Question 1

The prediction that people will take longer to read colour names when they appear in a conflicting ink colour is an example of a:

Accepted Answer

The prediction given is a hypothesis, as it is a proposed explanation or educated guess for an observed phenomenon. It has not been proven or tested yet.

Question 2

The aspect of the experimental situation manipulated by the experimenter to test a hypothesis is, most generally, referred to as which type of variable?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the experimenter to test a hypothesis. It is the variable that the experimenter has control over and can change.

Question 3

The null hypothesis is a prediction that:

Accepted Answer

The null hypothesis predicts that the independent variable (IV) will have no effect on the dependent variable (DV), therefore C is the correct choice. A predicts a correlation between the IV and the DV, which is not specific to a null hypothesis. B implies an alternative hypothesis, not a null hypothesis. D and E suggest that the DV has the potential to affect the IV, which is not relevant to a null hypothesis.

Question 4

In a research study, it's found that participants eat more when given a red rather than green container of food. The red container was offered just before lunch and the green one just after dinner. In this study, time of day and previous food intake are examples of which type of variable?

Accepted Answer

Time of day and previous food intake are confounding variables because they could influence the dependent variable (amount of food eaten) independently of the independent variable (color of the container).

Question 5

Selecting participants in such a way that they match certain aspects of the broader population refers to which type of sampling?

Accepted Answer

Quota sampling involves selecting participants in a way that ensures certain characteristics of the sample match those of the broader population. This can be useful in situations where a random sample is not feasible or practical, but is still important to ensure representativeness of the sample. Opportunity sampling involves selecting participants based on convenient or easily accessible locations, and is not focused on ensuring representativeness of the sample. Random sampling involves selecting participants randomly from the population, which may or may not ensure representativeness depending on the size and diversity of the population. Sparse sampling and observational sampling are not recognized methods of sampling.

Question 6

Which of the following techniques is commonly used in an independent measures design to rule out individual differences?

Accepted Answer

Random assignment is used in an independent measures design to distribute individual differences evenly across all groups, thereby minimizing their impact on the results. This technique ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group, which helps to control for variables that the researchers are not examining.

Question 7

An experimental design in which each participant appears in multiple conditions is technically termed:

Accepted Answer

The term that describes an experimental design in which each participant appears in multiple conditions is "repeated measures." This means that the same participant is measured repeatedly across different conditions or treatments, allowing for more precise within-subject comparisons. The other answer choices are not as fitting for this description. "Multi-observation" is not a commonly used term in experimental design, and "yoked" refers to a specific type of control group. "Independent" and "matched participants" both refer to designs in which each participant appears in only one condition.

Question 8

Which of the following techniques is commonly used in a repeated measures design to rule out order effects?

Accepted Answer

Counterbalancing is a technique commonly used in a repeated measures design to rule out order effects. It involves presenting different orders of the experimental conditions to different participants, such that each participant experiences all conditions in a different order. This helps to control for the potential confounding effects of order. Double-blinding, norming, and placebo are not directly related to ruling out order effects, while meta-analysis is a statistical technique used to combine data from multiple studies.

Question 9

Oskar Pfungst revealed that the apparent counting ability of which famous horse was really just a result of it following the cues of its handler?

Accepted Answer

Oskar Pfungst conducted experiments on Clever Hans and discovered that the horse was not actually counting or performing other intellectual tasks as previously believed, but was instead picking up on unintentional cues from his human handlers.

Question 10

Rosenthal's (1966) finding that male researchers tended to be more pleasant and relaxed when the participant was female rather than male is an example of which type of effect?

Accepted Answer

Rosenthal's finding that male researchers behaved differently based on the gender of the participant is an example of the experimenter effect, which refers to the potential for researchers to unintentionally influence study outcomes through their actions or behavior. In this case, the researcher's behavior towards the participant varied based on gender, indicating a potential bias in the study.

Question 11

The type of validity specifically describing how well the research findings are applicable to the real world is called:

Accepted Answer

Ecological validity refers to the degree to which the findings of a study can be generalized to real-world settings or situations. It is concerned with the extent to which research mirrors everyday life and provides a reflection of external validity.

Question 12

Most generally, demand characteristics refer to cues that reveal to the participants the:

Accepted Answer

Demand characteristics refer to any cues in an experiment that might reveal the experimental hypothesis to participants. This can include anything from the wording of instructions to the demeanor of the experimenter.

Question 13

According to the text, reporting detailed experimental methods, using standardised procedures, and avoiding confounding variables most directly help maximise the chance that other researchers can do which of the following, in relation to one's experiment:

Accepted Answer

Detailed experimental methods, standardised procedures, and avoiding confounding variables help maximise the chance that other researchers can replicate the experiment.

Question 14

Reduced experimental control, severe limitations on collecting detailed information and otherwise interacting with participants, and difficulty obtaining consent are all weaknesses most closely associated with which type of experimental method?

Accepted Answer

The weaknesses mentioned in the question are associated with field experiments. Field experiments are conducted in natural settings, where there is reduced control over variables and difficulty in obtaining detailed information and consent from participants. In contrast, lab experiments have high experimental control, computational modelling is not an experimental method, randomised clinical trials and functional neuroimaging studies often involve more invasive procedures where there is more control and detailed data collection is possible.

Question 15

Inter-observer reliability is, at its core, a measure of:

Accepted Answer

Inter-observer reliability is a measure of the degree of agreement between two or more observers or raters. It indicates the consistency and reproducibility of ratings or observations made by different individuals. Therefore, the most fitting choice is D - Agreement.

Question 16

The method of studying multiple groups (e.g., different ages) at the same time is most appropriately described as which type of research?

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional research involves studying different groups at the same time to compare them. This is in contrast to longitudinal research, which involves studying the same group over an extended period of time. Cross-over, post hoc, and experience-sampling research methods are not appropriate for studying multiple groups at the same time.

Question 17

Which of the following methods reveals associations but generally does not indicate causality?

Accepted Answer

Correlational methods reveal associations between variables, but they do not provide information about causality.

Question 18

Case studies, by definition, involve the study of one or two:

Accepted Answer

Case studies focus on in-depth analysis of one or two individuals, rather than a larger group or experimental manipulation. Therefore, the best choice is A.

Question 19

The major organisation for professional psychologists in the United Kingdom is the:

Accepted Answer

The British Psychological Society (BPS) is the major organisation for professional psychologists in the United Kingdom.

Question 20

The 2009 version of the Ethical Principles for Conducting Research with Human Participants emphasised all of the following major ethical principles, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The 2009 version of the Ethical Principles for Conducting Research with Human Participants emphasizes the following four major ethical principles: Competence, Respect, Responsibility, and Integrity. Cost is not one of the major ethical principles emphasized in this document.

Quiz 3: Methods of Investigation