Question 1

The purpose of operational definitions in science is to:

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions help researchers to precisely define and measure variables and terms in an objective way. This ensures that experiments are conducted in a standardized and replicable manner, ultimately leading to more reliable and valid scientific discoveries. Options A, B, and C are not related to the purpose of operational definitions.

Question 2

According to your text, which of the following have researchers concluded about the effects of meditation on stress?

Accepted Answer

Researchers have concluded that a comprehensive study on the effects of meditation on stress would ideally show that all three measures (self-report, changes in blood pressure, and cortisol levels in saliva) reflect the same changes in stress levels when people undergo meditation training. This approach acknowledges the multifaceted nature of stress and the importance of using multiple measures to assess its levels accurately.

Question 3

The degree to which one set of results can be applied to other situations, individuals, or events is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Generalizability refers to the extent to which research findings or results can be reasonably applied to other populations, settings or situations. Objectivity refers to the lack of bias or personal influence in research. Reliability refers to the consistency or stability of research results. Validity refers to the accuracy or truthfulness of research results.

Question 4

__________ is the extent to which a measure assesses what it claims to measure.

Accepted Answer

Validity refers to the accuracy of a measure in assessing the construct or variable it is intended to measure. It is important for a measure to have both validity and reliability to be considered a useful tool in research. A, B, and D are not related to this concept.

Question 5

Dr. Sparks is concerned because he gave Julie a new intelligence test that he personally designed and her scores do not seem very consistent. Which aspect of psychological testing is Dr. Sparks concerned with?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Sparks is concerned with the reliability of the intelligence test he designed, as inconsistent scores suggest that the test may not be consistently measuring the same construct each time it is administered. Validity would be a concern if the test was not measuring what it was intended to measure, and falsifiability is not relevant to this situation. Self-report measures refer to a different type of psychological testing and are not relevant to an intelligence test designed by Dr. Sparks.

Question 6

Brittany, a softball player who plays catcher for the local college, has thrown out base stealers at a 42, 39, and 41 percent rate over her three years. Her performance could be considered which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The fact that Brittany has consistently thrown out base stealers at a rate around 40% over three years suggests that her performance is reliable. While we cannot say for sure that her performance is valid (i.e. accurately measuring what it is intended to measure), her consistency suggests that her results are reliable.

Question 7

Although not ideal, researchers often use _______________ samples, which are samples of individuals that are the most readily available.

Accepted Answer

Convenience samples are the most readily available samples and are not ideal but often used in research. Random samples are considered the ideal sample but are not always practical or feasible to obtain. Confound samples are samples where an extraneous variable is not controlled for, while ecological samples are samples of groups or populations, not individuals.

Question 8

One way to increase the possibility that research results will generalize is to study a ____________ sample.

Accepted Answer

A larger sample size increases the likelihood of representing the population accurately, which allows for more accurate generalizations.

Question 9

Before beginning a study on the health effects of obesity, a group of researchers agree that, for the purposes of their research, anyone with a Body Mass Index greater than 30 kg/m² will be considered obese. This is an example of _______________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of an operational definition, which is creating a clear and specific definition of a variable for the purposes of research. In this case, the researchers are defining obesity as having a BMI greater than 30 kg/m².

Question 10

Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

Researchers often study samples because it is impractical or impossible to study entire populations due to constraints such as time, cost, and accessibility. By studying a representative sample, researchers can make inferences about the population as a whole.

Question 11

Ursula works in an office. One day, her boss tells her that researchers will be in the office to observe productivity. Because she knows she is being observed, Ursula finds that she is working harder than she normally does. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of the Hawthorne effect, which occurs when people modify their behavior because they know they are being observed. This effect is named after a series of studies done at the Hawthorne Works factory in Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s, where researchers found that worker productivity improved simply because the workers knew they were being observed.

Question 12

______________ is a method where researchers typically use interviews, phone surveys, and questionnaires to directly collect responses from the people being studied.

Accepted Answer

Self-reporting is a method of directly collecting responses from the people being studied through interviews, phone surveys, and questionnaires. This method allows participants to provide their own perspectives and experiences, providing valuable insights for researchers. Generalizing is the process of applying findings from a sample to a larger population, while random and blind sampling are methods of selecting participants to minimize bias in the study.

Question 13

The most important factor to ensure that one's results apply to other people in other settings is to use

Accepted Answer

Using a random sample is most important to ensure that the results apply to other people in other settings, as it helps to avoid bias and ensure that the sample is representative of the population of interest. Random assignment can also help to reduce bias, but it is more relevant for experimental designs rather than sampling methods. Convenience samples and extremely small sample sizes are more likely to lead to biased results and limited generalizability.

Question 14

__________ is consistency of measurement.

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to how consistent a measurement or test is over time, across different raters, and in different testing conditions. It measures the consistency of results obtained by the same test taker on different occasions or by different raters of the same test taker.

Question 15

In research, the object, concept, or event being measured is called a ____________.

Accepted Answer

A variable is the object, concept or event being measured in research. It is the characteristic or attribute that is being studied and can take on different values or be measured in different ways. A population refers to the entire group of individuals or objects that share a particular characteristic or meet a particular criteria. A sample is a smaller group that is selected from a population to be studied. A data unit refers to the individual pieces of data collected, such as numbers or responses. Therefore, option C is the best choice.

Question 16

Ecological validity refers to:

Accepted Answer

Ecological validity refers to the extent to which a study accurately reflects the real-world phenomena it is intended to study. In other words, it refers to whether the results of a laboratory study can be applied to the real world.

Question 17

When assessing patients' personalities using an "ink blot" test that she created, Dr. Hardcastle is gaining confidence in the test's reliability. Which of the following is likely to be happening?

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of results obtained from a test. If Dr. Hardcastle is gaining confidence in the test's reliability, it is likely because the test is generating approximately the same results each time it is administered. This suggests that the test is reliable and that the results it produces are trustworthy.

Question 18

The term demand characteristics refers to:

Accepted Answer

Demand characteristics refer to unintentional cues that suggest to participants how they are expected to behave in a study. This can happen when the experimenter's expectations are subtly communicated to participants, leading them to modify their behavior in a way that aligns with those expectations. A and C are not correct because demand characteristics are not related to scientists' personalities, nor are they specific measures that are used to record observations. D is incorrect because demand characteristics are not based on anecdotal evidence.

Question 19

A researcher uses a blood pressure cuff (technically called a sphygmomanometer) to measure the blood pressure of participants while they are shown sexual, violent, or relaxing videos. The blood pressure measurement in this study is an example of ______________.

Accepted Answer

The blood pressure measurement is a variable, which is any factor or characteristic that can be manipulated, controlled, or measured in research.

Question 20

Jasmine took a self-administered online intelligence test three times yesterday and obtained scores of 124, 128, and 125. This made her feel great because the score she received from the psychologist last month at school was only a 95. What characteristic might the online test be lacking?

Accepted Answer

While Jasmine may feel good about her scores on the online test, the fact that they vary significantly raises questions about the test's validity. Additionally, since she may have taken the test differently each time or been influenced by outside factors, the reliability of the online test is also in question.

Quiz 2: Reading and Evaluating Scientific Research