Question 1

Which of the following is associated with intuitive thinking?

Accepted Answer

Intuitive thinking often involves using heuristics, which are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that simplify decision-making processes.

Question 2

Suppose you sit in a cafeteria and count the number of people who use each checkout line: one staffed by a woman and one staffed by a man. This is an example of which research design?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of naturalistic observation design, as the researcher is observing the behavior of individuals in their natural environment without manipulating any variables.

Question 3

Sahar attended a workshop on how crystals have healing power, can eliminate "blood sludge," and cure mental illness. The workshop facilitator presented clinical observations of several patients to demonstrate the effectiveness of crystals. What should Sahar keep in mind as she evaluates the information she learned in this workshop?

Accepted Answer

While clinical observations can be useful in generating ideas and hypotheses for further research, they are not sufficient evidence on their own. It is important to conduct systematic research that involves control groups and proper procedures for evaluating treatment effectiveness. Additionally, personal anecdotes from patients are not empirical evidence as they may not be reliable or unbiased. It is important to critically evaluate the credentials and expertise of the speaker and consider their potential biases before accepting their claims.

Question 4

Nadia's psychology professor gave her class a data set and asked the class to compute the measures of central tendency for the data. What mode of thinking is required to solve these problems?

Accepted Answer

Computing measures of central tendency (such as mean, median, and mode) requires analytical thinking, which involves breaking down a problem into smaller parts and applying logic and reasoning to solve it. Intuitive thinking involves relying on instincts and gut feelings, while inferential thinking involves drawing conclusions based on patterns and trends in data. Automatic thinking involves making quick judgments based on past experiences and habits, and is not particularly relevant to computing central tendency.

Question 5

A researcher wishes to maximize the external validity of her research design. What research method should you recommend to her?

Accepted Answer

A naturalistic observational design allows for observation of behavior in a natural setting without interference from the researcher. This method maximizes external validity because it allows for behavior to be observed and studied in a real-world context. Correlational design may not allow for causal inferences and experimental design may involve manipulating variables in an artificial setting, limiting its external validity. Case study design focuses on a single individual or group and may not generalize to the larger population.

Question 6

The ability of researchers to draw cause-and-effect inferences from naturalistic observation studies is limited because of

Accepted Answer

The ability to draw cause-and-effect inferences from naturalistic observation studies is limited because of low internal validity. This is because naturalistic observation studies lack control over the environment and extraneous variables, making it difficult to conclude that changes in the dependent variable were caused by the independent variable being observed. Therefore, the study may have high external validity (representativeness of real-world contexts) but low internal validity (ability to draw causal inferences).

Question 7

The extent to which we can generalize findings to real-world settings is called

Accepted Answer

External validity refers to the generalizability of research findings or the extent to which they can be applied or extended to real-world settings.

Question 8

When you are learning a complex new skill, like typing or driving a car, your thinking starts off as ____________ but eventually becomes ____________ as your actions become more practiced and automatic.

Accepted Answer

Initially, learning a complex skill requires analytical thinking as you consciously process how to perform the task. Over time, as you practice, the skill becomes more intuitive, allowing you to perform it with less conscious thought.

Question 9

System 1 thinking is to __________, whereas System 2 thinking is to __________.

Accepted Answer

System 1 thinking is intuitive thinking, which is automatic and effortless, whereas System 2 thinking is analytical thinking, which is deliberate and requires effort. Therefore, the best option is D.

Question 10

When psychologists use the term heuristic, they are referring to

Accepted Answer

Heuristics refer to mental decision-making strategies, which are rules of thumb or shortcuts that people use to make judgments and decisions more efficiently. Examples of heuristics include availability heuristic, representativeness heuristic, and anchoring and adjustment heuristic. These strategies are often useful, but they can also lead to cognitive biases and errors in judgment.

Question 11

In a recent study, researchers counted the number of cars and bicycles on several different streets downtown in order to make recommendations about where to build more bike lanes. Which of the following is a weakness of this research design?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a recent study, researchers counted the...

Question 12

Using the scientific method helps us to safeguard against the dangers of relying on our

Accepted Answer

Relying solely on intuitive thinking can lead to biased and inaccurate conclusions, as our unconscious biases and heuristics may influence our judgments. The scientific method provides a systematic and objective approach to testing hypotheses and gathering empirical evidence, which helps to mitigate the impact of these biases. Analytical thinking, System 2 thinking, and inferential thinking are all important aspects of the scientific method and can complement intuitive thinking, but none of them alone can fully safeguard against relying on intuition.

Question 13

First impressions and snap judgments are based on

Accepted Answer

First impressions and snap judgments are typically based on intuitive thinking, which relies on gut instincts and immediate reactions rather than careful analysis or rational thinking. This type of thinking can be helpful in certain situations, such as when we need to quickly assess potential dangers or opportunities, but it can also be biased or inaccurate.

Question 14

Joe swerves his car to avoid hitting a pot hole. Randall tries to figure out how to apply a concept he learned in class to real life. Based on the discussion of the modes of thinking in your text, Joe is relying on __________ thinking and Randall is relying on __________ thinking.

Accepted Answer

Joe is relying on intuitive thinking, which is quick and automatic, while Randall is using analytical thinking, which involves careful analysis and application of concepts learned in class. Heuristic thinking involves shortcuts and rules of thumb, which is not evident in either scenario. Descriptive and inferential thinking are also not applicable in these situations.

Question 15

Naturalistic observation and case study methods are to __________ as correlational methods are to __________.

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation and case study methods are both descriptive methods that focus on observing and describing behavior in its natural context or in-depth examination of a single individual or group. Correlational methods, on the other hand, focus on examining the relationship between two or more variables in order to make predictions or establish the extent of association between them. Therefore, the best choice is A, as it properly contrasts the two different methods.

Question 16

Shannon is studying the vocalizations made by a rare breed of squirrels. She sits in a hidden spot in the forest and records the squirrels' sounds as well as what is going on at the time. What type of research method is Shannon using?

Accepted Answer

Shannon is using naturalistic observation, which involves observing and recording behavior in a natural setting.

Question 17

When a researcher tests his or her hypothesis, he or she is often hoping to gather information that supports a particular theory. What allows a researcher to say that he or she has "proven" a theory?

Accepted Answer

A researcher is never truly able to say that he or she has "proven" a theory. Science involves a process of continual testing and refinement of theories based on new evidence. Even if a hypothesis consistently supports a theory, it does not necessarily prove the theory beyond all doubt.

Question 18

If you sat in a public place and assessed the relative attractiveness of the couples who walk by to see if their attraction levels matched or differed, this would illustrate which research design?

Accepted Answer

This observation of couples in a public place is an example of naturalistic observation, where the researcher observes behavior in a natural setting without manipulating any variables. There is no manipulation of an independent variable, which would be necessary for an experimental design. There is also no single individual or group being observed in great depth, which would be the case in a case study design. Lastly, there is no attempt to measure a relationship between two variables, which would be the focus of a correlational design.

Question 19

A group of student researchers watch various buildings on their campus at different times of day to attempt to determine when people will hold a door open for another person. These student researchers are most likely to use which research method design when conducting their study?

Accepted Answer

The group of student researchers are observing natural behavior in a real-life setting, indicating that they are using naturalistic observation design as their research method.

Question 20

A researcher is interested in determining how frequently bullying behaviour occurs in real-life settings. Which research design would be best?
A) experimental design.
B) case study design.
C) correlational design.
D) naturalistic observation design.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher is interested in determining how...

Quiz 2: Research Methods