Question 1

A research method that tests hypotheses and allows researchers to make conclusions about causality is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

An experiment is a research method that involves manipulating one variable to observe its effect on another variable, while controlling for other variables. This allows researchers to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables and make causal conclusions.

Question 2

Random assignment is the procedure in which each participant's chance of being assigned to a group in an experiment is

Accepted Answer

Random assignment ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group in an experiment, thereby helping to control for confounding variables and ensuring the internal validity of the experiment.

Question 3

Which of the following is the most appropriate research method for studying the effects of moderate to heavy parental smoking on infants from birth to 1 year of age?

Accepted Answer

A correlational study is most appropriate for studying the effects of moderate to heavy parental smoking on infants from birth to 1 year of age because it allows researchers to examine the relationship between two variables (parental smoking and infant health outcomes) without manipulating the independent variable, which would be unethical in this context.

Question 4

The text described a survey that asked a representative sample of middle-school students to respond to 17 motives for playing violent video games on a four-point scale. Surprisingly, about 20% of boys indicated that they liked to play these games in order to

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B) help get their anger out, as it reflects a common reason some individuals, including middle-school boys, might turn to violent video games, which is to channel their emotions or anger in a virtual environment.

Question 5

In their research, Cam and Jackie use several _____, factors that have a range of values.

Accepted Answer

Variables are factors in research that can have different values. They are essential in research for testing hypotheses and observing outcomes.

Question 6

Consider the observation that people who eat an apple each day have fewer visits to a doctor. Which of the following would represent the third variable that explains the negative correlation in this statement?

Accepted Answer

The overall more nutritious diets of people who regularly consume apples could be a third variable that explains the negative correlation between eating apples daily and fewer doctor visits, suggesting that it's not just the apples, but a healthier lifestyle choice in general that contributes to better health outcomes.

Question 7

Consider the following pairs of variables. Which pair is most likely to have a weak correlation?

Accepted Answer

Hair color and intelligence are unlikely to have a strong correlation because they are not directly related to each other.

Question 8

A group that experiences all experimental procedures with the exception of exposure to the independent variable is called a

Accepted Answer

The control group is the group that experiences all experimental procedures with the exception of exposure to the independent variable. This allows researchers to compare the results of the group that received the independent variable to the group that did not, in order to determine whether any observed effects can be attributed to the independent variable or not.

Question 9

A newspaper headline reads, "Are intellectual pursuits the key to preventing Alzheimer's disease?" The researchers scanned the brains of healthy seniors with no memory loss and asked the seniors to recall how much reading, writing, and game-playing they did in childhood. Those who reported doing daily brain activities from a young age had low levels of amyloid plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following best describes this study's findings?

Accepted Answer

The study found that individuals who engaged in daily brain activities from a young age had low levels of amyloid plaques, indicating a negative correlation between intellectual pursuits and the presence of amyloid plaques.

Question 10

An experimental study is conducted examining the relationship between drinking caffeine and reaction time. Participants are given caffeine by the experimenters in different amounts, and then are assessed on various tests of reaction time. In this study, the amount of caffeine that a participant drinks is the

Accepted Answer

The amount of caffeine that a participant drinks is the independent variable because it is the variable that is being manipulated by the experimenters to observe its effect on reaction time, which would be the dependent variable.

Question 11

In their study, Anderson and Dill found that the physical aggression score was positively correlated with the amount of recently recorded video gameplaying time. Based on these results, we know that

Accepted Answer

The positive correlation between physical aggression scores and video gameplaying time suggests a relationship between the two, but it does not specify the direction of causality. Thus, both an aggressive personality leading to more video game time and playing violent video games leading to more aggression are possible interpretations of the correlation.

Question 12

In a study of American cities, Professor Smith finds a strong positive correlation between the number of preschools and the number of bars. What is the most likely explanation of this relationship?

Accepted Answer

The most likely explanation for the observed correlation between the number of preschools and the number of bars in American cities is due to a third variable, which is population size. Larger cities tend to have more of both preschools and bars, making population size a confounding variable that explains the correlation without implying a direct causal relationship between the two.

Question 13

Within a research study, Reese is exposed to the independent variable, which means that Reese is part of the

Accepted Answer

The experimental group in a research study is the group that is exposed to the independent variable to observe the effect of this variable, distinguishing it from the control group, which is not exposed to the independent variable.

Question 14

A newspaper headline states, "Autism spectrum disorder correlation to wealth affirmed." Researchers found that affluent youngsters were almost twice as likely as the poorest children in the study to have autism spectrum disorder. This indicates

Accepted Answer

A positive correlation is indicated when two variables move in the same direction, in this case, as wealth increases, the likelihood of being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder also increases.

Question 15

Survey results can be influenced by people's natural tendency to want to appear socially appropriate because surveys rely on

Accepted Answer

Surveys that rely on self-reporting can be influenced by respondents' desires to appear socially appropriate, as individuals may tailor their responses to align with what they perceive as socially acceptable or desirable.

Question 16

A correlational study found that wealthy children were almost twice as likely as the poorest children in the study to have autism spectrum disorder. What is the likely reason?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A correlational study found that wealthy children...

Question 17

An experimental study focuses on the effects that the amount of exercise has on the number of calories consumed per day. The number of calories that a participant consumes is the

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the outcome being measured or observed in an experiment, which in this case is the number of calories consumed per day.

Question 18

A measure is a method for describing a variable's

Accepted Answer

A measure is a way of quantifying a variable, meaning it describes the amount or quantity of something. Measures are used to create a standard unit of measurement for a specific variable so that it can be compared across different individuals or groups.

Question 19

The measure of the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables is called

Accepted Answer

A correlation is specifically designed to measure the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables.

Question 20

Participants in the following surveys are guaranteed that their answers will remain confidential and anonymous. In which case are survey respondents least likely to shade the truth?

Accepted Answer

In a survey about preferences for online news sources, there is less risk of social desirability bias, which occurs when individuals respond in a way that they think is socially acceptable rather than with their true beliefs or behaviors. Respondents are more likely to feel comfortable answering honestly because their responses are not likely to be stigmatized or judged negatively by others. In contrast, the other options deal with sensitive topics that may elicit shame, guilt, or embarrassment, which could lead respondents to conceal or underreport their true thoughts or actions.

Quiz 2: The Measure of Mind Methods of Psychology