Question 1

School uniforms are designed to _____ the learning environment and have been shown to increase academic performance.

Accepted Answer

School uniforms are designed to standardize the learning environment, creating a more uniform and focused setting that can help increase academic performance by reducing distractions.

Question 2

Observer bias can be minimized in behavioral data by:

Accepted Answer

Training raters how to objectively code the variable of interest is a direct method to minimize observer bias, as it focuses on standardizing the observation process and ensuring that all observers interpret and record behavior in a consistent manner.

Question 3

Sensitivity is:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sensitivity is:
...

Question 4

Alec is designing a self-report measure to assess participants' feelings toward salary caps on professional athletes. Which of the following would be the optimal number of response items for each item on the measure to ensure sensitivity and flexibility, as well as meaningful distinctions?

Accepted Answer

A 7-point scale is often considered optimal for self-report measures because it provides a balance between sensitivity and flexibility, allowing for meaningful distinctions without overwhelming respondents with too many options.

Question 5

Bias is:

Accepted Answer

Bias in measurement or research refers to a consistent error that pushes scores or results in a particular direction, affecting the validity of the conclusions.

Question 6

Removing observer bias completely is:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Removing observer bias completely is:
...

Question 7

Everett set his alarm clock 20 minutes later than the real time. Everett believes this will help him be more punctual in arriving at work. Everett's thinking highlights which type of error?

Accepted Answer

Everett's thinking highlights a bias, specifically a cognitive bias where he believes that setting his clock ahead will make him more punctual, despite the adjustment being based on a deliberate distortion of the real time.

Question 8

The office that Martyn previously worked for had the highest efficiency rating of all the offices in the district. Martyn's office had access to multiple copiers, scanners, fax machines, computers, and a large quantity of office supplies. Martyn's office space was also open in design and did not section off staff in cubicles. The other offices in the district were upset at Martyn's office rating as their office resources are much different. The extreme variation among the various offices suggests that this study of efficiency lacked:

Accepted Answer

The lack of uniformity in resources and office design among the offices suggests that the study lacked standardization, which is necessary to ensure that all entities are measured under the same conditions or with the same resources.

Question 9

Dr. Tomero asks his graduate students to code his interview tapes for the appearance of micro-expressions. If one of his graduate students believes that she sees disgust, while another rates the same micro-expression as sadness, which type of error should Dr. Tomero be concerned with?

Accepted Answer

Observer bias occurs when different observers interpret the same behavior or expression differently, leading to inconsistencies in data collection.

Question 10

The optimal number of responses for a given item on a measure should be between _____ to ensure appropriate sensitivity and flexibility of the measure.

Accepted Answer

The optimal number of responses for a given item on a measure should be between 5 and 9 to ensure appropriate sensitivity and flexibility. This range allows for a balance between providing enough options for respondents to accurately reflect their feelings or opinions and avoiding overwhelming them with too many choices.

Question 11

Researchers have _____ chance of eliminating bias as compared to random error.

Accepted Answer

Researchers have a greater chance of eliminating bias through careful study design and methodology, whereas random error is more inherent to the process and harder to completely eliminate.

Question 12

Error can be reduced:

Accepted Answer

Error can be reduced by the use of scripts because they help ensure that each participant receives the same instructions and that the procedure is conducted consistently across participants, reducing variability that is not related to the variables being studied.

Question 13

Which of the following represents a societal example of systematic error?

Accepted Answer

Systematic error refers to a consistent, predictable error that occurs due to a flaw in the measurement system. In this context, bias in SAT scores against minorities is a societal example of systematic error because it indicates a consistent bias or flaw in the testing system that unfairly impacts a specific group.

Question 14

_____ is the process of keeping the experimental situation the same for everyone.

Accepted Answer

Standardization is the process of keeping the experimental conditions consistent for all participants to ensure that the results are due to the variables being tested rather than differences in the experimental setup.

Question 15

Observer bias is:

Accepted Answer

Observer bias refers to the phenomenon where the researcher's expectations, beliefs, or experiences influence their observations and interpretations of data, leading to a skewed or biased outcome. This bias occurs when the observer allows their subjective perspective to affect the recording or interpretation of data.

Question 16

Ollie drafted a script for his study, which should ____ in his study.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ollie drafted a script for his study,...

Question 17

Generally speaking, the _____ response options a scale has, the _____ sensitivity that measure has.

Accepted Answer

A scale with more response options tends to have more sensitivity because it allows for finer distinctions in responses, capturing nuances in opinions or behaviors more effectively.

Question 18

Which of the following is the LEAST problematic for a research study?

Accepted Answer

Random error, unlike bias, systematic error, and lack of validity, does not consistently skew results in a particular direction and can often be reduced through increasing sample size.

Question 19

Random error:

Accepted Answer

Random error tends to average out with large datasets, thereby minimizing its impact. This is because the larger the dataset, the more likely it is that these random errors will cancel each other out, leading to more reliable and accurate results.

Question 20

Rocco is on the championship wrestling team, and right before his match the coach must weigh him. Rocco gets on the scale the first time and it reads 175.7 lbs. He doesn't think that sounds correct so he weighs himself again, on the same scale, and it reads 176.3 lbs. Rocco's coach requests a third weigh-in and the scale reads 175.2 lbs. This unpredictable variation in Rocco's weight is best explained by:

Accepted Answer

The unpredictable variation in Rocco's weight readings, despite being measured under presumably the same conditions each time, is best explained by random error. Random error refers to the unpredictable fluctuations that cause the measurements to vary in an inconsistent manner each time they are taken.

Quiz 4: The Psychologists Toolbox: Tools for Building Better Designs