Question 1

A zero correlation coefficient between private self-consciousness and self-disclosure could mean that these two variables ____.

Accepted Answer

A zero correlation coefficient indicates that there is no linear relationship between the two variables, which means they could either have no association at all or have a curvilinear relationship where the correlation does not follow a straight line.

Question 2

____ is a form of observational research involving an in-depth analysis of a single subject.

Accepted Answer

A case study is a detailed examination of an individual or group, providing in-depth data and insights into the subject under investigation, making it a form of observational research focused on a single subject.

Question 3

The variable manipulated in an experiment is called the ____.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the one that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the dependent variable.

Question 4

Which was the research method Sigmund Freud used predominantly in his work?

Accepted Answer

Freud predominantly used the case study method in his work, focusing on detailed investigations of individual cases, often his patients, to explore the unconscious mind and develop his theories on psychoanalysis.

Question 5

Which of the following is an advantage of naturalistic and participant observation research?

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic and participant observation research methods allow researchers to study behaviors in their natural contexts, providing insights into how and why behaviors occur in real-world settings. This approach helps in understanding the complexities of behaviors within their natural environment, which is difficult to replicate in controlled experimental settings.

Question 6

One of the major advantages of correlational research is that it ____.

Accepted Answer

Correlational research enables researchers to determine the degree to which two variables are related, allowing for predictions about one variable based on known changes in another. However, it does not establish causation or control extraneous variables more effectively than other methods.

Question 7

A disadvantage of using observational methods is ____.

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are disadvantages of using observational methods. Observational methods can invade privacy, lack experimental control, and the presence or participation of the researcher can influence the behavior of those being observed.

Question 8

A researcher decides to study homeless people in their natural environment by becoming homeless himself.This is an example of ____.

Accepted Answer

Participant observation involves the researcher becoming a part of the community or group being studied to observe behaviors and phenomena from within the group. In this case, by becoming homeless themselves, the researcher is engaging in participant observation to study homeless people in their natural environment.

Question 9

Leon Festinger's study in which researchers infiltrated a doomsday cult to observe the cult's dynamics is a classic example of ____.

Accepted Answer

Leon Festinger's study is a classic example of participant observation, where researchers actively join and participate in the group being studied to observe its dynamics from within.

Question 10

The correlation coefficient (r)can range from ____.

Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient (r) measures the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables on a scatterplot. The value of r ranges from -1.00 to +1.00, where -1.00 indicates a perfect negative linear relationship, +1.00 indicates a perfect positive linear relationship, and 0 indicates no linear relationship.

Question 11

An advantage of using the case study method is that ____.

Accepted Answer

The case study method allows for an in-depth and detailed analysis of a person, event, or situation, providing rich qualitative data that other methods might not capture as effectively.

Question 12

One of the chief benefits of participant observation is that it ____.

Accepted Answer

Participant observation allows researchers to immerse themselves in the environment or community they are studying, providing a deeper understanding and insight into the subject matter than other methods might allow.

Question 13

Experimental research is used in psychology ____.

Accepted Answer

Experimental research in psychology is primarily used to examine cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating one or more variables and observing the effect on some behavior or mental process.

Question 14

____ is a descriptive scientific method where a group is studied from within by a researcher who records behavior as it occurs in its usual natural environment.

Accepted Answer

Participant observation involves the researcher becoming part of the group being studied to observe behaviors in their natural environment.

Question 15

An observational method that investigates behavior in its natural environment is ____.

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation is a research method in which the observer allows behavior to occur without intervention or manipulation, observing it in its natural environment. This method is often used in psychology and anthropology to study behaviors as they occur naturally, without the influence of a lab setting or experimental manipulation.

Question 16

An experiment is conducted to investigate the effect of codeine on pain reduction.The amount of codeine given to each subject by the experimenter is the ____.

Accepted Answer

The amount of codeine given to each subject is the independent variable because it is the variable that is manipulated by the experimenter to observe its effect on pain reduction, which would be the dependent variable.

Question 17

Which type of research method examines cause-and-effect relationships?

Accepted Answer

Experimental research is designed to examine cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating variables and observing the effects of these manipulations.

Question 18

A researcher finds a strong,positive correlation between negative thinking and depression,but cannot determine whether negative thinking causes depression or depression causes negative thinking.This is referred to as the ____.

Accepted Answer

The reverse-causality problem refers to the difficulty in determining the direction of causality between two variables that are correlated. In this case, it's unclear whether negative thinking leads to depression or depression leads to negative thinking, which is a classic example of the reverse-causality problem.

Question 19

Suppose that a researcher determined that the correlation between intelligence and creativity was 0.59.An appropriate interpretation of this correlation would be that ____.

Accepted Answer

A correlation of 0.59 indicates a positive relationship between intelligence and creativity, meaning as one increases, the other tends to increase as well. This supports the interpretation that people with high intelligence also tend to be highly creative.

Question 20

Which method of inquiry is common in clinical work,in which psychotherapists provide an extensive description of a person suffering from a particular psychological disorder to illustrate the factors that lead to and influence it?

Accepted Answer

The case study method is commonly used in clinical work to provide a detailed description of an individual's psychological disorder, illustrating the factors that contribute to and influence the condition. This method allows for an in-depth exploration of complex issues that might not be easily studied using other methods.

Quiz 1: Psychology As a Science