Question 1

When a researcher examines the association between behaviors at a party on Friday night and how many times someone volunteers to answer questions in class on Monday,she is looking at the association between ________ and ________.
A) I data; B data
B) S data; I data
C) B data; B data
D) B data; I data

Accepted Answer

The researcher is examining behaviors, which are observable actions, at both the party and in class. Both are considered B data (Behavioral data) because they involve direct observations of behavior.

Question 2

Which of the following is true about predicting future behaviors?
A) Specific behaviors are generally pretty easy to predict.
B) Specific behaviors are better predicted than aggregated behaviors.
C) Aggregated behaviors are better predicted than specific behaviors.
D) Aggregated behaviors aren't usually very accurate when predicting future behaviors.

Accepted Answer

Aggregated behaviors, which are general patterns or trends observed over time, tend to be more predictable than specific, individual behaviors. This is because individual behaviors can be influenced by a wide range of unpredictable factors, whereas aggregated behaviors smooth out these irregularities and present a clearer, more consistent pattern.

Question 3

According to the text,the purpose of personality traits is to predict ________.
A) specific behavioral manifestations
B) behavior in the long term
C) I data but not B data
D) S data but not I data

Accepted Answer

Personality traits are used to predict behavior in the long term, as they are stable patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are relatively consistent across time and situations. Personality traits can be used to make predictions about a wide range of outcomes, such as job performance, academic achievement, and well-being.

Question 4

According to the analogy drawn in the text between situational effects on behavior and Scud missiles,situations ________.
A) can overshadow individual differences in all cases
B) never seem to affect behavior
C) seem to have inconsistent effects
D) seem to bring out individual differences in all people

Accepted Answer

The analogy drawn between situational effects on behavior and Scud missiles implies that the effects of situations can be inconsistent and unpredictable, much like the accuracy of a Scud missile. Therefore, choice C, "seem to have inconsistent effects," is the best answer. Choices A and D are too extreme and do not reflect the nuances of how situational effects can interact with individual differences. Choice B is incorrect because situations can and do affect behavior.

Question 5

Someone who is ________ is likely to express his or her personality consistently from one situation to the next.
A) low in self-monitoring
B) high in self-monitoring
C) low in self-efficacy
D) high in self-efficacy

Accepted Answer

People who are low in self-monitoring tend to express their personality consistently across different situations. They are less likely to adjust their behavior or personality to fit in with different social contexts. On the other hand, those who are high in self-monitoring are more likely to adapt their personality to fit in with different situations and social contexts.

Question 6

Which of the following characteristics seems to predict increased consistency?
A) sociability
B) neuroticism
C) preference for consistency
D) none of these attributes

Accepted Answer

Preference for consistency is the most likely characteristic to predict increased consistency. This is because individuals who have a strong preference for consistency are more likely to adhere to their beliefs and behaviors, leading to increased consistency in their actions. Sociability and neuroticism, on the other hand, do not necessarily have a direct impact on consistency.

Question 7

Funder and Ozer (1983)examined the results of three classic social psychological studies.They converted the results to effect sizes and found that the effects were equivalent to correlations in the range of ________ (in absolute value).
A) .10 to .20
B) .30 to .40
C) .61 to .75
D) .70 to .97

Accepted Answer

Funder and Ozer (1983) analyzed classic social psychological studies and found that when converting the results to effect sizes, the effects were equivalent to correlations in the range of .30 to .40 in absolute value. This demonstrates that the effects, while statistically significant, were moderate in size.

Question 8

Which of the following was NOT a study that Funder and Ozer reviewed in their work calculating the size of the situation coefficient?
A) the forced compliance task that illustrated cognitive dissonance
B) the bystander intervention effect that illustrated situational factors on helping behavior
C) the reduction in intrinsic motivation that occurs when children are given rewards
D) the position of the learner in Milgram's experiments on obedience

Accepted Answer

Funder and Ozer did not review a study on the reduction in intrinsic motivation that occurs when children are given rewards. They focused on studies that had situations and personality traits as variables. The other options, A, B, and D, were all studies that they reviewed in their work.

Question 9

One response to Mischel's critique asserts that a fair review of the research on the predictability of behavior from personality traits indicates that ________.
A) behavior can never be reliably predicted from personality variables
B) the predictability of behavior from personality traits is better than is sometimes acknowledged
C) the predictability of behavior from situations is worse than the predictability from personality
D) Mischel was right that personality traits are unpredictable from behavior

Accepted Answer

Many studies have shown that personality traits can predict behavior, though the strength of the relationship may vary depending on the specific trait and the situation. Mischel's critique was based on a selective review of the literature that ignored much of this evidence. While it is true that behavior cannot be predicted with complete accuracy from personality variables alone, personality traits do have some value in predicting behavior.

Question 10

Which of the following behaviors would be the easiest to predict accurately?
A) Mary will smile at 10:00 A.M. tomorrow.
B) At a party on Friday, Susan will talk to at least 10 people.
C) David will generally be on time for work most days next week.
D) None of the above; each of these behaviors would be equally easy to predict.

Accepted Answer

David being on time for work most days next week is the easiest to predict because it is based on a consistent pattern of behavior.

Question 11

Which reason describes why averaged (aggregated)behaviors are more strongly related to personality traits than individual behaviors?
A) Random variations tend to cancel out when aggregated.
B) Random variations tend to multiply when aggregated.
C) Trait variation is mostly random when aggregated.
D) Trait variation is mostly specific when aggregated.

Accepted Answer

When behaviors are averaged or aggregated, random variations tend to cancel out, leaving behind the underlying trait-related behavior patterns. This makes it easier to identify and study personality traits.

Question 12

Which of the following is the best example of a situationist argument?
A) Melinda's talkativeness is related to her optimism.
B) Knowing Robert's extraversion doesn't really let us predict his behavior.
C) Knowing Sanjay's neuroticism means we know how anxious he usually is.
D) Suri's conscientiousness changes depending on the time of day.

Accepted Answer

Situationist arguments suggest that behavior is primarily influenced by situational factors rather than stable traits. Option B implies that knowing one of Robert's traits (extraversion) is not enough to predict his behavior, which supports a situationist perspective. The other options suggest that specific traits are directly related to behavior and do not consider situational factors. Option A implies a direct relationship between talkativeness and optimism, option C assumes neuroticism determines anxiety levels, and option D suggests that conscientiousness can change depending on the time of day.

Question 13

A situationist would interpret a correlation of around .30 ________.
A) as an example of a very small effect size
B) as an example of a medium effect size
C) as an example of a large effect size
D) by using a Binomial Effect Size Display

Accepted Answer

The answer of A situationist would interpret a correlation of...

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT one of the responses to the situationist argument?
A) Personality researchers argued that Mischel's literature review was selective.
B) Personality researchers searched for certain kinds of people who were more consistent than others.
C) Personality researchers started to think more carefully about the importance of a correlation of .40.
D) Personality researchers worked harder to find single traits that could strongly predict single responses at a particular point in time.

Accepted Answer

The other three responses are all ways in which personality researchers have tried to address the situationist argument. Option D is not a response to the situationist argument.

Question 15

In order to improve personality research,researchers can ________.
A) check for factors that predict consistency
B) predict behavioral trends rather than single acts
C) measure behavior in real life
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Checking for factors that predict consistency, predicting behavioral trends rather than single acts, and measuring behavior in real life are all ways to improve personality research. By examining these factors, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of personality and its impact on behavior.

Question 16

One difficulty in searching for variables that might predict consistency is that ________.
A) it is hard to think of variables that would predict differences in consistency
B) such research is too time-consuming to conduct
C) only one variable seems to predict consistency
D) the effects of such variables are subtle and are sometimes difficult to detect

Accepted Answer

The statement "the effects of such variables are subtle and are sometimes difficult to detect" suggests that the difficulty in searching for variables that might predict consistency is that the effects of these variables may not be easily observable or measurable.

Question 17

A recent review of the entire literature on social psychology concluded that the situational effect was about ________.
A) .10
B) .20
C) .40
D) .50

Accepted Answer

The recent review of the entire literature on social psychology concluded that the situational effect was about .20.

Question 18

Which of the following would be an example of trying to improve the predictability of behavior from personality traits by taking into account the possibility that some people are more consistent than others?
A) measuring how frequently you are late to work using a daily diary report of your everyday behavior
B) collecting information about your responses to stressful work situations
C) trying to predict how warm and friendly you will act when you meet your in-laws next Monday
D) determining if the behavior of high self-monitors is less predictable than that of low self-monitors

Accepted Answer

Determining if the behavior of high self-monitors is less predictable than that of low self-monitors would be an example of taking into account the possibility that some people are more consistent than others. High self-monitors are known to be more adaptable and able to vary their behavior depending on the social context, whereas low self-monitors are more consistent in their behavior across situations. Therefore, studying the predictability of behavior from personality traits within these two groups can help improve our understanding of how personality influences behavior.

Question 19

According to recent research,individuals high in ________ might actually be more consistent.
A) self-control
B) consistency seeking
C) preference for consistency
D) extraversion

Accepted Answer

Recent research suggests that individuals with a high preference for consistency are more likely to exhibit consistent behavior across different situations.

Question 20

How long was Mischel's review of the personality literature in Personality and Assessment?
A) about half of the book
B) about three quarters of the book
C) about 16 pages
D) only about 2 pages

Accepted Answer

Mischel's review of the personality literature in Personality and Assessment was about 16 pages long.

Quiz 4: Personality Traits,Situations,and Behavior

When a researcher examines the association between behaviors at a party on Friday night and how many times someone volunteers to answer questions in class on Monday,she is looking at the association between and .

Which of the following is true about predicting future behaviors?

According to the text,the purpose of personality traits is to predict ________.

According to the analogy drawn in the text between situational effects on behavior and Scud missiles,situations ________.

Someone who is ________ is likely to express his or her personality consistently from one situation to the next.

Which of the following characteristics seems to predict increased consistency?

Funder and Ozer (1983) examined the results of three classic social psychological studies.They converted the results to effect sizes and found that the effects were equivalent to correlations in the range of ________ (in absolute value) .

Which of the following was NOT a study that Funder and Ozer reviewed in their work calculating the size of the situation coefficient?

One response to Mischel's critique asserts that a fair review of the research on the predictability of behavior from personality traits indicates that ________.

Which of the following behaviors would be the easiest to predict accurately?

Which reason describes why averaged (aggregated) behaviors are more strongly related to personality traits than individual behaviors?

Which of the following is the best example of a situationist argument?

A situationist would interpret a correlation of around .30 ________.

Which of the following is NOT one of the responses to the situationist argument?

In order to improve personality research,researchers can ________.

One difficulty in searching for variables that might predict consistency is that ________.

A recent review of the entire literature on social psychology concluded that the situational effect was about ________.

Which of the following would be an example of trying to improve the predictability of behavior from personality traits by taking into account the possibility that some people are more consistent than others?

According to recent research,individuals high in ________ might actually be more consistent.

How long was Mischel's review of the personality literature in Personality and Assessment?