Question 1

A television producer is interested in whether women like soap operas more than sitcoms.The producer uses a random number table to select a sample of 100 households, and then makes phone calls to these households every afternoon for three weeks.Of those who were home when the producer called, 75% reported they liked soap operas more than sitcoms.Which of the following might raise questions about the results?

Accepted Answer

The representativeness of the sample might raise questions about the results because the producer only called households who were home in the afternoon for three weeks, which may not be a truly representative sample of the overall population's TV viewing habits.

Question 2

The sign on a correlation indicates the _____ of the relationship between the two variables it measures.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The sign on a correlation indicates the...

Question 3

In principle, the purpose of random sampling is to make sure that research participants

Accepted Answer

Random sampling aims to ensure that the participants in a study are a representative sample from the population of interest, which allows for generalization of findings to the larger population. Random sampling helps to minimize bias and increase the likelihood of obtaining results that accurately reflect the population rather than just the characteristics of a specific sample. Option A refers to the ethical principles of informed consent, while option B refers to the need for transparency and clarity in research design. Option C refers to systematic differences between participants, which can be addressed through random assignment to experimental conditions rather than random sampling of participants.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of a negative correlation?

Accepted Answer

A negative correlation means that as one variable increases, the other variable decreases. Option C clearly shows a negative correlation as the more alcohol a person consumes, the lower their GPA tends to be. Options A and B show positive correlations as the variables tend to increase together. Option D does not provide enough information to determine the type of correlation.

Question 5

What is one general difference between descriptive and correlational research methods?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive research focuses on describing a specific phenomenon, behavior, or population without seeking to establish relationships between variables. Correlational research, on the other hand, aims to identify and describe the relationship between two or more variables. Therefore, one general difference between these two methods is that descriptive research does not look at relationships between variables, while correlational research does.

Question 6

Suppose the correlation between the number of times couples go to the movies and the number of times they go out to dinner is +0.79.Among the following conclusions, which one is not consistent with this computation?

Accepted Answer

This choice is not consistent with the computation because it is incorrect. A correlation coefficient of +0.79 indicates a strong positive correlation, not a weak and unreliable association. The stronger the correlation coefficient (closer to 1.0), the stronger the association between the variables. Therefore, Choice D is not a valid conclusion based on the given correlation coefficient.

Question 7

Which of the following does not make use of random sampling?

Accepted Answer

A population census attempts to count every individual within a population, rather than selecting a random sample.

Question 8

A study that examines existing records or databases is referred to as a

Accepted Answer

An archival study uses existing records or databases to draw insights and conclusions from past events or phenomena. A case study involves in-depth analysis of a particular individual, group, or event. Anecdotal studies rely on personal stories or accounts, and surveys gather data from participants using questionnaires or interviews.

Question 9

For which of the following questions would a researcher be most likely to use an observational study?

Accepted Answer

An observational study would be the best choice when investigating whether or not banks tend to offer minorities lower interest rates on home mortgages than non-minorities. This type of study involves observing and recording data without manipulating any variables, which is the most appropriate approach for studying social phenomenon such as this. In contrast, the other options presented involve interventions or manipulations, such as studying the effect of taking a course on happiness or the effect of smoking marijuana on aggression. These types of questions would require experimental designs rather than observational studies.

Question 10

The most important aspect of sampling in a survey study is

Accepted Answer

The most important aspect of sampling in a survey study is the extent to which the sample in this study matches the population proportionally in terms of demographic variables. This is because a representative sample that reflects the demographics of the population being studied can provide accurate and generalizable results. The other choices are important considerations in sampling, but they do not outweigh the importance of representing the population proportionally.

Question 11

To examine potential gender differences in the qualities individuals seek in their romantic partners, HaeJin compares the personal ads placed by men and women.HaeJin is conducting a(n)

Accepted Answer

HaeJin is conducting an archival study because she is analyzing existing data (personal ads) to examine gender differences.

Question 12

Which of the following correlation coefficients reflects the strongest meaningful relationship?

Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient that reflects the strongest meaningful relationship is the one that is closest to 1 or -1 in absolute value, indicating a strong positive or negative relationship. Among the given options, +0.86 is the highest absolute value, indicating a strong positive relationship. -0.67 is also a moderately strong negative relationship, but not as strong as +0.86. 0 indicates no relationship, and +1.25 is not a valid correlation coefficient as it exceeds the range of -1 to +1.

Question 13

Luke would like to know if there is a relationship between the number of psychology courses people take and their level of empathy.He surveys a randomly selected group of college students.Each student indicates the number of psychology courses he or she has taken and then completes an empathy scale.Luke's research is best described as a(n)

Accepted Answer

Luke's research involves measuring the relationship between two variables (number of psychology courses and level of empathy) without manipulating any variables. This type of research is called a correlational study.

Question 14

Social psychologists use descriptive research in order to describe

Accepted Answer

Social psychologists use descriptive research to describe general patterns and trends in the variables of interest. This type of research is typically used when the researcher wants to gain an understanding of a particular phenomenon or topic, or when they have a limited understanding of the variables involved. Descriptive research can include methods such as surveys, naturalistic observation, and case studies. It is important to note that descriptive research does not establish causal relationships between variables, but can provide valuable information for further research.

Question 15

When decreases in one variable are accompanied by decreases in another variable, the variables are described as

Accepted Answer

When decreases in one variable are accompanied by decreases in another variable, it indicates that as one variable decreases, the other also decreases, which is a characteristic of a positive correlation. Positive correlation means both variables move in the same direction.

Question 16

Which of the following statements concerning correlational research is true?

Accepted Answer

In correlational research, variables are measured but not manipulated. This means that the researcher observes and records the relationship between two or more variables without intervening in any way. The goal is to determine if there is a relationship or correlation between the variables, but the researcher does not attempt to change one variable to see how that affects the other.

Question 17

Vito finds a correlation of -0.35 between procrastination behaviors and academic achievement.Which of the following is an appropriate conclusion for Vito to draw?

Accepted Answer

Correlation does not imply causation, so Vito cannot conclude any causal relationship between procrastination and academic achievement based on the correlation alone.

Question 18

Latrell, the editor of a popular sports magazine, would like to know more about the demographics of the magazine's readers.He designs a questionnaire to assess this information and sends it to a random sample of the magazine's readers.Latrell is conducting a(n)

Accepted Answer

Latrell is collecting data through a designed questionnaire and sending it to a random sample of the magazine's readers. This fits the definition of a survey, which is a research method used to collect data from participants through self-reported questionnaires or interviews.

Question 19

The primary goal of using correlational research is to

Accepted Answer

Correlational research is used to determine the nature and strength of the association between two measured variables. It does not manipulate variables or establish causality, but provides information about the degree to which variables are related. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 20

Carmella finds a correlation of +0.47 between self-esteem and academic achievement.Which of the following is the most appropriate interpretation of this correlation?

Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient of +0.47 suggests a moderate positive correlation between self-esteem and academic achievement. This means that as self-esteem increases, academic achievement also tends to increase. However, it is not appropriate to assume causality in either direction (i.e., that high self-esteem causes better academic achievement or that academic achievement boosts self-esteem). Therefore, option C is the most appropriate interpretation.

Quiz 2: Doing Social Psychology Research