Question 1

If there is a confound in an experiment,then the experiment lacks
A) internal validity.
B) generalizability.
C) external validity.
D) both B and C

Accepted Answer

A confound refers to any variable that is not controlled for in an experiment and can potentially affect the outcome. This means that the experiment lacks internal validity, which refers to the ability to draw cause-and-effect conclusions from the results obtained. If the experiment lacks internal validity, it has a high risk of producing spurious or false results. Therefore, the best choice is A.

Question 2

Tanisha is studying which factors lead to virtuous behavior,positive emotions and optimal performance in people and groups.Tanisha's research falls most clearly within the field of
A) personality psychology
B) health psychology
C) social neuroscience
D) positive psychology

Accepted Answer

Tanisha's research is focused on studying positive aspects of human behavior, emotions, and performance, which falls within the realm of positive psychology.

Question 3

The main difference between a laboratory experiment and a field experiment is
A) laboratory experiments are less controlled.
B) field experiments are more artificial.
C) field experiments are conducted in a natural setting.
D) laboratory experiments have better external validity.

Accepted Answer

The main difference between a laboratory experiment and a field experiment is that a field experiment is conducted in a natural setting, while a laboratory experiment is conducted in a controlled environment. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer because it correctly identifies the main difference between the two types of experiments. Option A is incorrect because laboratory experiments are typically more controlled than field experiments. Option B is incorrect because field experiments are typically less artificial than laboratory experiments. Choice D is incorrect because field experiments often have better external validity than laboratory experiments.

Question 4

Dr.Templeton is interested in studying how the crowded living conditions in inner city neighborhoods affect blood pressure and heart rate.Dr.Templeton's research falls within the new branch of social psychology called
A) positive psychology
B) social neuroscience
C) social physiological interactionism
D) cultural psychology

Accepted Answer

Social neuroscience is the branch of social psychology that studies the interaction between social and biological processes, such as how social factors like living conditions can affect physiological responses like blood pressure and heart rate.

Question 5

In most colleges and universities,which group evaluates whether a potential study meets ethical guidelines for the protection of human participants?
A) the board of regents
B) the board of researchers in psychology
C) the institutional review board
D) the board of ethics

Accepted Answer

The group responsible for evaluating whether a potential study meets ethical guidelines for the protection of human participants is the Institutional Review Board (IRB), which is typically present in colleges and universities. The Board of Regents is responsible for governing a university system as a whole, rather than specific research studies. The Board of Researchers in Psychology and Board of Ethics do not have the authority to evaluate specific studies in the way that the IRB does.

Question 6

The debriefing after an experiment should include
A) addressing negative reactions of the participants.
B) discussing the procedures with the participants.
C) alleviating any problems the participant had with the study.
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

The debriefing after an experiment should include addressing any negative reactions of the participants, discussing the procedures with the participants, and alleviating any problems the participant had with the study. Therefore, all of the above options would be the best choice.

Question 7

As discussed in your text,if you can generalize the results of an experiment to other circumstances,the experiment is said to
A) have external validity.
B) have construct integrity.
C) be reliable.
D) have internal validity.

Accepted Answer

External validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other settings or populations. If the results of an experiment can be applied to other circumstances, then it has high external validity. The other options are not as relevant in this context - construct integrity refers to the degree to which a measure or construct accurately represents the concept it is intended to measure, reliability refers to the consistency and stability of a measure or experiment, and internal validity refers to the degree to which the experiment accurately assesses the relationship between independent and dependent variables.

Question 8

A social psychologist who combines a correlational study,a laboratory experiment,and a field experiment to test the same hypothesis so that she can be sure of her conclusions is
A) using too many different methods.
B) wasting her time.
C) taking a "full cycle" approach.
D) confounding her results.

Accepted Answer

Taking a "full cycle" approach by combining different methods can strengthen the internal and external validity of the study, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon being studied. This approach allows the researcher to cross-validate findings obtained from different methods, mitigating the weaknesses and limitations inherent in each method.

Question 9

Which of the following is a disadvantage of field experiments relative to laboratory experiments?
A) There is less control over extraneous factors.
B) They do not allow cause-effect conclusions.
C) They are in unnatural settings.
D) There is no ability to manipulate the independent variable.

Accepted Answer

Field experiments take place in real-world settings, which means there is less control over extraneous factors (i.e. things that could influence the dependent variable but are not part of the independent variable being tested). This makes it more difficult to establish a cause-effect relationship, compared to laboratory experiments. Option B is incorrect, as field experiments can also allow cause-effect conclusions. Option C is not always true, as some field experiments can take place in natural settings. Option D is incorrect, as both laboratory and field experiments can manipulate the independent variable.

Question 10

In an experiment on the effects of room color on mood,the participants in the pink room condition are asked to read a boring computer manual,while the participants in the bright blue room are asked to read a section from a romance novel.Their mood is then measured.This study lacks ________ because of ________.
A) generalizability; a systematic characteristic
B) external validity; the independent variable
C) generalizability; demand characteristics
D) internal validity; a confound

Accepted Answer

This study lacks internal validity because of a confound. The independent variable (room color) is confounded with the type of task assigned to participants (reading a boring computer manual vs reading a section from a romance novel). This makes it impossible to determine if any observed differences in mood are solely due to room color or if they are influenced by the type of task participants were given.

Question 11

Social psychology is intimately linked not only to other areas of psychology,but also to other domains of knowledge.As discussed in the text,an example of this would be
A) anthropology
B) law
C) business
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Social psychology is interdisciplinary and can be applied to various fields, such as anthropology, which studies human behavior, culture, and society; law, which deals with the legal system's impact on people's behavior and attitudes; and business, which involves studying human behavior in organizational settings. Therefore, social psychology is linked not only to other areas of psychology but also to many other domains of knowledge, making D the correct answer.

Question 12

A "full cycle" approach to social psychology is
A) useful since each method has different strengths and weaknesses.
B) the use of multiple methods to study the same research question.
C) the process of going back and forth between the laboratory and the natural world.
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

A full cycle approach to social psychology involves utilizing multiple methods to investigate a research question, including both laboratory studies and studies in the natural world. Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses, and going back and forth between them can help researchers gain a more comprehensive understanding of the topic being studied. Therefore, all of the given options - A, B, and C - are correct.

Question 13

The two principal tasks of a scientific social psychology are description and explanation.

Accepted Answer

Description and explanation are indeed the two principal tasks of a scientific social psychology. Description involves observing and documenting social behaviors, attitudes, and other phenomena, while explanation seeks to understand the underlying causes or reasons for these phenomena. Both tasks are important for advancing our understanding of how people think, feel, and behave in social situations.

Question 14

Participants in a research study believe that they have given painful electric shocks to a confederate.After the experiment is over,the researcher tells the participant that there really were no shocks,and the confederate is unharmed.This discussion after an experiment is
A) the debriefing.
B) the informed discussion.
C) the cost/benefit analysis.
D) the therapeutic interview.

Accepted Answer

Debriefing is the process of informing participants after an experiment about the true nature and purpose of the study, and addressing any concerns or issues that may have arisen during the study. In this scenario, the researcher is informing the participant that there were no actual shocks given and addressing any potential distress the participant may have experienced during the study. The other options, such as informed discussion, cost/benefit analysis, and therapeutic interview, do not accurately describe the process of debriefing in a research context.

Question 15

Diener et al.(1976)observed that trick-or-treaters who were asked for their names took less candy than those allowed to remain anonymous.This type of study is best characterized as
A) a case study.
B) a field experiment.
C) a naturalistic observation.
D) a correlational study.

Accepted Answer

This study involved manipulating the independent variable (being asked for a name vs remaining anonymous) and measuring the dependent variable (amount of candy taken). It was conducted in a natural setting (trick-or-treating), but the researchers manipulated a variable to observe its effect on behavior. Therefore, this study is considered a field experiment.

Question 16

A researcher wants to study the effects of frustration on later aggressive behavior by frustrating half the participants and then measuring the amount of hot sauce they give to a confederate.She tells the participants this is a study of "Individual Differences in Taste Preference." Why did she tell them this?
A) to prevent demand characteristics
B) to sensitize participants to the purpose of the study
C) to manipulate frustration
D) to prevent confounds

Accepted Answer

Telling participants the true purpose of the study could potentially bias their responses, leading to demand characteristics. By giving them a cover story, the researcher is attempting to prevent participants from guessing the true purpose of the study and altering their behavior accordingly.

Question 17

Social psychology focuses primarily on the ________,whereas sociology focuses mostly on the ________.
A) situation; group
B) individual; situation
C) abnormal; normal
D) individual; group

Accepted Answer

Social psychology focuses on how individuals are influenced by social contexts and groups, while sociology looks at larger social structures and institutions, including groups. Therefore, social psychology focuses more on the individual, while sociology focuses more on the group.

Question 18

The field that also studies such topics as prejudice and aggression,but from the level of the group,is
A) anthropology.
B) sociology.
C) cognitive neuroscience.
D) biology.

Accepted Answer

Sociology is the study of social behavior, including the interactions between individuals and groups. It examines social relationships, institutions, cultures, and patterns of behavior. Prejudice and aggression can be studied from a sociological perspective at the level of the group or society. Anthropology, cognitive neuroscience, and biology may also study these topics, but they focus more on individual-level processes rather than group-level dynamics.

Question 19

The more tightly controlled the experimental setting,the less that setting reflects the real world.This suggests there is a trade-off between ________ and ________ in experimental research.
A) random assignment; systematic variation
B) internal validity; external validity
C) external validity; confounds
D) demand characteristics; confounds

Accepted Answer

The trade-off in experimental research between the tightly controlled experimental setting and reflecting the real world is known as the trade-off between internal validity and external validity. Internal validity refers to the extent to which an experiment allows us to draw cause-and-effect conclusions, whereas external validity refers to the extent to which the findings of an experiment can be generalized to the real world. As the experimental setting becomes more tightly controlled (i.e., higher internal validity), it becomes less reflective of the real world (i.e., lower external validity). Therefore, researchers must strike a balance between internal and external validity when designing experiments.

Question 20

Cues in the experiment that tell the participant how they are expected to behave are
A) confounds.
B) experimenter biases.
C) demand characteristics.
D) social desirability cues.

Accepted Answer

Demand characteristics refer to cues or clues in an experiment that may lead participants to behave in a particular way or respond in a way that they perceive to be expected of them. This can be due to various factors such as the wording of the instructions, the behavior of the experimenter, or the design of the study itself. It is important for researchers to control for demand characteristics to ensure that their results accurately reflect the behavior or attitudes of the participants rather than being influenced by extraneous factors. Confounds, experimenter biases, and social desirability cues are related but distinct issues in research design and analysis.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Social Psychology

If there is a confound in an experiment,then the experiment lacks

Tanisha is studying which factors lead to virtuous behavior,positive emotions and optimal performance in people and groups.Tanisha's research falls most clearly within the field of

The main difference between a laboratory experiment and a field experiment is

Dr.Templeton is interested in studying how the crowded living conditions in inner city neighborhoods affect blood pressure and heart rate.Dr.Templeton's research falls within the new branch of social psychology called

In most colleges and universities,which group evaluates whether a potential study meets ethical guidelines for the protection of human participants?

The debriefing after an experiment should include

As discussed in your text,if you can generalize the results of an experiment to other circumstances,the experiment is said to

A social psychologist who combines a correlational study,a laboratory experiment,and a field experiment to test the same hypothesis so that she can be sure of her conclusions is

Which of the following is a disadvantage of field experiments relative to laboratory experiments?

In an experiment on the effects of room color on mood,the participants in the pink room condition are asked to read a boring computer manual,while the participants in the bright blue room are asked to read a section from a romance novel.Their mood is then measured.This study lacks because of .

Social psychology is intimately linked not only to other areas of psychology,but also to other domains of knowledge.As discussed in the text,an example of this would be

A "full cycle" approach to social psychology is

The two principal tasks of a scientific social psychology are description and explanation.

Participants in a research study believe that they have given painful electric shocks to a confederate.After the experiment is over,the researcher tells the participant that there really were no shocks,and the confederate is unharmed.This discussion after an experiment is

Diener et al.(1976) observed that trick-or-treaters who were asked for their names took less candy than those allowed to remain anonymous.This type of study is best characterized as

Social psychology focuses primarily on the ,whereas sociology focuses mostly on the .

The field that also studies such topics as prejudice and aggression,but from the level of the group,is

The more tightly controlled the experimental setting,the less that setting reflects the real world.This suggests there is a trade-off between and in experimental research.

Cues in the experiment that tell the participant how they are expected to behave are