Question 1

A statistical analysis of many previous experiments on a single topic is called a ____.
A)meta-analysis
B)modal analysis
C)deviation analysis
D)regression analysis

Accepted Answer

A statistical analysis of many previous experiments on a single topic is called a meta-analysis. This involves pooling the data from multiple studies and analyzing them collectively to draw conclusions with greater statistical power and precision than any individual study could provide. Modal analysis is a term used in engineering and structural analysis to study modal frequencies and shapes. Deviation analysis involves examining the deviations or differences between actual values and predicted or expected values. Regression analysis is a statistical technique used to model the relationship between two or more variables.

Question 2

In Dr.Segal's study of the effects of television watching on the language development of children under the age of two,which of the following would you recommend to operationalize the dependent variable?
A)The cumulative amount of time spent watching television during the study
B)A count of the number of words each child knows at the end of the study
C)The amount of time per session spent watching television
D)A count of the number of words each child knows at the beginning and end of the study

Accepted Answer

To operationalize the dependent variable, which is language development, you need to measure the change in the number of words each child knows from the beginning to the end of the study.

Question 3

A quality of a measure that leads to meaningful conclusions (i.e. ,the measure measures the concept it was designed to measure)is called ____.
A)reliability
B)variability
C)statistical significance
D)validity

Accepted Answer

Validity refers to the degree to which a measure accurately measures the concept it is designed to measure. A measure may be reliable (consistent) but still not valid, meaning it may consistently measure the wrong thing. Therefore, validity is a crucial aspect of measurement.

Question 4

Dr.Segal is testing the hypothesis that television watching in children under the age of two enhances the development of language skills.In her study,the use of random assignment ____.
A)ensures that the dependent variable reflects the personal qualities of the participants
B)addresses situational confounding variables,such as the time of day or weather conditions
C)ensures that the independent variable reflects the outcomes of the dependent variables
D)tends to cancel out individual differences among participants in the experimental group and the control group

Accepted Answer

Random assignment tends to cancel out individual differences among participants in the experimental group and the control group, ensuring that any observed effects are due to the independent variable rather than pre-existing differences.

Question 5

A variable that is irrelevant to the hypothesis being tested and can alter a researcher's conclusions is called a(n)____.
A)confounding variable
B)independent variable
C)dependent variable
D)third variable

Accepted Answer

A confounding variable is one that is not being manipulated or measured in the study, but can still have an effect on the outcome. It can lead to incorrect conclusions by making it difficult to determine whether the result was due to the independent variable being tested or the confounding variable.

Question 6

One challenge meta-analyses have is
A)publication bias.
B)the "file drawer" problem.
C)weaknesses in the studies on which they are based.
D)All of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

Meta-analyses face challenges such as publication bias, which occurs when studies with favorable results are more likely to be published while studies with negative or inconclusive results are not. This can skew the overall results of the meta-analysis. Additionally, there may be a "file drawer" problem where studies with negative or inconclusive results are not even submitted for publication, further biasing the results. Finally, the meta-analysis is only as strong as the studies on which it is based, so weaknesses in individual studies can weaken the overall meta-analysis.

Question 7

Which of the following is a drawback of longitudinal studies?
A)They are subject to cohort effects.
B)They cannot be used to discuss causality.
C)Participants may drop out of the study over time.
D)They have limited generalizability.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal studies require a significant amount of time and effort from participants, and as a result, it is possible that some participants may drop out of the study over time. This can lead to a reduction in the sample size and a potential bias in the results. A, B, and D are not drawbacks of longitudinal studies. Cohort effects refer to the influence of a person's birth cohort on their development, and it is not a drawback specific to longitudinal studies. While causality can be difficult to establish in any study, longitudinal studies are particularly useful for examining causality because they follow participants over time. Finally, longitudinal studies can have high generalizability because they track individuals over time rather than relying on cross-sectional comparisons.

Question 8

A group that experiences all experimental procedures with the exception of exposure to the independent variable is called a ____.
A)control group
B)random group
C)variable group
D)dynamic group

Accepted Answer

A control group is a group that experiences all experimental procedures but does not receive the independent variable being tested. The purpose of a control group is to provide a baseline for comparison to the experimental group, which receives the independent variable. The other answer choices do not accurately describe this type of group.

Question 9

Conducting a meta-analysis often provides a ____.
A)clearer picture of a phenomenon than single experiments observed in isolation
B)narrow view of a phenomenon
C)random sampling of a phenomenon
D)less discrete picture of a phenomenon than that of single experiments

Accepted Answer

Conducting a meta-analysis involves synthesizing the results of multiple studies on a particular phenomenon, which can provide a more complete and comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon than observing single experiments in isolation, thus providing a clearer picture.

Question 10

Participants in an experiment on stress management are given stress reduction techniques and then measured for the effect.What is the role of the control group in this experiment?
A)They receive no stress management techniques,and they are not measured.
B)They receive a random stress management technique.
C)They receive no stress management techniques,but they are measured.
D)They receive the same stress management techniques as the experimental group,but they are not measured.

Accepted Answer

The control group serves as a baseline comparison for the experimental group. In this experiment, the control group does not receive any stress management techniques but is still measured for the effect of stress reduction. This helps to determine whether the observed changes in the experimental group's stress levels are solely due to the stress management techniques or to other factors such as placebo effects, natural fluctuations, or regression to the mean. Option A is incorrect because the control group should be measured for the effect. Option B is incorrect because the control group should not receive a random stress management technique as this would introduce variability and confound the results. Option D is incorrect because the control group should receive a different treatment than the experimental group to serve as a comparison.

Question 11

A limitation of the experimental method is that ____.
A)participants know that they are in a research study and may vary their behavior accordingly
B)causation cannot be established
C)the results are rarely accepted by scientific peers
D)experiments involving fear,panic,and stress may be so realistic that participants are harmed

Accepted Answer

Participants' awareness of being in a study can lead to altered behavior, known as the Hawthorne effect, which can affect the validity of the results.

Question 12

An experimental design for assessing age-related changes in which data are obtained from the same individuals at intervals over a long period is called a ____.
A)cross-sectional study
B)longitudinal study
C)correlational study
D)mixed longitudinal study

Accepted Answer

A longitudinal study involves following the same group of individuals over an extended period and collecting data at multiple time points. This allows researchers to assess changes within each individual over time and is ideal for studying aging and development. A cross-sectional study involves comparing different groups of individuals at a single point in time, while a correlational study examines the relationships between variables without manipulating them. A mixed longitudinal study combines elements of both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs by following multiple age groups over time.

Question 13

What is an experimental design for assessing age-related changes in which data are obtained simultaneously from people of differing ages?
A)Longitudinal study
B)Mixed longitudinal study
C)Cross-sectional study
D)Correlational study

Accepted Answer

A cross-sectional study is the best choice for this scenario as it involves obtaining data from different age groups at the same time. This design allows for a quick assessment of age-related changes but does not account for individual differences in development over time. Longitudinal studies and mixed longitudinal studies could also be used to assess age-related changes, but they involve tracking individuals over an extended period, which can be time-consuming and costly. Correlational studies are not appropriate for assessing age-related changes as they only indicate the relationship between variables and cannot establish causality.

Question 14

Random assignment is the procedure in which each participant's chance of being assigned to any group in an experiment is ____.
A)dependent on their relevant personal qualities
B)hypothetical
C)equal
D)dependent on the size of the control group

Accepted Answer

Random assignment ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group, which helps to eliminate potential biases or confounding factors in the experiment. This enhances the validity and reliability of the results.

Question 15

A group of participants that is exposed to the independent variable is called a(n)____.
A)control group
B)experimental group
C)random group
D)nonexperimental group

Accepted Answer

The group that is exposed to the independent variable is the experimental group. A control group is not exposed to the independent variable, a random group is not a common term in experimentation, and a nonexperimental group may not be exposed to the independent variable or may not be included in the study at all.

Question 16

A method for assessing age-related changes that combines the cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches by observing a cross section of participants over a relatively limited period of time is called a ____.
A)mixed longitudinal study
B)longitudinal study
C)cohort study
D)limited longitudinal study

Accepted Answer

A mixed longitudinal study combines elements of both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches by observing a cross section of participants over a relatively limited period of time. This approach allows for the examination of age-related changes while avoiding some of the limitations of a pure longitudinal study, such as participant attrition and practice effects. The other options - longitudinal, cohort, and limited longitudinal studies - do not involve a combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches over a limited period of time.

Question 17

Dr.Segal is studying the effects of television watching on the language development of children under the age of two.Because of room scheduling issues,the children in the experimental group underwent testing in the morning and the children in the control group underwent testing in the afternoon.This is an example of ____.
A)random assignment
B)a situational confounding factor
C)a confounding factor due to individual differences
D)randomization error

Accepted Answer

The scheduling issue in this scenario is an example of a situational confounding factor, as the time of day that the testing occurred was not controlled and may have affected the results. Random assignment refers to randomly assigning participants into groups, which may or may not have been done in this study. A confounding factor due to individual differences would be a factor that varies across individuals in the study and could affect the results. Randomization error refers to errors that may occur when randomly assigning participants into groups, which is not relevant to this scenario.

Question 18

The cross-sectional method is subject to the generational effects of having been born at a particular point in history,which is called the ____.
A)generational correlation
B)cohort effect
C)historical bias
D)age-related differences

Accepted Answer

The cohort effect refers to the impact that being born during a specific time period can have on a group of individuals, which can affect their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. This can create differences between age groups that are not due to age itself, but rather the historical context in which they were born and raised. Therefore, the cohort effect is a relevant factor to consider when using the cross-sectional method.

Question 19

Which of the following is not a significant drawback of conducting a longitudinal study?
A)Participants may drop out of the study for a variety of reasons.
B)Participants may come to no longer comprise a representative sample of a population.
C)It can take a long time and cost a lot of money.
D)It is highly susceptible to the cohort effect.

Accepted Answer

While the other options are all significant drawbacks of conducting a longitudinal study, the cohort effect is not a drawback as much as it is a consideration. The cohort effect refers to the fact that participants of different age groups may have had different life experiences that could affect their behavior or outcomes in the study, and this is something that researchers need to be aware of when interpreting their results. It doesn't make longitudinal studies inherently flawed or problematic.

Question 20

Defining variables in measurable terms is called ____.
A)regression
B)validity
C)operationalization
D)variability

Accepted Answer

Defining variables in measurable terms is called operationalization. This involves defining a concept or variable in a way that it can be observed and measured. Regression refers to a statistical method for modeling the relationship between variables. Validity refers to the degree to which a measure accurately assesses the concept it is intended to measure. Variability refers to the extent to which data points or scores differ from each other.

Quiz 2: The Measure of Mind Methods of Psychology

A statistical analysis of many previous experiments on a single topic is called a ____.

In Dr.Segal's study of the effects of television watching on the language development of children under the age of two,which of the following would you recommend to operationalize the dependent variable?

A quality of a measure that leads to meaningful conclusions (i.e. ,the measure measures the concept it was designed to measure) is called ____.

Dr.Segal is testing the hypothesis that television watching in children under the age of two enhances the development of language skills.In her study,the use of random assignment ____.

A variable that is irrelevant to the hypothesis being tested and can alter a researcher's conclusions is called a(n) ____.

One challenge meta-analyses have is

Which of the following is a drawback of longitudinal studies?

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

Conducting a meta-analysis often provides a ____.

Participants in an experiment on stress management are given stress reduction techniques and then measured for the effect.What is the role of the control group in this experiment?

A limitation of the experimental method is that ____.

An experimental design for assessing age-related changes in which data are obtained from the same individuals at intervals over a long period is called a ____.

What is an experimental design for assessing age-related changes in which data are obtained simultaneously from people of differing ages?

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

A group of participants that is exposed to the independent variable is called a(n) ____.

A method for assessing age-related changes that combines the cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches by observing a cross section of participants over a relatively limited period of time is called a ____.

The cross-sectional method is subject to the generational effects of having been born at a particular point in history,which is called the ____.

Which of the following is not a significant drawback of conducting a longitudinal study?

Defining variables in measurable terms is called ____.