduct a study as part of her honours thesis for her psychology degree. What will her first step be if she follows the steps associated with the scientific method?

A)develop a theory
B)formulate a testable hypothesis
C)select the research method and design the study
D)collect the data

Question 16

Which science goal is a researcher pursuing by studying stress reactions in elderly people in order to determine risk factors for subsequent heart attacks and depression?

A)construction and revision
B)measurement and description
C)understanding and prediction
D)application and control

Question 17

Tina and Jake are conducting a study to look at what happens to skydivers when they jump out of an airplane. Tina is measuring the heart rates and cortisol levels of the participants, before and after a jump. Jake is interviewing the participants so that they can describe their experiences. Which of the following terms describes Jake's component of the study?

A)qualitative
B)retrospective
C)theoretical
D)quantitative

Question 18

In terms of the scientific method, what are variables?

A)factors that change unpredictably within a study
B)measures of variability within a study
C)measurable items that are controlled or observed in a study
D)factors that are affected by experimental manipulation

Question 19

If Patrick hypothesizes that minor sleep deprivation will enhance his video-game playing skills, then what are the variables in his hypothesis?

A)any factors, other than sleep deprivation, that affect his measurements
B)sleep deprivation and video-game skills
C)his scores on his favourite video games
D)varying amounts of sleep deprivation

Question 20

Mrs. Sanjay, an elementary school teacher, believes that girls are smarter than boys. She predicts that the girls in her class will learn more than the boys during the school year. Which term describes her prediction?

A)fact
B)hypothesis
C)opinion
D)theory

Question 21

In experimental research, which variable is measured during data collection?

A)dependent variable
B)primary variable
C)independent variable
D)secondary variable

Question 22

Most typically, how do researchers report their findings?

A)in a journal
B)in a book
C)by holding a press conference
D)in a scientific magazine

Question 23

While researching the effects music listening has on study retention, Theresa has documented her own study habits and music listening, and has tested herself weekly for retention. As she continues using the scientific method, what is her next step?

A)analyzing the data and drawing conclusions
B)selecting a research method and designing the study
C)reporting the findings
D)collecting the data

Question 24

In experimental research, what is the variable that is measured because it is thought to be affected by the manipulation of another variable?

A)independent variable
B)extraneous variable
C)controlled variable
D)dependent variable

Question 25

Dr. Santiago is investigating the effect of warm room temperature on aggressive behaviour in preschoolers. Half of the children are in a classroom where the temperature is a warm 31°C and half are in a classroom where the temperature is a normal 25°C. Dr. Santiago measures the number of hitting incidents that occur in each classroom. In this study, what is the term for the number of hitting incidents?

A)control group
B)experimental group
C)independent variable
D)dependent variable

Question 26

With which major advantage of the scientific approach are operational definitions most closely associated?

A)common-sense approach
B)intolerance of error
C)clarity and precision
D)tolerance of error

Question 27

If a researcher varies the loudness of music in a factory to observe its effect on the rate of productivity of the employees, what is the dependent variable?

A)loudness of music
B)rate of productivity
C)factory setting
D)employees

Question 28

What are the two main types of research methods used in psychology?

A)experimental and case study research methods
B)descriptive/correlational and case study research methods
C)descriptive and correlational research methods
D)experimental and descriptive/correlational research methods

Question 29

In the Featured Study by Dutton & Aron, the authors hypothesized that an attractive female (who was a research confederate) would be perceived as more attractive by males on "fear-arousing" bridge, than by males on a "control" bridge. Further, if a man crossed the "fear-arousing" bridge prior to meeting a female, he would be more likely to phone her later. In this study, what is the dependent variable?

A)whether a male subject crossed a bridge, or not
B)the baseline attractiveness of the female confederate
C)the 'fear-arousing' bridge
D)whether the male subjects phoned the female confederate

Question 30

What are the two main advantages of the scientific approach?

A)the use of common sense, and easy acceptance of the research findings of others
B)the use of common sense, and intolerance of error
C)clarity, and easy acceptance of the research findings of others
D)precision, and intolerance of error

Question 31

In experimental research, which subjects do NOT receive some special treatment in regard to the independent variable?

A)those in the correlational group
B)those in the observational group
C)those in the control group
D)those in the experimental group

Question 32

In the experimental method, the investigator manipulates a variable under carefully controlled conditions. What does the researcher do next?

A)correlate the resulting behaviour
B)survey participants to learn their assessment of the variable
C)observe whether any changes occur in a second variable
D)observe behaviour in its natural environment

Question 33

Dr. Ostrofsky is investigating the effect of high room temperatures on aggressive behaviour in preschoolers. Half of the children are in a classroom where the temperature is a warm 31°C and half are in a classroom where the temperature is a normal 25°C degrees. Dr. Ostrofsky measures the number of hitting incidents that occur in each classroom. In this study, what is the term for the temperature of the room?

A)control group
B)dependent variable
C)independent variable
D)experimental group

Question 34

What research method is being used if a researcher manipulates a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observes whether any changes occur in a second variable?

A)correlational method
B)descriptive method
C)experimental method
D)observational method

Question 35

In experimental research, what happens to subjects in the experimental group?

A)They do not receive the dependent variable.
B)They receive some special treatment in regard to the independent variable.
C)They do not receive some special treatment in regard to the independent variable.
D)They receive the dependent variable.

Question 36

In the Featured Study by Dutton & Aron, the authors hypothesized that an attractive female (who was a research confederate) would be perceived as more attractive by males on "fear-arousing" bridge, than by males on a "control" bridge. Further, if a man crossed the "fear-arousing" bridge prior to meeting a female, he would be more likely to phoned her later. In this study, what is the independent variable?

A)whether the male subjects phoned the female confederate
B)whether a male subject crossed a bridge, or not
C)the 'fear-arousing' bridge
D)the baseline attractiveness of the female confederate

Question 37

In experimental research, which variable is manipulated by the researcher so that its impact on another variable may be assessed?

A)controlled variable
B)independent variable
C)extraneous variable
D)dependent variable

Question 38

In experimental research, which subjects receive some special treatment in regard to the independent variable?

A)those in the observational group
B)those in the control group
C)those in the experimental group
D)those in the correlational group

Question 39

Theresa has conducted research on the effects listening to music has on study retention. In this case, what is 'listening to music'?

A)extraneous variable
B)dependent variable
C)independent variable
D)controlled variable

Question 40

If a researcher varies the loudness of music in a factory to observe its effect on the rate of productivity of the employees, what is the independent variable?

A)loudness of music
B)factory setting
C)employees
D)rate of productivity

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT a typical variation of the experimental method?

A)using an experimental group only and no control group
B)manipulating more than one independent variable
C)using one group of subjects who serve as both the experimental group and as their own control
D)measuring more than one dependent variable

Question 42

Pamela is conducting a study examining test scores before and after memory training, and she will compare the results for men to results for women. Which of the following terms describes the comparison of results before training to results after training?

A)within-subjects design
B)correlation effects
C)between-subjects design
D)interaction effects

Question 43

What is the term for variables, other than the independent variable, that seem likely to influence the behaviour of subjects in a study?

A)dependent variables
B)control variables
C)extraneous variables
D)random variables

Question 44

Which of the following is a disadvantage or limitation of the experimental research method?

A)It frequently takes place under artificial circumstances.
B)The researcher has little control over the situation.
C)It does not allow for conclusions concerning cause-and-effect relationships.
D)It does not allow for a description of behaviour.

Question 45

In a study that examines the effects of stress on memory, which group would NOT be put under stress?

A)experimental group
B)control group
C)explicit group
D)correlational group

Question 46

Tamara is conducting a study using two independent variables (music and lighting) and one dependent variable (blood pressure). Which of the following effects can she look for when she analyzes her data?

A)Effects of blood pressure on perception of music and lighting.
B)Effects of lighting on perception of music.
C)Interactive effects of music and lighting on blood pressure.
D)Interactive effects of blood pressure on perception of music and lighting.

Question 47

Dr. Ishtar is investigating the effect of music on the productivity of employees in a factory. Half of the employees listen to music while working and half do not listen to music. Dr. Ishtar measures the productivity of each employee. In this study, which group listens to music?

A)experimental group
B)independent group
C)dependent group
D)control group

Question 48

As part of a study examining the role of different teaching methods on children's math abilities, Dr. Garneau tested the children using a standardized math test. He gave the test to Grade 5 classes for two years in a row. In Year 1, the standard teaching method was used. In Year 2, a new teaching method was used. In Year 1, the test was administered in October, near the beginning of the school year. In Year 2, the test was administered in May, near the end of the school year. Although Dr. Garneau's results suggest that children in Year 2 demonstrated more math skills than children in Year 1, why are Dr. Garneau's results not very useful?

A)There was no control group.
B)Results due to teaching method are confounded by the time of year the children were tested.
C)Children in Year 2 had the benefit of a different teaching method, so you can't compare them to children in Year 1.
D)Different children were used in each group, and this is a confound.

Question 49

Dr. Wawanosh is investigating the effect of high room temperature on aggressive behaviour in preschoolers. Half of the children are in a classroom where the temperature is a warm 31°C and half are in a classroom where the temperature is a normal 25°C. Dr. Wawanosh measures the number of hitting incidents that occur in each classroom. In this study, which group is in the classroom with the normal temperature?

A)the control group
B)the secondary group
C)the primary group
D)the experimental group

Question 50

Which research method allows you to draw conclusions concerning cause-and-effect relationships?

A)experimental
B)correlational
C)survey
D)descriptive

Question 51

A researcher tries to make sure that subjects in the experimental and control groups are very similar to each other. This is done in order to reduce the effects of which type of variables?

A)independent variables
B)random variables
C)dependent variables
D)extraneous variables

Question 52

Compared to the other scientific research methods, what is the principal advantage of the experimental method?

A)It allows for a description of behaviour.
B)It permits conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships.
C)It observes behaviour in its natural setting.
D)It can easily be used to study all research questions.

Question 53

Pamela is conducting a study examining test scores before and after memory training, and she will compare the results for men to results for women. Which of the following terms describes the comparison of men's and women's results?

A)correlation effects
B)between-subjects design
C)interaction effects
D)within-subjects design

Question 54

Dr. Engelhart is investigating the effect of high room temperature on aggressive behaviour in preschoolers. Half of the children are in a classroom where the temperature is a warm 31°C and half are in a classroom where the temperature is a normal 25°C. Dr. Engelhart measures the number of hitting incidents that occur in each classroom. In this study, which group is in the warm classroom?

A)the control group
B)the experimental group
C)the primary group
D)the secondary group

Question 55

Dr. O'Hara is investigating the effect of music on the productivity of employees in a factory. Half of the employees listen to music while working and half do not listen to music. Dr. O'Hara measures the productivity of each employee. In this study, which group does NOT listen to music?

A)experimental group
B)dependent group
C)control group
D)independent group

Question 56

In a study that examines the effects of stress on memory, which group would be put under stress?

A)experimental group
B)explicit group
C)control group
D)correlational group

Question 57

In a study that examines the effects of a low-fat diet on mood, which group would receive a normal diet?

A)experimental group
B)correlational group
C)control group
D)explicit group

Question 58

What conditions differ between the experimental and control groups?

A)nothing; conditions are perfectly controlled between the two groups
B)only the dependent variable
C)only the independent variable
D)both the dependent and independent variables

Question 59

What procedure would you use to ensure that experimental and control groups will be similar in most ways?

A)Allow the control group to be larger than the experimental group.
B)Extensive interviewing and checklists allow you to document all potential differences.
C)Operational definitions of similarity must be created.
D)Random assignment allows groups to be fairly similar.

Question 60

In a study that examines the effects of a low-fat diet on mood, which group would receive a low-fat diet?

A)experimental group
B)explicit group
C)correlational group
D)control group

Question 61

What is the research method in which a researcher conducts an in-depth investigation of an individual subject?

A)case study method
B)survey method
C)naturalistic observation method
D)correlational method

Question 62

What does the researcher do when using the case study method?

A)manipulate a variable under carefully controlled conditions
B)use questionnaires or interviews to gather information about specific aspects of participants' behaviour
C)conduct an in-depth investigation of an individual subject
D)engage in careful observation of behaviour without intervening directly with subjects

Question 63

For which of the following methods might a researcher employ a number of techniques such as interviews, direct observations, and psychological testing?

A)a survey
B)naturalistic observation
C)a correlation
D)a case study

Question 64

If Dr. Conrad is interested in an in-depth study concerning the long-term consequences that a serious injury has on the psychological adjustment of a patient and his family, then which of the following research methods would Dr. Conrad be most likely to use?

A)case study method
B)experimental method
C)naturalistic observation method
D)survey method

Question 65

Henri wants to determine whether infant birth weight predicts the age at which children begin to walk and run. Which of the following designs would be most appropriate for this research?

A)case study
B)naturalistic observation
C)experimental
D)correlational

Question 66

What is the principal advantage of descriptive/correlational research methods?

A)They allow the researcher a high level of control over the variables of interest.
B)They can examine research questions that because of practical and ethical reasons cannot be studied with other methods.
C)They permit conclusions concerning cause-and-effect relationships.
D)They often observe behaviour in artificial situations.

Question 67

What is the research method in which a researcher engages in careful observation of behaviour without intervening directly with the subjects?

A)case study method
B)survey method
C)naturalistic observation method
D)correlation method

Question 68

What is the research method in which a researcher uses questionnaires or interviews to gather information about specific aspects of behaviour in a sample of participants?

A)naturalistic observation method
B)survey method
C)case study method
D)correlation method

Question 69

What do naturalistic observations, case studies, and surveys all have in common?

A)They involve manipulating the variables of interest in the study.
B)They show cause-and-effect relationships.
C)They take place in an artificial setting.
D)They involve describing behaviour.

Question 70

Eline wants to determine whether scented candles can help people relax. She plans to take two groups of students who have just finished difficult exams, and have one group sit in a room with scented candles while the other group sits in a room without scented candles. Both groups will be monitored for heart rate. Which type of design is Eline planning for her research?

A)case study
B)correlational
C)naturalistic observation
D)experimental

Question 71

What does the researcher do when using the naturalistic observation method?

A)conduct an in-depth investigation of an individual subject
B)engage in careful observation of behaviour without intervening directly with subjects
C)manipulate a variable under carefully controlled conditions
D)use questionnaires or interviews to gather information about specific aspects of participants' behaviour

Question 72

Which of the following is a disadvantage or limitation of the experimental research method?

A)The researcher has little control over the situation.
B)It does not allow for a description of behaviour.
C)It does not allow for conclusions concerning cause-and-effect relationships.
D)For practical or ethical reasons it cannot be used to study some research questions.

Question 73

If researchers were interested in studying individuals' attitudes toward "animal rights issues," which of the following would they be most likely to use?

A)a case study
B)a correlation
C)a survey
D)a naturalistic observation

Question 74

What does a researcher do when using the survey method?

A)conduct an in-depth investigation of an individual subject
B)manipulate a variable under carefully controlled conditions
C)use questionnaires or interviews to gather information about specific aspects of participants' behaviour
D)engage in careful observation of behaviour without intervening directly with subjects

Question 75

What do descriptive and correlational research methods allow researchers to do?

A)exert precise control over the variables being studied
B)draw conclusions concerning cause-and-effect relationships
C)manipulate several variables at the same time
D)examine whether there is an association between variables being studied

Question 76

What is the primary reason that descriptive and correlational research cannot determine conclusively that variables have a cause-and-effect relationship?

A)The researcher observes behaviour under artificial situations.
B)The data collected frequently comes from direct observations or statements made by subjects.
C)Only an experimental group is used.
D)The researcher cannot control events or manipulate variables.

Question 77

Which research method would likely be chosen when it would be impractical to manipulate the variables of interest?

A)an experimental method
B)a common-sense method
C)the logical method
D)a descriptive/correlational method

Question 78

Dr. Rosenfeld plans to study the relationship between people's smoking behaviour and their tendency to have minor physical illnesses (such as colds or the flu). Why might she be most likely to choose correlational research for this study?

A)Correlational studies allow the researcher to draw strong cause-and-effect conclusions.
B)The university does not allow smoking in the psychology building.
C)It is not practical or ethical to manipulate people's smoking behaviour.
D)Correlational studies are always the "first choice" of researchers.

Question 79

What is the principal disadvantage of the descriptive and correlational research methods?

A)Because of practical or ethical reasons, they cannot be used to study some research questions.
B)They do not allow the researcher to describe behaviour.
C)They frequently observe behaviour in artificial situations.
D)Because researchers cannot control variables of interest, conclusions concerning cause-and-effect relationships are not appropriate.

Question 80

If researchers studied helping behaviour by observing how often shoppers stopped to help an individual pick up dropped packages, what method would they be using?

A)naturalistic observation method
B)experimental method
C)survey method
D)case study method