Question 1

Which of the following represents a disadvantage of experimental research designs?

Accepted Answer

Some variables cannot be manipulated in experimental research, which limits the ability to establish causal relationships for those variables.

Question 2

Which of the three types of research designs can be considered the best?

Accepted Answer

Each research design serves a specific purpose and has its own strengths and limitations. The best design depends on the research question, objectives, and context. Experimental research allows for causality determination, correlational research identifies relationships between variables, and descriptive research describes characteristics of a population or phenomenon.

Question 3

Freddie likes to be sure that he does not get stuck in the rain. In the morning he listens to the weather on the radio, checks the weather in the newspaper, and also looks out his apartment window. Freddie's actions could be considered a type of

Accepted Answer

Freddie's actions are an example of converging operations, where he uses multiple methods or sources of information to arrive at a conclusion about the weather. This approach increases the reliability of his understanding by cross-verifying information from different sources.

Question 4

Which of the following describes a correlational research design?

Accepted Answer

A correlational research design investigates the relationship between two variables without manipulating them. Anita's study fits this description as it looks at the relationship between time spent watching television and helping behaviors without altering any variables.

Question 5

Which of the following best differentiates basic research from applied research?

Accepted Answer

Basic research focuses on understanding fundamental aspects and principles of phenomena without a direct focus on practical applications, while applied research aims at solving specific, practical problems by applying scientific principles.

Question 6

Which of the following were observed results of the research of Brendl, Chattopadhyay, Pelham, and Carvallo (2005) on preference for letters of one's own name?

Accepted Answer

Brendl, Chattopadhyay, Pelham, and Carvallo (2005) found that participants showed a preference for teas that included letters of their own name, demonstrating an implicit egotism effect where individuals are favorably inclined towards aspects of their environment that resemble themselves.

Question 7

In the research by Brendl, Chattopadhyay, Pelham, and Carvallo (2005) on preference for letters of one's own name, the participants drank two teas, one that contained letters of their own name and one that contained letters of another person's name. This systematic variation, which was created by the research, means that the research was which of the followingt?

Accepted Answer

The research by Brendl et al. (2005) is considered experimental because it involved manipulating a variable (the letters in the names associated with the teas) to determine its effect on participants' preferences, which is a hallmark of experimental research designs.

Question 8

Which of the following terms describes the systematic collection and analysis of data?

Accepted Answer

Empirical research involves the systematic collection and analysis of data to answer a specific question or to test a hypothesis, typically through observation or experiment.

Question 9

Which of the following represents a converging operations approach?

Accepted Answer

A converging operations approach involves using multiple research methods to address the same question, with the hope that all methods will produce similar results, thereby providing stronger evidence for a particular conclusion. Option D explicitly describes this approach by mentioning the use of experimental, correlational, and descriptive research projects to achieve convergent findings.

Question 10

It is hypothesized that people with high self-esteem have a higher grade point average than do those with low self-esteem. What type of correlation is predicted between self-esteem and grade point average?

Accepted Answer

A positive correlation is predicted because the hypothesis suggests that as self-esteem increases, grade point average also increases, indicating a direct relationship between the two variables.

Question 11

Descriptive research has which of the following advantages?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive research is designed to provide a snapshot of the current state of affairs. It is valuable in understanding and describing the characteristics of a particular phenomenon or population at a specific point in time. This approach does not involve unusual events (A) or focus primarily on the relationships among variables (D), which is more characteristic of correlational or experimental research. Also, the likelihood of publication in mainstream journals (C) is not an inherent advantage of descriptive research over other types.

Question 12

When Giwanda begins studying for her research methods test, she uses the strategy of making flash cards, reading the textbook carefully, quizzing with her study mates, and being sure to get a good night's sleep the night before the test. Giwanda's approach to studying could be considered a type of

Accepted Answer

Giwanda's approach to studying involves using multiple strategies to understand and retain information, which aligns with the concept of converging operations. Converging operations refer to the use of various methods and techniques to study the same phenomenon, ensuring that the findings are consistent and reliable across different approaches.

Question 13

A causal relationship can only be inferred through the use of which type of research?

Accepted Answer

Experimental research is specifically designed to determine causality, allowing researchers to manipulate independent variables to observe their effect on dependent variables, thereby establishing a cause-and-effect relationship.

Question 14

The question "How many people in a given age group are divorced?" would be answered using __________ research, whereas the question "Do people with more money divorce more often?" would be answered using __________ research.

Accepted Answer

The first question seeks to quantify or describe a specific characteristic within a population, which is the aim of descriptive research. The second question is looking for a relationship between two variables (wealth and divorce rate), which is the focus of correlational research.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about human behavior is best tested using a correlational research design?

Accepted Answer

A correlational research design is best suited for examining the relationship between two variables without inferring a causal relationship. Statement A suggests a relationship between the frequency of alcohol consumption and the likelihood of practicing safe sex, making it ideal for correlational study to explore the association between these behaviors without implying causation.

Question 16

Behavioral scientists are most likely to say that their work involves which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Behavioral scientists primarily focus on investigating the behavior of humans and animals, studying how they act in different environments and under various conditions.

Question 17

Why do researchers use the scientific method to study human behavior?

Accepted Answer

The scientific method is used to study human behavior because it addresses the limitations of intuition, allows for the accumulation of empirical knowledge, and minimizes personal biases, making it a comprehensive approach for objective investigation.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Research