Question 1

Attending psychological conferences often
A) provides opportunities to interact with researchers
B) provides exposure to current research
C) often results in renewed enthusiasm about research 
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

Attending psychological conferences offers a platform for interaction with researchers, exposure to the latest research, and often rekindles enthusiasm for research, making all of the options correct.

Question 2

In a scholarly journal article where would you be most likely to find the purpose of the study or the researcher's hypothesis?
A) the first paragraph of the introduction
B) toward the end of the introduction
C) the methods section
D) there is no standard location for this information

Accepted Answer

The purpose of the study or the researcher's hypothesis is typically found toward the end of the introduction in a scholarly journal article. This section sets the stage for the research by outlining the research questions or hypotheses the study aims to address.

Question 3

When evaluating the validity of information on the internet, which of the following is important information to find on the authority of an author?
A) number of testimonials
B) email address
C) credentials
D) opinions

Accepted Answer

Credentials are crucial in evaluating the authority of an author because they indicate the author's qualifications, expertise, and background in the subject matter, helping to assess the reliability and validity of the information provided.

Question 4

When establishing the validity of a web page how should you evaluate its currency?
A) the general rule of thumb is that pages more than 10 years old should not be used in scientific research
B) because scientific advances occur so quickly, web pages more than one year old should not be considered valid
C) it is inappropriate to include information about when the page was produced because they may be misleading
D) the date of publication and frequency of updating should be posted on the page as a clue to its currency

Accepted Answer

The date of publication and the frequency of updates are important indicators of the currency of a web page, helping users assess its relevance and timeliness.

Question 5

A metacrawler or meta search engine works by
A) remembering your search history to allow more efficient searches in the future.
B) submitting your search query to several different search engines and including all of the results.
C) allowing you to research multiple topics in a single search.
D) finding and storing new information related to your topic for days after your original search

Accepted Answer

A metacrawler or meta search engine submits your search query to several different search engines and compiles the results from all these sources into a single list, allowing for a more comprehensive search experience.

Question 6

In addition to accessing PsycINFO through your school's computer system, the textbook authors suggest using ____to find published research on the web.
A) Ask Jeeves
B) Google scholar
C) Yahoo news
D) Bing

Accepted Answer

Google Scholar is specifically designed to search for scholarly literature, including articles, theses, books, and conference papers, making it a suitable tool for finding published research on the web.

Question 7

Once you have reviewed the literature on a topic, you are in a position to
A) begin collecting data.
B) determine the feasibility of your study.
C) formulate a research problem.
D) write a review article for the Annual Review of Psychology.

Accepted Answer

Determining the feasibility of a study involves assessing whether the study is possible to conduct given the available resources and constraints. Reviewing the literature helps researchers understand the current state of knowledge on the topic and identify potential challenges and opportunities.

Question 8

If you find an article that you would like to use for your research but are unable to locate it in your library or through electronic collections provided by your library, your next step should be to
A) drive to the nearest "research" library where you will likely find the article.
B) search through your library's microfiche files.
C) use inter-library loan.
D) search again using broader search terms.

Accepted Answer

Inter-library loan (ILL) services allow libraries to borrow books, articles, and other materials from other libraries on behalf of their patrons. This is a common and efficient way to access materials that are not available in your local library's collection.

Question 9

In addition to PsycINFO, what other data bases are mentioned in your text as being helpful in psychological research?
A) MEDLINE and SocINDEX
B) BioMed and PhilosophyINDEX
C) INASP and JSTOR
D) LexisNexis and PubMed

Accepted Answer

MEDLINE and SocINDEX are mentioned as helpful databases in psychological research. MEDLINE covers life sciences and biomedical information, while SocINDEX focuses on sociology and related disciplines, both relevant to psychological research.

Question 10

Feasibility of a study refers to
A) how well you have defined the research problem.
B) the specificity of the question.
C) whether the hypothesis is testable.
D) whether or not the study can actually be conducted.

Accepted Answer

Feasibility of a study primarily concerns whether the study can be conducted given practical considerations such as time, resources, and access to participants or data. It assesses the likelihood of successfully completing the study.

Question 11

When evaluating the validity of information on the internet "coverage" refers to
A) the length of the webpage
B) viewing information without pay fees
C) having a .edu, .gov, or .org domain extension
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of When evaluating the validity of information on...

Question 12

Which of the following is probably the major concern about internet resources in exploring your research idea?
A) the accuracy of information at some Web sites
B) the accuracy of information posted on Listserv's
C) the theft of your research idea by hackers
D) the quality of information received by e-mail from other researchers in the field

Accepted Answer

The major concern about internet resources is often the accuracy of information at some websites, as not all online sources are reliable or credible.

Question 13

E-mail can be used in the research process by
A) using it to get on-line references from the Internet.
B) allowing you to communicate with other scientists and authors.
C) allowing you to send phone messages.
D) none of the above.

Accepted Answer

E-mail is a tool that facilitates communication with other scientists and authors, which can be crucial for collaboration, sharing information, and seeking advice during the research process.

Question 14

When looking at information on the web for your literature review, which of the following should NOT be important to validate the information?
A) author credentials and email address
B) peer-reviewed references
C) author's opinions
D) preferred domains such as .edu, .gov, or .org

Accepted Answer

Author's opinions are not a reliable factor for validating information for a literature review. The focus should be on credible sources, peer-reviewed references, and the authority of the information, rather than personal opinions.

Question 15

_____are e-mail discussion groups that are organized around a specific topic. Messages are distributed to all members of the group.
A) Academic chatrooms
B) Metacrawlers
C) Listservs
D) Electronic meeting rooms

Accepted Answer

Listservs are email distribution lists that allow for the distribution of messages on a specific topic to all members of the group, making them the correct answer.

Question 16

It is useful for a research problem to be stated as precisely as possible because
A) specific questions are more likely to be proved correct.
B) the more specific the question is, the easier it is to get statistical significance.
C) a specific question allows the researcher to focus on only one variable at a time.
D) specific questions help the researcher decide what techniques, participants, and measures to use.

Accepted Answer

A precise research problem helps in determining the appropriate methodology, including techniques, participants, and measures, making the research process more efficient and effective.

Question 17

After you have determined it is feasible to conduct your study, the next step is to
A) prepare a clear and exact statement of the research problem.
B) determine what the null hypothesis will be.
C) conduct a literature review.
D) collect data.

Accepted Answer

After determining feasibility, the next step is to clearly define the research problem to guide the study's direction and objectives.

Question 18

Why do scientists hold and attend annual or semi-annual professional conferences?
A) to catch up on very recent and/or on-going research
B) to meet each other personally, in order to better judge each other's work
C) to get away from teaching commitments
D) to bypass having to read the literature

Accepted Answer

Scientists attend conferences to learn about the latest research developments, network with peers, and discuss ongoing work, which helps them stay updated in their field.

Question 19

Dr. Marshall is interested in researching the feeding habits of humpback whales in the wild. Which of the following feasibility issues will be the most difficult one for him to deal with?
A) time
B) expense
C) ethics
D) all equally difficult

Accepted Answer

Expense is often the most challenging aspect of conducting research on large marine animals like humpback whales, due to the need for specialized equipment, boats, and potentially long-term field studies.

Question 20

Below are four examples of research problems. Which one conforms to your textbook author's definition of a good research problem?
A) Why do women take psychology courses?
B) What is the relation between drug therapy and depression symptoms?
C) Are people better off believing in an afterlife, or should they just be concerned about their behavior in this life?
D) Men are stronger than women.

Accepted Answer

The correct choice is B) What is the relation between drug therapy and depression symptoms? This is because a good research problem should be clear, specific, and researchable. It should aim to establish relationships or causality between variables, which is what option B does by inquiring about the relationship between drug therapy and depression symptoms. Options A, C, and D are either too broad, not clearly researchable, or make a statement rather than posing a researchable question.

Quiz 3: Problem Identification and Hypothesis Formation

Attending psychological conferences often

In a scholarly journal article where would you be most likely to find the purpose of the study or the researcher's hypothesis?

When evaluating the validity of information on the internet, which of the following is important information to find on the authority of an author?

When establishing the validity of a web page how should you evaluate its currency?

A metacrawler or meta search engine works by

In addition to accessing PsycINFO through your school's computer system, the textbook authors suggest using ____to find published research on the web.

Once you have reviewed the literature on a topic, you are in a position to

If you find an article that you would like to use for your research but are unable to locate it in your library or through electronic collections provided by your library, your next step should be to

In addition to PsycINFO, what other data bases are mentioned in your text as being helpful in psychological research?

Feasibility of a study refers to

When evaluating the validity of information on the internet "coverage" refers to

Which of the following is probably the major concern about internet resources in exploring your research idea?

E-mail can be used in the research process by

When looking at information on the web for your literature review, which of the following should NOT be important to validate the information?

_____are e-mail discussion groups that are organized around a specific topic. Messages are distributed to all members of the group.

It is useful for a research problem to be stated as precisely as possible because

After you have determined it is feasible to conduct your study, the next step is to

Why do scientists hold and attend annual or semi-annual professional conferences?

Dr. Marshall is interested in researching the feeding habits of humpback whales in the wild. Which of the following feasibility issues will be the most difficult one for him to deal with?

Below are four examples of research problems. Which one conforms to your textbook author's definition of a good research problem?