Question 1

A psychology professor surveyed college students on his campus to determine their attitudes toward binge drinking. His work fulfilled which objective of science?
A) description
B) explanation
C) prediction
D) control

Accepted Answer

The professor's survey aimed to gather information about college students' attitudes toward binge drinking, which aligns with the descriptive objective of science. This objective involves observing and noting the characteristics of a phenomenon to create a detailed picture of it.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT an example of control in an experiment?
A) making sure the room temperature, lighting, and noise are the same for all participants in an experiment on study techniques
B) arranging to be the only person with access to all data files once the data have been collected
C) making sure all the rats in a maze-running experiment have equal access to food in their cages
D) arranging to test all the participants in an alertness study at the same time of day

Accepted Answer

Control in an experiment refers to the standardization of conditions to ensure that the only differences observed between groups are due to the variables being tested. Choice B, arranging to be the only person with access to all data files, is more related to data security and integrity rather than an experimental control aimed at eliminating confounding variables.

Question 3

Control is an objective of psychological science. In this context, control refers to
A) our ability to manipulate conditions that affect behavior in order to change behavior.
B) our ability to override peoples' free will and make them do what we want them to do.
C) our ability to explain the effects of extraneous factors on behavior.
D) our ability to give a complete description of what a certain behavior looks like.

Accepted Answer

Control, in the context of psychological science, refers to the ability to manipulate conditions that affect behavior with the aim of understanding or changing that behavior. This is a fundamental aspect of conducting experiments and research in psychology, where variables are controlled to test hypotheses about behavior and mental processes.

Question 4

Put the objectives of science in the correct logical order:
A) control, describe, predict, explain
B) describe, explain, predict, control
C) explain, control, predict, describe
D) predict, describe, control, explain

Accepted Answer

The logical order of the objectives of science starts with describing phenomena, then explaining them, followed by making predictions based on those explanations, and finally, using that understanding to exert control or influence over the phenomena.

Question 5

"Good" candidates for becoming scientists are those who have all of the following characteristics EXCEPT A) curiosity. B) obstinacy. C) patience. D) objectivity.

Accepted Answer

Obstinacy, or stubbornness, is generally not considered a positive trait for scientists, as it can hinder adaptability and openness to new evidence or perspectives, which are crucial in scientific inquiry.

Question 6

In a classic study by Jellinek 1946) research participants who thought they were drinking alcohol but were not) behaved in a drunken manner very similar to participants that did in fact drink alcohol. This finding is a good illustration of
A) multiple operationalism.
B) the placebo effect.
C) meta-anlysis.
D) the impact of an extraneous variable.

Accepted Answer

The finding illustrates the placebo effect, where individuals experience effects because they believe they are consuming alcohol, even though they are not, showing how expectations can influence behavior.

Question 7

Which of the following is not an objective of scientific research?
A) description
B) prediction
C) explanation
D) power

Accepted Answer

The primary objectives of scientific research are description, prediction, and explanation. These objectives aim to understand, forecast, and explain phenomena. Power, however, is not considered an objective of scientific research; it is more related to the application or misuse of research findings rather than an inherent goal of the scientific process itself.

Question 8

After research shows that anxiety can be reduced through a new type of cognitive therapy, therapists begin using the technique more frequently. This illustrates which of the following objectives of psychological research?
A) explanation
B) control or influence
C) description
D) prediction

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is control or influence because the scenario describes how therapists use the findings from research (that a new type of cognitive therapy can reduce anxiety) to apply a specific technique more frequently in their practice, thereby aiming to control or influence the outcome (reduction of anxiety) based on the research findings.

Question 9

Which of the following is not an objective of science?
A) Explanation of how a phenomenon works.
B) Prediction of what will happen in the future, under certain conditions.
C) Proving a theory is true.
D) Controlling conditions that determine a phenomenon

Accepted Answer

Science aims to develop theories that explain and predict phenomena, but it does not seek to prove theories as absolutely true. Instead, scientific theories are supported by evidence and can be revised or rejected based on new evidence.

Question 10

Many people make use of hand-writing analysis or astrology to assess personality. Others believe that extrasensory phenomenon exist and that they may even possess such ability. Such beliefs and the knowledge imparted by individuals possessing such beliefs represent
A) historical facts.
B) ritualistic knowledge.
C) pseudoscientific beliefs.
D) empirical beliefs.

Accepted Answer

Hand-writing analysis, astrology, and beliefs in extrasensory phenomena are considered pseudoscientific because they lack empirical evidence and are not based on the scientific method.

Question 11

Jean Piaget's theory of the cognitive development was initially based on his observation of children. This is an illustration of the idea that empirical observations generate theories and has been referred to as
A) logic of discovery.
B) logic of justification.
C) logic of theory development.
D) logic of empirical observation.

Accepted Answer

Jean Piaget's theory, which was developed based on his observations of children, exemplifies the "logic of discovery." This term refers to the process by which empirical observations lead to the generation of new theories.

Question 12

Roberta is interested in whether people communicate differently when utilizing technology
A) prediction
B) explanation
C) description
D) replication
E)g., online chatting or e-mail) than in face-to-face conversations. She begins by simply observing conversations that occur in the two environments to get a better sense of the variables that should be investigated. This initial step of simply observing behavior would correspond to which of the following objectives of psychological research:

Accepted Answer

Roberta's initial step of simply observing conversations to understand the variables involved corresponds to the description objective of psychological research, which involves observing and noting the phenomena to analyze them as a preliminary step before forming predictions or explanations.

Question 13

If extraneous variables are not controlled in an experiment, what major problem will the researcher face?
A) not having enough data to allow for valid statistical analysis
B) the results will be stated in subjective, and possibly biased terms
C) it cannot be known which variables) produced the observed results
D) not having enough participants

Accepted Answer

Extraneous variables, if not controlled, introduce uncertainty about what is actually causing the observed outcomes. This makes it difficult to determine whether the independent variable(s) being tested are responsible for the observed effects, or if these effects are due to some other uncontrolled factor.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Scientific Research

A psychology professor surveyed college students on his campus to determine their attitudes toward binge drinking. His work fulfilled which objective of science?

Which of the following is NOT an example of control in an experiment?

Control is an objective of psychological science. In this context, control refers to

Put the objectives of science in the correct logical order:

"Good" candidates for becoming scientists are those who have all of the following characteristics EXCEPT

In a classic study by Jellinek 1946) research participants who thought they were drinking alcohol but were not) behaved in a drunken manner very similar to participants that did in fact drink alcohol. This finding is a good illustration of

Which of the following is not an objective of scientific research?

After research shows that anxiety can be reduced through a new type of cognitive therapy, therapists begin using the technique more frequently. This illustrates which of the following objectives of psychological research?

Which of the following is not an objective of science?

Many people make use of hand-writing analysis or astrology to assess personality. Others believe that extrasensory phenomenon exist and that they may even possess such ability. Such beliefs and the knowledge imparted by individuals possessing such beliefs represent

Jean Piaget's theory of the cognitive development was initially based on his observation of children. This is an illustration of the idea that empirical observations generate theories and has been referred to as

Roberta is interested in whether people communicate differently when utilizing technology

If extraneous variables are not controlled in an experiment, what major problem will the researcher face?