Question 1

A research hypothesis is a

Accepted Answer

A research hypothesis is a testable prediction that is formulated based on the researcher's theoretical framework, previous research, and observations. It is used to guide empirical research and to provide a basis for the selection of research methods, data analysis techniques, and interpretation of research results.

Question 2

Hypothesis is to theory, as __________ is to ___________.

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation, which can lead to the development of a theory after extensive testing and validation. Similarly, an exam is a test of knowledge, which, when passed, demonstrates a certain level of understanding or mastery of a subject.

Question 3

Which of the following techniques would be the most effective way of investigating the relationship between the social status and the level of education of Canadian citizens?

Accepted Answer

A correlational study would be the most effective way of investigating the relationship between social status and level of education as it would allow for the measurement of the degree of association between the two variables. An experiment would not work as social status cannot be manipulated, a case study would not allow for generalization to the larger population, and participant observation would not yield systematic data on social status and level of education.

Question 4

Research done in natural, real-life settings outside the laboratory is called

Accepted Answer

Field research is research conducted in natural, real-life settings outside the laboratory. Case study research involves in-depth investigation of a single individual or a small group of individuals. Correlational research examines the relationship between two variables, but does not involve manipulating variables. Experimental research involves manipulating variables to determine cause-and-effect relationships, often in a laboratory setting.

Question 5

Amy reads a research article and feels like it didn't tell her anything she didn't already know. However, when asked to guess the results of another experiment before reading it, she cannot. Amy's experience illustrates the

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias is the tendency to see events as having been predictable after they have already occurred. Amy feels the research article didn't tell her anything new because she perceives the results as obvious after knowing them, even though she couldn't predict the results of another experiment beforehand.

Question 6

Proverbs such as "absence makes the heart grow fonder" or "out of sight, out of mind" best illustrate that

Accepted Answer

These proverbs illustrate the hindsight bias, where people believe they could have predicted the outcome after knowing it, making any result seem logical or expected.

Question 7

A closely watched game between the Wolverines and the Eagles goes into overtime, and ultimately the Eagles win by just one point. According to research on the hindsight bias, fans of ______ will probably say ______.

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias refers to the tendency of people to overestimate their ability to have predicted an outcome that could not have been predicted. In this case, fans of both teams are likely to claim they thought the Eagles would win after the fact, demonstrating hindsight bias.

Question 8

Why do biologists refer to the "theory" of evolution instead of the "fact" of evolution?

Accepted Answer

The "theory" of evolution is used because it summarizes a whole set of scientific facts, including observations and experiments, and explains the mechanisms of how evolution occurs. While there may be some who do not believe in evolution, the overwhelming majority of scientists accept it as a scientific fact. Additionally, scientific theories cannot be proven true in the same way that facts can, but they can be supported by evidence and used to make accurate predictions.

Question 9

The naturalistic fallacy involves "____________" reasoning, whereas the hindsight bias involves "_____________" reasoning.

Accepted Answer

The naturalistic fallacy involves reasoning about what ought to be based on what is (deriving values from facts), while the hindsight bias involves reasoning as if one had predicted the outcome all along after it has happened.

Question 10

A good theory will make clear predictions that

Accepted Answer

A good theory should be able to generate clear predictions that can be tested to either confirm or modify the theory. These predictions can also lead to new exploration and research, as well as suggest practical applications for the theory. Therefore, all of these choices are important outcomes of a good theory.

Question 11

An integrated set of principles that explain and predict observed events is called

Accepted Answer

A theory is a broad explanation for a wide range of phenomena that has been extensively tested and supported by evidence from multiple sources. It is an integrated set of principles that can explain and predict observed events. A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a specific phenomenon that is testable but has not yet been extensively supported by evidence, and a proof is evidence that supports or confirms a hypothesis or theory, but a single piece of evidence does not necessarily constitute proof.

Question 12

When theories are discarded, it is usually because they

Accepted Answer

Theories are usually discarded when they are replaced by newer, better theories that provide a more comprehensive or accurate explanation of the same phenomena. While it is possible for a theory to be falsified, this is not the only reason why theories may be abandoned. Theories that attempt to summarize a large body of data or generate testable hypotheses may still be useful, but may eventually be replaced by more refined or nuanced explanations.

Question 13

Hindsight bias can explain why

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hindsight bias can explain why
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Question 14

When researcher Karl Teigen gave students the actual proverb "fear is stronger than love," most rated it as true. When he gave others the reverse form, "love is stronger than fear,"

Accepted Answer

In the given scenario, the reverse form is actually the opposite of the original proverb, so logically it should be false. However, research suggests that when people hear a statement that contains a well-known idea or concept (in this case fear and love), they tend to rate the statement as true without giving much thought to it. Therefore, when presented with the reverse form "love is stronger than fear," most people continued to rate it as true, even though it was actually false.

Question 15

Which of the following is the best example of hindsight bias?

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias is the tendency to perceive events that have already occurred as having been more predictable than they actually were. Reading your horoscope at the end of the day and believing that it accurately predicted events that occurred throughout the day is a clear example of hindsight bias.

Question 16

Social psychologist Kurt Lewin aptly commented, "There is nothing so practical as a good _____."

Accepted Answer

A good theory is practical because it allows us to understand and predict human behavior, which can ultimately lead to practical applications and interventions. Experiments and laboratories may be important for testing theories, but they are not as practical in themselves. Guesses are not practical at all because they lack empirical evidence and are based purely on speculation.

Question 17

The hindsight bias affects the way we view decision makers, making us more likely to

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias leads us to believe that events were more predictable than they actually were, making us more likely to blame decision makers for not foreseeing outcomes.

Question 18

Hypotheses implied by a theory allow researchers to

Accepted Answer

Hypotheses are testable predictions that flow from a theory. By testing these hypotheses, researchers can determine whether the theory is supported or challenged, providing evidence for or against it. Therefore, hypotheses implied by a theory allow researchers to test the theory.

Question 19

The hindsight bias often makes people

Accepted Answer

The hindsight bias refers to the tendency for people to believe, after an event has occurred, that they would have predicted or expected the outcome of that event. This can result in people being overconfident about the validity of their judgments and predictions, as they believe that their predictions were more accurate than they actually were.

Question 20

Juanita is a social psychologist who is interested in studying aggressive behaviours in crowd settings. She observed this crowd behaviour when two people got stabbed in the aftermath of a playoff victory celebration for Edmonton Oilers fans that turned into a riot in 2006. She designs an experiment where she has defined her "crowd" as 30 people in a small classroom who are watching a hockey game. The way in which her experimental variable relates to the theoretical concept of "crowd" pertains to

Accepted Answer

The variable must be operationalized, or defined in a specific way, in order to study crowd behaviour in a controlled setting. The definition of the crowd in Juanita's experiment (a group of 30 people watching a hockey game in a small classroom) is an example of operationalization.

Quiz 1: Introducing Social Psychology