Question 1

Which of the following is associated with use of the scientific method in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are associated with the use of the scientific method in psychological research. Systematic observation involves carefully and deliberately observing and recording behavior in a structured manner. Controlled experimentation involves manipulating one variable while holding others constant, to determine its effect on behavior. Concern with the reliability of findings involves ensuring that study results are consistently obtained and can be replicated by others. All of these elements are essential components of the scientific method.

Question 2

Theory A explains phenomenon L and phenomenon M using principles X and Y.Theory B explains phenomenon L and phenomenon M using principle X.Theory C explains phenomenon L using principles X and Y.Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Theory B is the most parsimonious because it explains both phenomenon L and phenomenon M using only principle X, while Theory A uses both principles X and Y to explain the same two phenomena, and Theory C only explains phenomenon L using both principles X and Y.

Question 3

If an experimental finding is invalid:

Accepted Answer

An invalid finding means that the result did not occur for the reason hypothesized, indicating a flaw in the hypothesis or its application, not necessarily in the experiment's conduct.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Wilhelm Wundt is widely credited with performing the first experiment in psychology, specifically a reaction time experiment, at the University of Leipzig in 1879. While Sigmund Freud and Stanley Milgram are also prominent figures in psychology, they did not perform the first experiment in the field. Similarly, Thomas Kuhn is known for his contributions to the philosophy of science, not psychology.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

None of the statements is completely true. The best research may or may not be made public, and not all research that is made public is good. The public can and should play a role in evaluating research, and not all psychological research is irrelevant to the public.

Question 6

What was Thomas Kuhn's main contribution to our understanding of theory development in science?

Accepted Answer

Kuhn's main contribution to our understanding of theory development in science is his proposal that scientific theory develops through phases of 'normal science' followed by 'scientific revolution'.

Question 7

Which of the following does not contribute to the development of knowledge and theory in psychology?

Accepted Answer

Falsified evidence does not contribute to the development of knowledge and theory in psychology because it undermines the integrity of research findings. Evidence that contradicts a hypothesis is still valuable as it helps refine theories and hypotheses.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A single finding that contradicts a psychological theory can disprove it. This is known as falsifiability, which is an important criterion for scientific theories to be considered valid. However, the weight of the evidence may also be considered in determining whether a theory should be discarded or revised.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is false?

Accepted Answer

None of the statements are completely true. While science does aim to identify and gather factual information, it is not the only goal. Similarly, developing theories is important, but the goal is to develop accurate and reliable theories rather than just as many as possible. Finally, while some theories may be developed on the basis of a small number of facts, the goal is always to use the available evidence to develop the most accurate theory possible.

Question 10

Which of the following would be of interest to a behaviourist?

Accepted Answer

Behaviourists focus on observable behavior, so they would be most interested in a person's reaction time, which is a measurable behavior. Mental states and processes are not directly observable and are therefore less interesting to behaviourists.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

No single method of conducting psychological research is superior to all others. Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses and is appropriate for investigating different types of research questions. It is important to choose the most appropriate method for the specific research question being investigated.

Question 12

Which of the following is a not physiological measure?

Accepted Answer

Physiological measures are those that involve the measurement of physiological processes or responses in the body, such as blood flow or heart rate. Response to survey questions is not a physiological measure as it involves self-reported thoughts, opinions or attitudes. Skin conductance, on the other hand, is a physiological measure as it involves the measurement of electrical conductance of the skin, which reflects changes in sympathetic nervous system activity.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Case studies have a place in psychological research, particularly in clinical psychology where it is often difficult to obtain large samples of participants. There are numerous examples of influential case studies in psychology, including the case of Phineas Gage and the case of Anna O. Therefore, none of the statements in A, B, C, or D are entirely true.

Question 14

According to Popper, what is the key way in which psychological theory progresses?

Accepted Answer

According to Popper, the key way in which psychological theory progresses is through the falsification of incorrect theories and the replacement of falsified theories with superior ones. This is because science operates on the principle of conjectures and refutations, where theories are put to scrutiny through empirical testing and falsification. The rejection of old ways of thinking may occur during periods of scientific revolution, but it is not necessarily the key way in which psychological theory progresses. Therefore, options A and B are correct, and option C is partially correct but not the most accurate. Thus, the correct answer is D, both (a) and (b).

Question 15

Brenda Milner's neuropsychological studies of HM - a man who had had brain surgery for epilepsy that left him with almost no ability to create long-term memories - are an example of what type of research method?

Accepted Answer

Brenda Milner's study of HM is a classic example of a case study, where a single individual is studied in-depth to gain insights into a particular phenomenon or condition. It is not an experimental study because there was no manipulation of variables or random assignment of participants. It is also not a survey research method, as Milner did not use questionnaires or interviews to collect data. Finally, the term "archival" refers to the use of existing historical or archival data for research purposes, which does not apply to Milner's study of HM.

Question 16

"An association between two or more things, such that one causes the other (i.e.makes it happen)." What is this a glossary definition of?

Accepted Answer

The definition describes a causal relationship, which is the association between two things where one causes the other to happen.

Question 17

Which of the following is not an accepted feature of good research?

Accepted Answer

All of the given options are accepted features of good research. Therefore, none of them can be considered as not accepted.

Question 18

According to Thomas Kuhn, which of the following statements is false?

Accepted Answer

Thomas Kuhn's theory of scientific revolutions suggests that science does not always progress steadily and in a linear direction, as stated in option A. Instead, he argues that science progresses in periods of normal science punctuated by revolutionary breakthroughs. Therefore, option A is false according to Kuhn's theory.

Question 19

If an experimental finding is reliable, which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

If an experimental finding is reliable, other researchers should be able to replicate it. This is one of the fundamental principles of scientific research, as it ensures that results are not simply due to chance or individual biases, and can be generalized to larger populations. While the other statements are also important considerations when evaluating experimental findings, they do not necessarily indicate reliability on their own.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

None of the statements are entirely true. While peer-reviewed journals are important for publishing scientific research in psychology, it is not always easy to publish in these journals. Additionally, there are various types of psychological research (e.g., correlational, observational) that are published in peer-reviewed journals, not just experimental research.

Quiz 1: Research in Psychology: Objectives and Ideals

Which of the following is associated with use of the scientific method in psychological research?

Theory A explains phenomenon L and phenomenon M using principles X and Y.Theory B explains phenomenon L and phenomenon M using principle X.Theory C explains phenomenon L using principles X and Y.Which of the following statements is true?

If an experimental finding is invalid:

Which of the following statements is true?

Which of the following statements is true?

What was Thomas Kuhn's main contribution to our understanding of theory development in science?

Which of the following does not contribute to the development of knowledge and theory in psychology?

Which of the following statements is true?

Which of the following statements is false?

Which of the following would be of interest to a behaviourist?

Which of the following statements is true?

Which of the following is a not physiological measure?

Which of the following statements is true?

According to Popper, what is the key way in which psychological theory progresses?

Brenda Milner's neuropsychological studies of HM - a man who had had brain surgery for epilepsy that left him with almost no ability to create long-term memories - are an example of what type of research method?

"An association between two or more things, such that one causes the other (i.e.makes it happen) ." What is this a glossary definition of?

Which of the following is not an accepted feature of good research?

According to Thomas Kuhn, which of the following statements is false?

If an experimental finding is reliable, which of the following statements is true?

Which of the following statements is true?