Question 1

A study at the U.S.Air Force Academy Preparatory School demonstrated that students' performances can be affected by teachers' expectations.These results are best explained by the fact that

Accepted Answer

The results are best explained by the self-fulfilling prophecy effect, where teachers' expectations can subtly communicate to students and influence their performance. This effect can create a feedback loop where students perform in accordance with the expectations set for them. Options A, B, and D are not relevant to the explanation of these results.

Question 2

The subjects in the experimental group receive the experimental drug, while the subjects in the control group receive a placebo.Although the experimenter knows which subjects are in the experimental group and which are in the control group, the subjects themselves do not know who is in which group or who received the real drug and who the placebo.This experimenter is using

Accepted Answer

This is a single-blind study because the subjects do not know whether they are receiving the experimental treatment or a placebo, which controls for participant bias. However, the experimenter does know who is in each group, so it is not double-blind.

Question 3

Changes in subjects' behavior caused by the unintended influence of an experimenter's actions are referred to as

Accepted Answer

Researcher bias occurs when the experimenter's expectations or personal beliefs influence the outcome of the study, often through subtle cues or interactions that can affect participants' behavior.

Question 4

An example of "researcher bias" would be a situation in which the experimenter

Accepted Answer

Researcher bias occurs when the experimenter inadvertently influences the participants to behave in a way that aligns with the expected outcome of the study. This can happen through nonverbal cues or subtle hints about what responses are desired, as described in option C.

Question 5

In an experiment to test the effects of a new flu drug, two groups are used.One group is given the drug, the other group is given a placebo.The group that receives the placebo is called the __________ group.

Accepted Answer

The group that receives the placebo is called the control group. This group serves as a baseline to compare the effects of the drug on the experimental group, which was given the actual treatment or drug. The independent, dependent, and experimental groups refer to different aspects of experimental design and are not applicable to describing the group given a placebo in this scenario.

Question 6

After a person takes a placebo, there is

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that taking a placebo can reduce brain activity linked with pain, resulting in pain relief.

Question 7

In a research study, when the subjects do not know who is in the experimental group and who is in the control group, but the experimenters do know, the study is called a(n)__________ experiment.

Accepted Answer

In a single-blind experiment, the subjects do not know who is in the experimental group and who is in the control group, but the experimenters do know. In a double-blind experiment, both the subjects and the experimenters do not know who is in the experimental group and who is in the control group. Independent and dependent variables are not related to whether or not the experiment is single or double-blind.

Question 8

Regarding placebos, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

In a drug study, the participants in the experimental group receive the real drug being tested, while those in the control group receive the placebo. This allows researchers to compare the effects of the real drug against a neutral or inactive substance.

Question 9

Through subtle hints, such as the tone of his voice, body language, and by giving encouragement and criticism, Dr.Enor unintentionally influenced his subjects so that they reacted in ways that were consistent with his experimental hypothesis.This example demonstrates the

Accepted Answer

Dr. Enor's actions demonstrate researcher bias because he unintentionally influenced his subjects to act consistently with his hypothesis, which can affect the validity of the results of the study.

Question 10

At the U.S.Air Force Academy Preparatory School, 100 student pilots were randomly assigned to five different math classes with their teachers not knowing about this random placement.Instead, each teacher was told that his or her students had unusually high or low ability.Students in the classes labeled high ability improved much more in math scores than those in low-ability classes, although, initially, all the classes had students of equal ability.Although the teachers were not conscious of it, they apparently communicated their expectations subtly to students by their tone of voice, body language, and encouragement or criticism.These hints created what is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the question is an example of a self-fulfilling prophecy, where the teacher's expectations influenced the behavior of students and led to the predicted outcome. The teachers' beliefs influenced their behavior towards the students, ultimately impacting their performance, as the students lived up to the expectations they were given.

Question 11

In one study, a saline injection was shown to be 70 percent as effective as morphine in reducing pain.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

The study's findings suggest that the saline injection's effectiveness is likely due to the placebo effect, where a person's belief or expectation that a treatment will work can influence their experience of pain. The comparison to morphine also suggests that the physiological blocking effect (B) of the saline injection is not as strong as the opioid effect of morphine. Random-assignment (C) and double-blind (D) effects are research methods used to control for biases and increase the validity of study results, but they are not relevant to explaining the findings of this particular study.

Question 12

A teacher believes that one group of children is very bright and that a second group is below average in ability, although both groups are actually equal in ability.Nevertheless, the first group progresses more rapidly than the second.This demonstrates

Accepted Answer

This scenario demonstrates the self-fulfilling prophecy, which is when a person's belief about someone or something influences how they treat them, ultimately leading to the belief becoming true. In this case, the teacher's belief that one group is brighter than the other may cause them to provide more opportunities and encouragement to that group, leading to better progress and actualizing their belief.

Question 13

In a study of the effects of an antidepressant drug on depressive symptoms, the experimental group is given the antidepressant drug, while the control group is given a

Accepted Answer

In a study of the effects of an antidepressant drug on depressive symptoms, the control group should be given a placebo (a harmless pill or treatment that has no therapeutic effect) to ensure that any changes in symptoms in the experimental group are due to the antidepressant drug and not to a placebo effect. A different but equally powerful antidepressant drug (B) or a lesser amount of the antidepressant drug (C) would not serve as appropriate controls as these would not isolate the effect of the specific antidepressant drug being studied. A mixture of a placebo and the antidepressant drug (D) would also not be appropriate as it would not allow for a clear comparison of the effects of the drug versus a placebo.

Question 14

Sometimes in a drug study, the experimental group given the actual drug and the control group given the inactive substance both initially show improvement.This is due to

Accepted Answer

The placebo effect occurs when people show improvement not because of the actual treatment they received, but rather because they believe they are receiving an effective treatment. In a drug study, both the experimental and control groups may see improvement initially because participants in both groups may believe they are receiving the actual drug due to the placebo effect.

Question 15

A single-blind experiment would most likely be used to minimize the

Accepted Answer

A single-blind experiment is designed to minimize research participant bias by keeping them unaware of which group they have been assigned to. This helps to ensure that any differences observed between groups are due to the treatment being studied and not influenced by participants' expectations or beliefs. The other options are not addressed by a single-blind design.

Question 16

The phenomenon in which a prediction prompts people to act in ways that make the prediction come true is known as the

Accepted Answer

The self-fulfilling prophecy is when a prediction prompts individuals to act in ways that ultimately make the prediction come true. Essentially, when someone believes that something will happen, they behave as though it is inevitable, and their actions bring about the outcome they expected. The other answer choices are not appropriate for this definition.

Question 17

Placebos have such a strong effect on people because

Accepted Answer

Placebos have a strong effect on people because they alter both conscious and unconscious expectations, such as the individual's beliefs and attitudes towards a treatment or condition. This can lead to real physiological and psychological changes in the body, resulting in symptom relief or perceived improvement in health. The immediate or long-term impact of placebos may vary depending on the condition being treated and the individual's response. The prescription of placebos is not limited to medical doctors; they can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider.

Question 18

In a weight-reduction experiment, an overweight individual was given what the researcher called a new type of diet pill that would help curb the desire to eat.In fact, the pill really contained powdered milk, but ever since the individual started taking the diet pill, he has reported that his desire to eat has decreased.This illustrates the

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes the placebo effect, where the individual's belief that they are taking a diet pill that suppresses appetite is leading to an actual decrease in appetite. The fact that the pill actually contains powdered milk illustrates the power of belief and expectation on subjective experiences.

Question 19

In a drug study if your participants are blind as to the hypothesis under investigation and whether they received the real drug or the placebo, then the participants

Accepted Answer

When participants are blind to the hypothesis under investigation and whether they received the real drug or the placebo, it helps to ensure that their expectations do not influence the outcome of the study. This is because they do not know if they are receiving the treatment or the placebo, thus minimizing expectation bias.

Question 20

You want to test people's reactions to a new artificial sweetener, so you give them coffee with two different kinds of sweetener.Although you know which sweetener is which, you don't let them know which sweetener they're getting.This type of experiment is called a __________ experiment.

Accepted Answer

In a single-blind experiment, the participants do not know which treatment they are receiving, but the experimenter does.

Quiz 1: Psychology, Critical Thinking, and Science