Question 1

If a researcher does not have a clear operational definition of the behavior he is studying,he might experience:
A) observer bias
B) reactivity
C) confounds
D) a directionality problem

Accepted Answer

If a researcher does not have a clear operational definition of the behavior he is studying, he might experience observer bias. Observer bias is the tendency for an observer to influence the behavior of the subject being observed. This can happen when the observer has a preconceived notion about the subject's behavior, or when the observer's presence changes the subject's behavior.

Question 2

In correlational studies,it is always possible that an unmeasured variable is responsible for the relation of interest.This complication is known as:
A) observer bias
B) experimenter expectancy effects
C) the directionality problem
D) the third variable problem

Accepted Answer

The third variable problem refers to the possibility that an unmeasured variable may be responsible for the observed correlation between two measured variables. This complicates the interpretation of correlational studies, as it is difficult to draw causal conclusions without ruling out alternative explanations for the relationship between variables. Observer bias and experimenter expectancy effects refer to sources of bias that can impact the results of studies, while the directionality problem refers to the difficulty of determining whether variable A is causing variable B, or if it is the other way around.

Question 3

Which of the following phenomena would be best researched using a longitudinal study?
A) the change in children's concepts of sharing from infancy through adolescence
B) the difference between children and adults in their responses to a natural disaster
C) the frequency with which people think about sources of stress in their lives over the course of a single day
D) the rates of hospitalization of psychiatric patients over the course of the last century

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal studies involve data collection from the same group of individuals over an extended period of time. This is ideal for measuring changes over time, such as the change in children's concepts of sharing from infancy through adolescence. Option B and C involve comparing groups (children and adults, individuals over the course of a single day), which would be best researched using cross-sectional studies. Option D involves looking at trends over time, which can also be studied using archival research rather than a longitudinal study.

Question 4

Gwen is studying the effects of comedic film on depressed participants.She is concerned that the data collectors will produce biased observations if they know the purpose of the study.She addresses this problem by using a(n):
A) blind study
B) correlational study
C) experimental study
D) descriptive study

Accepted Answer

Gwen is concerned about experimenter bias, meaning that the data collectors may inadvertently treat the depressed participants differently if they know the purpose of the study. A blind study addresses this problem by withholding information about the purpose or condition from the data collectors. Therefore, a blind study is the best choice. Correlational, experimental, and descriptive studies do not directly address experimenter bias.

Question 5

In scientific research,a researcher's expectations about a study can lead to systematic errors in observation.This phenomenon is called:
A) observer bias
B) critical thinking skills
C) the third variable problem
D) the directionality problem

Accepted Answer

Observer bias occurs when a researcher's expectations or preconceived notions about a study influence their observations and data interpretation. This can lead to systematic errors and distortions in the results. The other answer choices, such as critical thinking skills, the third variable problem, and the directionality problem, do not specifically refer to this phenomenon.

Question 6

The variable that a researcher manipulates in an experiment is called the:
A) independent variable
B) dependent variable
C) confounding variable
D) stimulus

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that the researcher deliberately manipulates or changes in order to observe its effect on the dependent variable. It is the variable that is hypothesized to cause a change in the dependent variable.

Question 7

The psychologist Robert Rosenthal told student researchers that some rats in a study would learn a task quickly and others would learn the task slowly.In reality,there was no difference in the rats' ability to learn the task.When the students tested the rats,the animals' learning matched what the students were told.These results reflect the:
A) Hawthorne effect
B) experimenter expectancy effect
C) directionality problem
D) third variable problem

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of the experimenter expectancy effect, where the experimenter's expectations can unintentionally influence the results of the study. Rosenthal's belief that some rats would learn faster likely influenced how the students perceived the rats' performance and affected the outcome of the study. The other options do not fit the scenario as well - the Hawthorne effect refers to participants changing their behavior because they know they are being observed, the directionality problem relates to determining the order of cause and effect in a study, and the third variable problem refers to the possibility of a third variable influencing the relationship between two studied variables.

Question 8

When a researcher who is collecting data does NOT know a study's hypothesis,the study is a:
A) blind study
B) confounded study
C) meta-analytic study
D) reactivity study

Accepted Answer

When a researcher collecting data does not know the study's hypothesis, it is called a blind study. This helps to minimize the influence of the researcher's biases on the data collection process.

Question 9

Which of the following is likely to be associated with observer bias?
A) reactivity
B) experience sampling
C) experimenter expectancy
D) the Hawthorne effect

Accepted Answer

Experimenter expectancy refers to the potential bias that may arise when the experimenter's expectations or beliefs about the outcome of the study influence their observations or interpretation of results. This can lead to observer bias, where the experimenter sees what they want or expect to see, rather than what is actually present.

Question 10

When two variables are correlated,it is not clear which one is a causal variable and which is an effect.This ambiguity reflects:
A) the third variable problem
B) random error
C) selection bias
D) the directionality problem

Accepted Answer

The directionality problem reflects the ambiguity of causal direction when two variables are correlated. This means that we cannot determine which variable is causing the other variable to change. For example, we do not know whether increased alcohol consumption causes depression or whether depression leads to increased alcohol consumption.

Question 11

When a researcher's bias affects the coding of data,there is a problem with:
A) the Hawthorne effect
B) experimenter expectancy
C) a third variable
D) confounds

Accepted Answer

Experimenter expectancy is when a researcher's bias affects the outcome of a study. This can occur when the researcher's expectations or beliefs influence their interpretation or coding of the data, leading to inaccurate or skewed results. The other options listed (Hawthorne effect, third variable, and confounds) refer to different issues that may arise in research but are not directly related to the researcher's bias affecting the coding of data.

Question 12

When a researcher manipulates a variable to see what effect the manipulation has on a study participant's behavior,the research design involves:
A) a correlational study
B) an experiment
C) naturalistic observation
D) participant observation

Accepted Answer

An experiment involves manipulating a variable to see what effect the manipulation has on a study participant's behavior.

Question 13

Samir is conducting a correlational study,and he cannot determine whether one variable causes another.One reason for this indetermination is that the additional variables that he did not study could influence the variables he did study.This result reflects the problem with:
A) selection bias
B) response accuracy
C) the third variable problem
D) the occurrence of random error

Accepted Answer

The third variable problem refers to the possibility that a third variable may be responsible for a correlation observed between two variables. In this case, Samir cannot determine causality because the variables he studied may be influenced by other variables he did not measure or control for, which could be responsible for the observed correlation.

Question 14

In correlational studies,there is ambiguity as to which variable is the cause and which variable is the effect.This phenomenon is known as:
A) observer bias
B) experimenter expectancy effects
C) the directionality problem
D) the third variable problem

Accepted Answer

The directionality problem refers to the ambiguity in correlational studies as to which variable is the cause and which variable is the effect. Observer bias and experimenter expectancy effects refer to potential biases in data collection and interpretation, while the third variable problem refers to the possibility that a third variable is influencing the relationship between the two variables being studied.

Question 15

There is a correlation between depression and memory: When people suffer from depression frequently,they often display worse memory than people who suffer from depression less frequently.Genetics,however,may have an effect on a study participant's depression and memory.This combination of factors is known as:
A) selection bias
B) the experimenter expectancy effect
C) the directionality problem
D) the third variable problem

Accepted Answer

The combination of genetics and depression frequency is an example of the third variable problem, where an unmeasured factor (genetics) may be influencing both the frequency of depression and memory. This creates a correlation between the two variables, but it is not clear which is causing the other or if they are both being caused by a third variable. Selection bias refers to a biased sample being chosen for a study, experimenter expectancy effect refers to the unconscious bias of the experimenter affecting the results, and directionality problem refers to the difficulty in determining the direction of causality between two variables.

Question 16

In which of the following types of study do researchers examine the extent to which variables are naturally related in the real world? That is,there is NO attempt by the researcher to influence the relation among the variables.
A) descriptive study
B) case study
C) experimental study
D) correlational study

Accepted Answer

Correlational studies examine the natural relationship between variables without any attempt to manipulate them. Descriptive studies simply describe a phenomenon, case studies provide an in-depth analysis of a single case, and experimental studies manipulate variables to see how they affect outcomes.

Question 17

The variable that a researcher measures in an experiment to see if it has changed after a treatment is called the:
A) independent variable
B) dependent variable
C) confounding variable
D) stimulus

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable being measured to see if it has changed after a treatment. The independent variable is the variable being manipulated or changed by the researcher. Confounding variables are extraneous variables that can affect the dependent variable, and a stimulus is something that evokes a response.

Question 18

Researchers are likely to choose a correlational design when:
A) they are concerned that there will be a third variable problem
B) the directionality problem is likely
C) it is impossible to control the variables being studied
D) they are using psychophysiological assessments

Accepted Answer

Researchers are more likely to choose a correlational design when it is impossible to control the variables being studied. This is because in this design, variables are measured as they naturally occur without any manipulation or intervention by the researcher, as opposed to experimental designs where variables are controlled by the researcher.

Question 19

Using correlational studies,psychologists have studied whether exposure to violence in the media leads to violent behavior.They have found that participants who have been exposed to more violence in the media are,in general,more violent.It is not clear from such research which one causes the other.The problem in interpreting these results involves:
A) directionality
B) selection bias
C) sampling error
D) confounds

Accepted Answer

The problem in interpreting these results involves directionality, as it is not clear if exposure to violence in the media leads to violent behavior, or if individuals who are more prone to violence are simply drawn towards violent media. This demonstrates a need for experimental studies to establish causality.

Question 20

When researchers collect data in a study,if they unconsciously code a person's behavior to match their expectations,we say there is:
A) a directionality problem
B) an observer bias
C) a sampling error
D) reactivity

Accepted Answer

Observer bias occurs when researchers unconsciously code data to match their expectations. This can result in inaccurate or biased data, as the researcher's expectations may influence how the data is recorded or interpreted. Directionality problem refers to the issue of determining the direction of the relationship between two variables. Sampling error refers to inaccuracies in statistical estimates due to the nature of the sample. Reactivity refers to the phenomenon of people or animals altering their behavior or performance when they know they are being watched or observed.

Quiz 2: Research Methodology

If a researcher does not have a clear operational definition of the behavior he is studying,he might experience:

In correlational studies,it is always possible that an unmeasured variable is responsible for the relation of interest.This complication is known as:

Which of the following phenomena would be best researched using a longitudinal study?

Gwen is studying the effects of comedic film on depressed participants.She is concerned that the data collectors will produce biased observations if they know the purpose of the study.She addresses this problem by using a(n) :

In scientific research,a researcher's expectations about a study can lead to systematic errors in observation.This phenomenon is called:

The variable that a researcher manipulates in an experiment is called the:

When a researcher who is collecting data does NOT know a study's hypothesis,the study is a:

Which of the following is likely to be associated with observer bias?

When two variables are correlated,it is not clear which one is a causal variable and which is an effect.This ambiguity reflects:

When a researcher's bias affects the coding of data,there is a problem with:

When a researcher manipulates a variable to see what effect the manipulation has on a study participant's behavior,the research design involves:

Samir is conducting a correlational study,and he cannot determine whether one variable causes another.One reason for this indetermination is that the additional variables that he did not study could influence the variables he did study.This result reflects the problem with:

In correlational studies,there is ambiguity as to which variable is the cause and which variable is the effect.This phenomenon is known as:

In which of the following types of study do researchers examine the extent to which variables are naturally related in the real world? That is,there is NO attempt by the researcher to influence the relation among the variables.

The variable that a researcher measures in an experiment to see if it has changed after a treatment is called the:

Researchers are likely to choose a correlational design when:

When researchers collect data in a study,if they unconsciously code a person's behavior to match their expectations,we say there is: