Question 1

A correlation coefficient is a mathematical value that ranges between

Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient measures the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables, and its value ranges from -1 to +1. A value of -1 indicates a perfect negative linear relationship, +1 indicates a perfect positive linear relationship, and 0 indicates no linear relationship.

Question 2

Investigators are most likely to use the case history method when they study

Accepted Answer

The case history method is particularly useful for studying rare behaviors or unusual individuals as it involves intensive, detailed investigation of a single person or small group. It allows investigators to collect rich, in-depth data through a variety of sources such as interviews, observations, and medical records. This method is not typically used for studying the effects of drugs or measuring attitudes in a large population, and it is not designed for studying multiple independent variables.

Question 3

Which of the following correlation coefficients indicates that you could use measurements of one variable to predict measurements of a second variable with perfect accuracy?

Accepted Answer

A correlation coefficient of -1 indicates a perfect negative relationship between variables, meaning that as one variable increases, the other decreases in a perfectly predictable manner. Therefore, if you had measurements of one variable, you could predict measurements of the second variable with perfect accuracy.

Question 4

One of the most common techniques for finding out about people's beliefs or attitudes is to ask a large number of people a series of questions.This technique is called

Accepted Answer

The technique described in the question is a survey, which involves asking a large number of people a series of questions to gather information about their beliefs or attitudes. Naturalistic observation involves observing people's behavior in their natural environment without direct questioning, a case study involves in-depth study of a single individual or small group, and the ganzfeld procedure is a technique used in parapsychology to study extrasensory perception. None of these techniques specifically involve the use of questions to gather information about beliefs or attitudes.

Question 5

A case history

Accepted Answer

A case history is a detailed description of a single individual, including background information, symptoms, treatment, and outcome. It does not involve an experimental or control group, nor is it necessary to use inferential statistics or establish a relationship between two variables.

Question 6

You give a survey and ask,"Do you support the current laws on abortion?" Ninety-four percent of the respondents answer "no." Based on these results,you

Accepted Answer

The survey question only asks if respondents support the current laws on abortion, without specifying whether they think the laws are too restrictive or not strict enough. Therefore, we cannot assume which direction the respondents' opinions lean – they could be supportive of more restrictions, or they could be advocating for fewer. All we know is that the current laws are not satisfactory to them.

Question 7

A researcher measures people's blood type and tests whether those with different blood types have different personalities.This type of research is called a

Accepted Answer

This type of research is a correlation study as it looks at the relationship between blood type and personality traits, but does not manipulate any variables or control for other factors that may influence personality.

Question 8

If someone plans to administer a survey to determine which event people think is the most important one of the 20th century,the person who administers the survey should definitely

Accepted Answer

Administering the survey to a random sample or representative sample of the population will ensure that the results are more accurate and representative of the larger population. This method will reduce bias and provide a better representation of the population's opinion. Option B is not practical as it will be difficult to invite everyone to participate, leading to biased results. Option C may also lead to bias as it may attract a specific group of people to answer the survey. Option D may influence people's responses and limit their options.

Question 9

One of the problems with survey research is

Accepted Answer

One of the problems with survey research is that people may be willing to express an opinion even when they have no idea what they are talking about. This can lead to inaccurate or unreliable data.

Question 10

The results of a survey are likely to be misleading if

Accepted Answer

The phrasing of questions can heavily influence the results of a survey, potentially leading to misleading conclusions. Therefore, it is important to know how the questions were asked. A, B, and C are not likely to contribute to misleading results, as a representative or random sample and the number of questions asked are generally factors that improve the accuracy of survey results.

Question 11

It has been reported that people who trust other people are generally happier than people who do not trust others.This conclusion is probably based on the results of a

Accepted Answer

The conclusion mentioned in the statement suggests that there is a positive correlation between trust in others and happiness. This type of relationship is best investigated through a correlational study, which examines the extent to which two variables are related without manipulating them. A double-blind experiment involves two groups of participants, one receiving a treatment and another receiving a placebo, while both researchers and participants are unaware of which group is receiving which. Case histories are detailed descriptions of a person's experiences and background, which may be used to inform research or therapy, but are not useful for investigating correlations. A single-blind experiment involves participants who are unaware of which group they are assigned to, while the researchers know.

Question 12

Which of these ways of conducting research generally uses the fewest participants?

Accepted Answer

A case history typically involves detailed examination of an individual or small group of participants. Therefore, it uses the fewest participants compared to the other options.

Question 13

A study of the relationship between two variables that the investigator does not control is known as a

Accepted Answer

A correlational study is a type of research in which the investigator does not control the two variables being studied, but instead observes and measures the relationship between them. This allows for the investigation of naturally occurring relationships, but does not allow for conclusions about causality.

Question 14

Lycanthropy is an extremely rare condition in which someone believes he or she is a wolf.An investigator who wished to study this condition would most likely rely on which method?

Accepted Answer

Lycanthropy is a rare and complex condition that is difficult to study through surveys or experiments. A case history would allow the investigator to gather detailed information about the individual's experiences, behaviors, and beliefs pertaining to lycanthropy. This would provide valuable insight into the condition and potentially aid in developing treatment methods.

Question 15

A researcher announces that according to a recent survey,78% of all American workers say they have cheated their employer in the past year.Before we can interpret these results,which of the following questions would be most important to ask?

Accepted Answer

It is important to know what the participants counted as examples of cheating to determine if the results are reliable and valid. Different participants may have different definitions of cheating, which could skew the results.

Question 16

According to the results of one survey,95% of high-school students say they have been sexually harassed.Before you can decide how seriously to take these results,one of the most important questions you should ask is,

Accepted Answer

The definition of sexual harassment used in the survey is crucial in determining the validity and reliability of the results. Without knowing how sexual harassment was defined, it is difficult to determine the accuracy of the percentage reported. The other options (A, B, and D) may also be important, but they are not as crucial as understanding the definition used in the survey.

Question 17

Suppose we find that how many hours various people have studied their textbook correlates -.60 with their knowledge about current television programs.We could conclude that,in general,

Accepted Answer

A negative correlation coefficient (-.60) indicates an inverse relationship between the two variables. Therefore, people who study more tend to know less about television.

Question 18

A correlation is a

Accepted Answer

The answer of A correlation is a
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Question 19

A survey

Accepted Answer

A survey is a study that involves asking people to respond to questions about their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. It is a reliable method of data collection that provides insight into people's opinions and experiences. Statistical analysis is often used to analyze the data collected through surveys in order to draw accurate conclusions.

Question 20

It is found that children who have many friends are generally happier than children who have fewer friends.What kind of research design was probably used in this study?

Accepted Answer

A correlation design was probably used as the study is looking at the relationship between two variables (number of friends and happiness) without manipulating any variables.

Quiz 2: Scientific Methods in Psychology