Question 1

Kelvin and Maurene are both in a childhood development class and were asked by the instructor to complete an observation project. Kelvin and Maurene predetermined the behaviors they were interested in observing prior to entering the first-grade classroom on Monday morning. Kelvin and Maurene watched the first-grade classroom activity through a one-way mirror. Kelvin and Maurene are conducting a:
A) laboratory observation.
B) sleep study.
C) analogue study.
D) naturalistic observation.

Accepted Answer

Kelvin and Maurene are conducting a naturalistic observation because they are observing behaviors in a natural setting (a first-grade classroom) without interfering or manipulating the environment.

Question 2

Dr. Reef wanted to study relationship break-ups in natural settings. She enlisted several of her research assistants to recruit couples for the study. She fully disclosed the goals of the study to one of the individuals in the couple and only told the other individual that the study was focused on relationships. Dr. Reef devised "natural" scenarios where a break-up would occur and gained permission from both parties to observe. Dr. Reef was not fully honest with both participants for the sake of her research question, but the deception may not have been justifiable. Which of the following is true?
A) Dr. Reef's research used active deception ethically.
B) Dr. Reef's research used active deception unethically.
C) Dr. Reef's research used nonconcealment efforts unethically.
D) Dr. Reef's research used concealment efforts ethically.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Reef's approach involved active deception by not fully disclosing the true nature of the study to both participants, which is considered unethical in research practices as it violates the principle of informed consent.

Question 3

Adrianne was cast on a reality baking competition show. Adrianne went fairly far in the competition, which recently aired. Adrianne's mother noted that she looked much more nervous and looked directly at the cameras more frequently during the first two episodes compared to the later episodes. During later episodes Adrianne appeared much more comfortable and "in the zone" during the baking challenges. What explains Adrianne's behavior?
A) Adrianne's reactivity decreased.
B) Adrianne's reactivity increased.
C) Adrianne's bias increased.
D) Adrianne's became aware of active deception.

Accepted Answer

Adrianne's reactivity decreased over time as she became more accustomed to the cameras and environment, leading to her appearing more comfortable and focused on the baking challenges rather than the filming process.

Question 4

If concealment efforts are deemed justifiable and acceptable for the purposes of the specific research question, which setting would be considered an ethical medium for obtaining the data?
A) hiding under someone's bed in their dorm room
B) sitting on a bench in a community park
C) installing hidden cameras in a bathroom
D) audio recording conversations in retail store fitting rooms

Accepted Answer

Sitting on a bench in a community park is considered an ethical medium for obtaining data because it is a public setting where individuals do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. This contrasts with the other options, which involve invading personal or private spaces where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Question 5

You are socializing with your friends Rolanda and Zackary. Another couple who you don't know, Alyse and Tyn, joins the gathering. You see Rolanda and Zackary discipline their son with a tap on the hand for sticking his fingers in the potato salad and you see Alyse and Tyn discipline their daughter by tapping her bottom for throwing the potato salad. You react with harsher judgment to the punishment by Alyse and Tyn than to the punishment by Rolanda and Zackary. One potential reason for this discrepancy could be:
A) social desirability.
B) observer bias.
C) artificiality.
D) external validity.

Accepted Answer

Observer bias is likely at play here because your pre-existing relationships with Rolanda and Zackary versus Alyse and Tyn could influence how you perceive and judge their actions. You might be more inclined to view friends' actions in a more favorable light due to your personal connection with them.

Question 6

Dr. Soto aims to improve the ecological validity of her future studies. She plans on addressing many study aspects, but notes that increasing which of the following would help her improve ecological validity?
A) artificiality of setting
B) computer-based programming
C) real-life materials
D) demand characteristics

Accepted Answer

Ecological validity refers to the extent to which the findings of a research study can be generalized to real-world settings. By using real-life materials, Dr. Soto would be making her study more representative of everyday situations, thus improving the ecological validity.

Question 7

A 2008 study examining discipline practices among mothers and fathers suggests:
A) discipline practices of mothers do not influence how the father disciplines the children.
B) discipline practices of single mothers do not influence discipline practices of single fathers.
C) discipline practices of mothers influence how the father disciplines the children.
D) discipline practices of single fathers influence discipline practices of single mothers.

Accepted Answer

The study suggests that the discipline practices of mothers do influence how the father disciplines the children, indicating a reciprocal or shared approach to discipline within the family dynamic.

Question 8

Dr. Yanira is an education specialist and has begun observing various schools throughout the county. Dr. Yanira randomly selected a private school in the area with the highest per-capita income to be her first school observation. She decided to base her request for budget, school supplies, and school lunches, among many other things, on that single observation. What is the main issue with her results from that single observation?
A) low ecological validity
B) low external validity
C) high internal reliability
D) observer bias

Accepted Answer

The main issue with basing conclusions on a single observation, especially from a school in a high-income area, is low external validity. This means the findings may not generalize well to other schools, particularly those in lower-income areas or with different characteristics.

Question 9

Concealment studies tend to drastically reduce issues with all of the following, EXCEPT:
A) ecological validity.
B) reactivity.
C) deception.
D) social desirability.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Concealment studies tend to drastically reduce issues...

Question 10

Dr. Norris's research samples generally include young white men and women under the age of 30 years old. Choose a limitation of Dr. Norris's research based on this information.
A) internal validity
B) concurrent validity
C) content validity
D) external validity

Accepted Answer

External validity is concerned with the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other situations, populations, or time periods. Dr. Norris's research, focusing primarily on young white men and women under 30, may not be generalizable to other age groups, ethnicities, or genders, thus limiting its external validity.

Question 11

Dr. LeCrane is initiating a naturalistic observation of children and their parents. Which of the following is NOT absolutely necessary to continue with the naturalistic observation study?
A) informed consent
B) coding system
C) research protocol
D) approval from the institutional review board

Accepted Answer

In naturalistic observation, informed consent might not always be necessary, especially if the observation occurs in public settings where participants have no expectation of privacy. However, a coding system, research protocol, and IRB approval are essential components for structuring the study, ensuring ethical standards, and protecting participants' rights.

Question 12

Dr. Izmen decided to conduct research multiple nights at the county fair. He decided to observe patrons on both weeknights and weekends, as well as in the afternoon, early evening, and late evening. He had research assistants throughout the fair, at different booths, noting observations about parenting behaviors and romantic relationship behaviors. He was able to collect data on a diverse sample in age, ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status. Dr. Izmen's study has:
A) high external validity.
B) low external validity.
C) lack of representativeness.
D) observer bias.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Izmen's study has high external validity because it was conducted in a natural setting (the county fair) with a diverse sample in terms of age, ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status, making the findings more generalizable to the broader population.

Question 13

Dr. Keefer is skeptical of using laboratory observation designs as he knows they are susceptible to both _____ and social desirability.
A) demand characteristics
B) natural behaviors
C) interviewer bias
D) personality characteristics

Accepted Answer

Demand characteristics can influence participants' behavior in a laboratory setting because they may act differently if they understand the experiment's purpose or try to please the experimenter, which aligns with the concern about social desirability.

Question 14

If you were conducting a research study on parent-child interactions, which of the following would be the best operational definition for the term "child"?
A) someone younger than 18 years still living at home
B) someone between the ages of 2 years and 17 years old
C) someone between the ages of 13 years and 17 years old
D) someone younger than 25 years still living at home

Accepted Answer

The term "child" in the context of parent-child interactions is best operationalized by specifying an age range that captures the broad developmental stages from early childhood through adolescence, without including adults. Choice B (someone between the ages of 2 years and 17 years old) encompasses this range, including both preschool and school-aged children as well as teenagers, thus providing a comprehensive definition for the term "child" in this research context.

Question 15

Terence is a graduate student studying the behavior of canines. He is currently developing a study in which he wants to carefully, and with precise control, introduce various stimuli into the canines' environment and observe their reactions. Terence's mentor recommends the following observational method:
A) analogue observation
B) laboratory observation
C) naturalistic observation
D) participant observation

Accepted Answer

Laboratory observation is the most suitable method for Terence's study because it allows for precise control over the environment and the introduction of stimuli, which is essential for observing the canines' reactions in a controlled setting.

Question 16

In most nonconcealed observations it is best to use _____ disclosure.
A) full
B) partial
C) nonexistent
D) comprehensive

Accepted Answer

The answer of In most nonconcealed observations it is best...

Question 17

Researchers may experience several difficulties when engaging in participant observation. Which of the following is NOT a problem associated with participant observation?
A) systematic underestimation of events
B) systematic overestimation of events
C) impartiality
D) erroneous conclusions

Accepted Answer

Impartiality is not a problem associated with participant observation; rather, maintaining impartiality is a goal. The other options are potential problems that can arise from biases or inaccuracies in observation and interpretation.

Question 18

Dr. Shuler feels that the current literature on personality disorders is outdated and she decides to do a thorough review of research on the topic over the last 20 years. Dr. Shuler then uses the information she gathered in her literature review to help appropriately describe the behaviors in her upcoming study. Dr. Shuler:
A) developed a coding system.
B) debunked previous literature.
C) developed research protocols.
D) developed operational definitions.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Shuler used the information from her literature review to help describe behaviors in her study, which means she developed operational definitions. Operational definitions specify how the variables are measured or defined in the study, which is essential for clarity and replicability in research.

Question 19

Tiana wants to see if individuals react differently to negative feedback from men than from women. Tiana and other trained researchers are conducting this study within a laboratory setting. This would be an example of a(n):
A) analogue study.
B) naturalistic observation.
C) systematic observation.
D) participant observation.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of systematic observation because it involves observing behaviors in a structured environment, such as a laboratory, where variables can be controlled and the reactions of individuals to specific stimuli (in this case, negative feedback from men versus women) can be systematically observed and recorded.

Question 20

Kayleigh was enlisted to be a part of a physiological study for extra credit in her experimental psychology course. She read the informed consent and knew she would be observed as she competed against other participants in various physical challenges. Kayleigh became very nervous and began to doubt her athletic ability, knowing someone was watching her. This is an example of:
A) perception.
B) bias.
C) ecological validity.
D) reactivity.

Accepted Answer

Reactivity occurs when individuals alter their performance or behavior due to the awareness that they are being observed. In this scenario, Kayleigh's nervousness and doubt about her athletic ability upon knowing she is being observed is a classic example of reactivity.

Quiz 6: Observational Research: the Many Forms of Discipline in Parents Bag of Tricks

If concealment efforts are deemed justifiable and acceptable for the purposes of the specific research question, which setting would be considered an ethical medium for obtaining the data?

Dr. Soto aims to improve the ecological validity of her future studies. She plans on addressing many study aspects, but notes that increasing which of the following would help her improve ecological validity?

A 2008 study examining discipline practices among mothers and fathers suggests:

Concealment studies tend to drastically reduce issues with all of the following, EXCEPT:

Dr. Norris's research samples generally include young white men and women under the age of 30 years old. Choose a limitation of Dr. Norris's research based on this information.

Dr. LeCrane is initiating a naturalistic observation of children and their parents. Which of the following is NOT absolutely necessary to continue with the naturalistic observation study?

Dr. Keefer is skeptical of using laboratory observation designs as he knows they are susceptible to both _____ and social desirability.

If you were conducting a research study on parent-child interactions, which of the following would be the best operational definition for the term "child"?

In most nonconcealed observations it is best to use _____ disclosure.

Researchers may experience several difficulties when engaging in participant observation. Which of the following is NOT a problem associated with participant observation?

Tiana wants to see if individuals react differently to negative feedback from men than from women. Tiana and other trained researchers are conducting this study within a laboratory setting. This would be an example of a(n) :