Question 1

Dr.Martinez is doing a research study examining the effects of a new headache medication on migraine pain.He decides to divide his participants up into four subject groups,each one of which will receive a different amount of medication to take when they have a migraine.The participants in group one receive a pill with 10 milligrams of the experimental medication,while the participants in group two receive a pill with 20 milligrams.Those assigned to group three receive a pill with 30 milligrams,while those in group four receive a placebo pill that has zero milligrams of the medication.Which of the subject groups is the control group in this study?

Accepted Answer

The control group in an experiment is the group that does not receive the treatment or intervention being studied. In this case, the control group is group four, which receives a placebo pill with zero milligrams of the medication. This group allows the researcher to compare the effects of the medication to the effects of taking no medication at all.

Question 2

Dr.Martinez is doing a research study examining the effects of a new headache medication on migraine pain.He decides to divide his participants up into four subject groups,each one of which will receive a different amount of medication to take when they have a migraine.He will ask them to write down their assessment of how much the pain has dropped on a ten-point scale an hour after taking the medication.What is the independent variable in this study?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated by the experimenter, which in this case is the amount of medication each participant takes. The other options (intensity of migraine before taking medication, pain reduction reported, and number of people in each subject group) are all dependent variables, which are affected by the independent variable.

Question 3

In an experimental research design,the variable or condition that is manipulated by the researcher is called the __________ variable.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or controlled by the researcher in an experimental research design. The dependent variable is the variable that is measured or observed to determine the effect of the independent variable. The subject and between-group variables are not related to the manipulated variable in this context.

Question 4

Dr.Fishkill is conducting a research study investigating racism among high-school students.His research method involves sitting down with volunteer students whose parents have given consent,and asking them questions about their beliefs regarding race.Whenever he asks a question that might reveal some level of racism,he unconsciously cocks one eyebrow and lowers his voice slightly.As a result,his research showed that virtually none of his participants held any racist beliefs.What error has Dr.Fishkill made in his method?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Fishkill has committed observer-expectancy effect by unconsciously indicating his bias towards certain responses, which could have influenced the way his participants answered the questions. This bias could have led to an underestimation or overestimation of the prevalence of racism among the participants.

Question 5

After the amazing case of Clever Hans was given a thorough investigation,a psychologist determined that there was a very simple explanation why this horse was able to demonstrate such amazing cognitive abilities.What was this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

After investigation, it was determined that Clever Hans was not actually answering the questions he was being asked but was responding to subtle unconscious gestures made by his owner. This phenomenon is known as "Clever Hans effect," where animals or humans can subconsciously pick up on subtle cues from their environment and respond accordingly.

Question 6

In order to test the effects of social pressure on conformity,Dr.Solomon Asch placed a research participant in a room with four other individuals.Those four other people worked for Asch,even though the real participant did not know this.In research terms,people who pose as research participants but are really working for the researcher are called __________.

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe individuals who pose as research participants but are really working for the researcher is confederates. This is the case with the four other individuals that Dr. Solomon Asch placed in the room with the real research participant. This setup was used to test the effects of social pressure on conformity. Choices A, C, and D are not accurate descriptors of confederates in this context.

Question 7

In an experimental research design,the variable or condition that is affected by the independent variable is called the __________ variable.

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable that is being studied and measured to determine the effect of the independent variable. It is called "dependent" because it depends on the independent variable, which is being manipulated by the researcher. Therefore, the correct answer is dependent variable (D).

Question 8

Dr.Martinez is doing a research study examining the effects of a new headache medication on migraine pain.He decides to divide his participants up into four subject groups,each one of which will receive a different amount of medication to take when they have a migraine.The participants in group one receive a pill with 10 milligrams of the experimental medication,while the participants in group two receive a pill with 20 milligrams.Those assigned to group three receive a pill with 30 milligrams,while those in group four receive a placebo pill that has zero milligrams of the medication.How many experimental groups are in this research study?

Accepted Answer

There are three experimental groups in this study, which are the groups receiving 10, 20, and 30 milligrams of the medication. The fourth group, receiving a placebo, serves as the control group and is not considered an experimental group.

Question 9

An objective statement that is made as a result of direct observation is a __________.

Accepted Answer

An objective statement made as a result of direct observation is a fact. A hypothesis is a proposed explanation based on limited evidence, speculation is a guess or conjecture, and a theory is a well-supported and widely accepted explanation for a phenomenon.

Question 10

__________ are ideas that help us explain existing facts.

Accepted Answer

Theories are defined as ideas or sets of ideas that help us explain existing facts or predict new ones. They are based on existing evidence and can be tested and refined through further research. Hypotheses are similar, but they are more specific and are used to make predictions that can be tested through empirical observation. Correlations refer to a statistical relationship between two variables, while empiricals refer to data or evidence obtained through observation or experimentation.

Question 11

A study in which each participant is exposed to several different independent variables is referred to as a __________-group experiment.

Accepted Answer

A within-group experiment involves each participant being exposed to multiple independent variables, also known as repeated measures. This allows for a comparison of the same individual's responses to each independent variable, enhancing the internal validity of the study.

Question 12

What procedure can a researcher use to make sure that the various participant groups are kept roughly equivalent before exposure to an independent variable?

Accepted Answer

Random assignment is the best procedure to ensure that participant groups are kept roughly equivalent before exposure to an independent variable. This method involves assigning participants to different groups randomly, which helps to reduce the likelihood of bias and maximizes the chances that any differences in the groups are due to chance factors. Snowball sampling and single-blind sampling are recruitment methods, while double-blind assignment is a method used to reduce bias in the researcher's assessment of outcomes, rather than ensuring equivalent participant groups.

Question 13

Which concept is used in research to make sure that different scientists who are exploring the same concept are able to conduct a true replication of the original experiment?

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions are used in research to define and describe concepts in a specific and measurable way, which allows for accurate and consistent replication of experiments by different scientists. By using operational definitions, researchers can ensure that their findings are valid and reliable, and that they can be replicated by other scientists. The other options, such as theories and null hypotheses, are also important in research, but they do not specifically address the issue of replication and consistency across multiple experiments. Observer-expectancy controls are techniques used to minimize experimenter bias, but they are not directly related to replication of experiments.

Question 14

A study in which different groups of participants are exposed to different independent variables is referred to as a __________-group experiment.

Accepted Answer

Between-group experiments involve multiple groups of participants who are exposed to different independent variables. This allows researchers to compare the effects of different conditions or treatments on the dependent variable. This type of experiment is commonly used in many fields of research, including psychology, medicine, and education.

Question 15

Why is it important to make sure that different participant groups are roughly equivalent in terms of personal characteristics (e.g.,age,gender)before any independent variable is introduced?

Accepted Answer

If participant groups are not equivalent in terms of personal characteristics, such as age and gender, there may be differences between the groups that are unrelated to the independent variable being tested. This can bias the results of the experiment and make it difficult to determine the true effect of the independent variable. By making sure participant groups are roughly equivalent in these characteristics, researchers can increase the internal validity of their study and ensure that any observed differences between groups are due to the independent variable and not some other factor.

Question 16

When a scientist makes predictions about new facts based on existing theories,(s)he has created a new __________.

Accepted Answer

When a scientist makes predictions based on existing theories, (s)he has created a new hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction based on existing knowledge and is often used to guide further research and experimentation.

Question 17

After extensive investigation into the amazing abilities of Clever Hans,it was determined that he was not actually responding to the questions he was being asked,but rather was responding to the subtle facial and body gestures of his owner.Which psychologist made this determination?

Accepted Answer

The determination that Clever Hans was not actually responding to the questions he was being asked but rather was responding to the subtle facial and body gestures of his owner was made by Oskar Pfungst in 1907.

Question 18

Dr.Martinez is doing a research study examining the effects of a new headache medication on migraine pain.He decides to divide his participants up into four subject groups,each one of which will receive a different amount of medication to take when they have a migraine.He will ask them to write down their assessment of how much the pain has dropped on a ten-point scale an hour after taking the medication.What is the dependent variable in this study?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured in the study, which is the level of pain reduction reported by each participant. The independent variable is the amount of medication each participant takes, which is being manipulated by dividing the participants into four groups receiving different amounts of medication. The intensity of the migraine each participant has before taking the medication is a potential confounding variable, meaning it could affect the outcome of the study, but it is not the dependent variable being measured. The number of people assigned to each of the subject groups is also not the dependent variable being measured but instead is a factor in the experimental design.

Question 19

Which of the following statements with regard to the story of Clever Hans is a fact?

Accepted Answer

This statement is a fact as it states that Clever Hans was a horse.

Answer: C
 This statement is a fact as it states that Clever Hans's skills were the result of properly applied learning techniques.

Answer: D
 This statement is not a fact as it includes subjective content and an opinion on Clever Hans's owner's actions.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true regarding the use of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

The scientific method involves the use of facts, theories, and hypotheses to gather new information and test ideas. Facts are important as they provide the basis for hypotheses and can be used to confirm or refute them. Theories help to organize and explain observed patterns, while hypotheses are used to make predictions and guide further research. All three components are essential to the scientific method.

Quiz 2: Research Methods