Question 1

A verifiably predicted outcome of an experiment or an educated guess about the relationship between variables is called a theory.

Accepted Answer

A verifiably predicted outcome of an experiment or an educated guess about the relationship between variables is called a hypothesis, not a theory. A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is acquired through the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation.

Question 2

When a person remembers or notices only information that backs up his or her expectations and forgets or ignores discrepancies, this person is exhibiting the actor-observer effect.

Accepted Answer

This description refers to the confirmation bias, not the actor-observer effect. The actor-observer effect is a tendency to attribute one's own actions to external causes while attributing others' actions to their internal characteristics.

Question 3

Karim is a law student, who reads an advertisement for a sleep-learning device that claims to have helped a law student pass the state bar exam. Karim should

Accepted Answer

The correct choice is D because an individual case or anecdote does not provide sufficient evidence to conclude that the device is effective for everyone or in general. It's important to rely on systematic research rather than individual testimonials to make informed decisions.

Question 4

Psychology is best defined as the study of personality and emotional well-being.

Accepted Answer

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, encompassing a wide range of topics including processes of perception, cognition, emotion, personality, behavior, and interpersonal relationships.

Question 5

Common sense statements tend to be vague and inconsistent, are based on limited casual observations, and work better after the fact.

Accepted Answer

Common sense statements often lack precision, can be contradictory, and are usually based on anecdotal evidence rather than systematic research, making them more applicable retrospectively.

Question 6

In the method section of a research report, a psychologist provides background information on his or her study by reviewing prior studies on the same or related TOPIC (B-HEAD)s to the current one being investigated.

Accepted Answer

The method section of a research report typically describes the procedures and materials used in the study, not the background information or literature review, which is usually found in the introduction section.

Question 7

You meet a young lady who giggles after every sentence she says. You conclude that she is a very happy person, but you later find that her giggling is due to nervousness in meeting new people. This story suggests that it is important to distinguish between

Accepted Answer

The story illustrates the importance of distinguishing between observation (noticing the giggling) and inference (concluding that the giggling is due to happiness) because the initial inference about the cause of the giggling was incorrect.

Question 8

If a television ad tells you that a "life coach" can map out your entire career and financial future if you log-on and pay for three half-hour web-based sessions,

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of oversimplification because it suggests that complex life decisions and future planning can be effectively addressed in a short amount of time with a simple solution, which is unrealistic.

Question 9

You see a friend of yours at a store, and her eyes are red and full of tears. You immediately go over to comfort her, assuming she has had another fight with her boyfriend. As you get to her, you ask what that "awful guy has done to her now." Your friend acts surprised that you would criticize the "love of her life." When you ask why she is crying, she tells you that her allergies are really acting up, and she is at the store to buy some allergy medicine. Your error with your friend occurred because you

Accepted Answer

You made an inference (assumption) about the cause of your friend's tears based on past observations (her having fights with her boyfriend) rather than directly observing the actual cause (allergies). This is a failure to distinguish between observation (seeing her tears) and inference (assuming the cause without direct evidence).

Question 10

A psychologist finds that most of the juvenile delinquents at the facility where he counsels have parents who are smokers. If he concludes that parental smoking is the reason for these teens' behavior and poor choices, then he has

Accepted Answer

The psychologist has confused correlation (a relationship or connection between two variables) with causation (the action of causing something). Just because there is a correlation between parental smoking and juvenile delinquency in his observations does not mean one causes the other.

Question 11

It is important for critical thinkers to follow the opinion of an expert without skepticism.

Accepted Answer

Critical thinkers should evaluate expert opinions critically, considering the evidence and reasoning behind them, rather than accepting them without skepticism.

Question 12

Regarding the use of examples, anecdotes, single cases, and testimonials in advertising, which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

These methods can be misleading as they focus on specific instances or experiences, which may not accurately represent the overall effectiveness or value of a product or service. They don't provide a comprehensive view or statistical evidence to support general claims.

Question 13

You caution a friend about eating so many foods that are high in fat content. Your friend replies that his grandfather ate all the bacon and cheese he wanted, and he lived to be 93. Which of the following is the BEST explanation for your friend's error in reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Your friend's argument is based on an anecdotal evidence, which is an example of using individual cases to make a general conclusion. This overlooks broader statistical evidence about the health impacts of high fat diets.

Question 14

When newspaper or magazine articles claim the effectiveness of some product or service, it is wise to

Accepted Answer

Considering the source of the information is crucial because articles may sometimes be biased or influenced by sponsorship from the product or service providers, affecting the objectivity of the report.

Question 15

When reading the claims of makers of home biofeedback machines, sleep-learning devices, subliminal CDs, and the like, it is important to

Accepted Answer

Products like home biofeedback machines, sleep-learning devices, and subliminal CDs are often marketed with the intent of making a profit. It's crucial to consider whether the claims made about these products are motivated by the desire to sell more units, which might lead to exaggerated or unfounded claims about their effectiveness.

Question 16

A researcher determines that the crime rate in a large city is related to the phases of the moon. She concludes that the gravitational pull of the moon influences human behavior. She does not understand

Accepted Answer

The researcher is confusing correlation (the relationship between the phases of the moon and crime rates) with causation (the idea that one event causes the other). Just because two variables are correlated does not mean that one causes the other.

Question 17

If students who complete a study skills course raised their grade point averages, can we conclude that the course caused their improvement?

Accepted Answer

Without a control group to compare against those who took the study skills course, it's impossible to definitively conclude that the course caused the improvement in grade point averages. Other factors could have contributed to the change.

Question 18

An advertisement promising to "unlock your hidden potential in just two hours!" should be suspect because

Accepted Answer

Such a claim is an oversimplification because it suggests a complex process like unlocking potential can be achieved in a very short time without considering individual differences and other factors.

Question 19

Expensive commercial courses have long been promoted to teach people to walk barefoot on hot coals through a technique called "neurolinguistic programming." Physicist Bernard Leikind was able to show that anyone with reasonably callused feet can walk over a bed of coals because he

Accepted Answer

Bernard Leikind demonstrated that walking on hot coals did not require special training by showing that volunteers could do it without any prior instruction, challenging the necessity of expensive courses.

Question 20

When a personnel director uses tests and interviews to select the best candidate for the job, this selection process is illustrating the psychological goal of prediction.

Accepted Answer

The use of tests and interviews by a personnel director for selecting the best candidate exemplifies the psychological goal of prediction, as it involves assessing various attributes and behaviors to forecast which candidate will perform best in the job.

Quiz 1: Psychology, Critical Thinking, and Science