Question 1

Brandon is an industrial psychologist who has been hired by a large hotel chain to determine why there is such a high turnover rate for their cleaning staff. This is an example of __________ research.

Accepted Answer

Applied research is practical research aimed at solving real-world problems. In this scenario, Brandon has been hired by a company to determine why there is a high turnover rate for their cleaning staff, which is a real-world problem that needs to be solved. Therefore, it is an example of applied research.

Question 2

Freudian theory has been rejected by many researchers. It included some complicated explanations for behaviour that has been explained more easily with other theories. Which principle led researchers to reject Freudian theory in this case?

Accepted Answer

The principle of parsimony, often applied through Occam's Razor, suggests that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. Freudian theory, with its complex and often untestable explanations, was rejected in favor of simpler, more empirically testable theories.

Question 3

Based on Occam's razor, a good theory is __________; that is, it offers the __________ explanation for the available data.

Accepted Answer

Occam's razor states that the simplest explanation that accounts for all the evidence is the most likely to be true. This principle is also known as parsimony, which refers to the preference for the simplest explanation that fits the data. Therefore, a good theory should be parsimonious, meaning it provides the most simple explanation for the available data.

Question 4

A group of researchers started the Open Science Collaboration in 2012, so that research teams from around the world could attempt to recreate famous experiments. Which principle of scientific thinking did they focus on?

Accepted Answer

The Open Science Collaboration focused on replicability, which is the principle of being able to recreate experiments and obtain similar results. This is a crucial aspect of scientific thinking, as it allows for the verification and validation of research findings.

Question 5

Your text describes the existence of 'crop circles' in England in the late 20^th century, and the claim that these crop circles were evidence of aliens visiting earth (until the creators of the crop circles admitted to the pranks). What was the important message about scientific thinking in this example?

Accepted Answer

The important message about scientific thinking in this example is that critical thinkers should select the simpler of two claims that fit with the available evidence. In the case of the crop circles, the simpler explanation was that they were created by human hoaxers, rather than being evidence of alien visitation. This highlights the importance of weighing evidence and considering multiple explanations before coming to a conclusion.

Question 6

Occam's razor is another name for what critical thinking principle?

Accepted Answer

Occam's razor is the principle of parsimony, which states that the simplest explanation is often the best. This principle is commonly used in scientific and philosophical reasoning to eliminate unnecessary assumptions or explanations.

Question 7

Some psychologists conduct _________ research, which examines fundamental questions about the mind and behaviour. Other psychologists conduct ________ research, which uses knowledge in psychology to solve real-world problems?

Accepted Answer

Basic research examines fundamental questions about the mind and behavior, while applied research uses knowledge in psychology to solve real-world problems. Therefore, the best choice is B, as it accurately reflects this distinction. A is incorrect as "advanced" research is not a commonly used term in psychology. C is incorrect as "pseudoscientific" research refers to research that is not scientific at all. D is incorrect as "replication" research is a type of research that involves repeating previous studies to determine if the findings are consistent.

Question 8

Hume is to "extraordinary claims" as _______ is to parsimony.

Accepted Answer

The principle of parsimony is often called "Occam's Razor," attributed to William of Ockham, a medieval philosopher. The principle basically states that given multiple explanations for something, the simplest one is probably the most accurate.

Question 9

What differs most between basic research and applied research in psychology?

Accepted Answer

Basic research in psychology aims to increase knowledge and understanding of human behavior and mental processes, while applied research uses that knowledge to address practical problems in real-world settings. Therefore, the focus on real-world problems is the main difference between basic and applied research in psychology.

Question 10

A higher standard of evidence is needed to support a claim that is

Accepted Answer

An extraordinary claim requires a higher standard of evidence because it goes against what is commonly accepted or expected. Examples of extraordinary claims include paranormal phenomena, miracle cures, and conspiracy theories. These claims require strong evidence to be considered true, as they are often met with skepticism and doubt.

Question 11

Chandra was reading in bed when she suddenly thought she saw something that looked like a ghost standing over the end of her bed. Chandra chuckled, and told herself that she must have dozed off and dreamed it because that is far more likely than the existence of ghosts. In this example, Chandra is relying on what principle of critical thinking?

Accepted Answer

Chandra is using Occam's razor, which states that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. In this case, it is simpler to believe that she was dreaming rather than the existence of ghosts.

Question 12

Using the criteria of Occam's razor, a good theory is one that is the __________ explanation for the available data.

Accepted Answer

Occam's razor states that the simplest explanation that fits the available data is usually the best one. Therefore, a good theory is one that is the most simple explanation for the available data.

Question 13

A greater amount of evidence is required whenever one makes

Accepted Answer

An exaggerated or extraordinary claim requires a greater amount of evidence to support it, as it is more likely to be false or misleading.

Question 14

Dr. Martian claimed that aliens are real and they have been performing mind experiments on humans for years. Which of the following principles of critical thinking is most applicable to his claim?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Martian's claim is an extraordinary one, meaning that it goes against commonly accepted scientific understanding. Therefore, it would require extraordinary evidence to be considered credible. This principle is known as "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."

Question 15

A key characteristic of a good scientific theory is that it is a simple explanatory device. This key characteristic is the scientific thinking principle of

Accepted Answer

Occam's razor, also known as the principle of parsimony, is a scientific thinking principle that dictates that the simplest explanation that accounts for all the available data is the preferred theory. A good scientific theory should be able to explain the phenomenon in question in a simple and straightforward manner, using the fewest possible assumptions and variables. This not only makes the theory easier to understand and test but also increases its overall strength and reliability.

Question 16

The principle of parsimony relates to which principle of critical thinking?

Accepted Answer

The principle of parsimony, also known as Occam's razor, is a principle of critical thinking that suggests that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

Question 17

Which philosopher proposed that extraordinary claims required more evidence than usual?

Accepted Answer

Hume proposed the principle that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" in his book "An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding."

Question 18

With respect to the criteria of sound scientific theories, which of the following pairs belong together?

Accepted Answer

Occam's razor and parsimony are both criteria of sound scientific theories that refer to the principle of preferring the simplest explanation that accounts for all the available evidence. Popper's predictions, on the other hand, refer to the ability of a scientific theory to make falsifiable predictions that can be tested and potentially refuted through empirical observation. Replication is also an important criterion, but it refers to the ability of other researchers to reproduce the results of a study or experiment, rather than the theoretical aspects of a scientific theory. Therefore, choice D is the best match.

Question 19

Psychological research applied to police settings has compared simultaneous lineups to sequential lineups, in order to make recommendations that increase eyewitness accuracy. Which category of research is this?

Accepted Answer

This is applied research as it is focused on the practical application of psychological findings to improve eyewitness identification in a police setting.

Question 20

Dr. Honeydew has proposed a theory about mind-reading, and says that he will conduct research that will demonstrate the existence of mind-reading. For his theory to be accepted by the scientific community, Dr. Honeydew will need to

Accepted Answer

Dr. Honeydew's claim of the existence of mind-reading is an extraordinary claim that goes against current scientific understanding. Therefore, he would need to provide extraordinary evidence to support his claim. Simply conducting research is not enough; the evidence must be robust and convincing. This is known as the principle of extraordinary evidence, which is a key aspect of scientific inquiry.

Quiz 1: Psychology and Scientific Thinking