Question 1

The first step in the scientific method of psychology is formulating hypotheses and predictions.

Accepted Answer

The first step in the scientific method of psychology is identifying questions of interest or defining a problem to be solved, not formulating hypotheses and predictions.

Question 2

Briefly describe the research of James Pennebaker with regard to expressive writing and health,and present the guidelines an individual should follow in order to benefit from the healing power of writing.

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Question 3

Jennifer has had a troubled past and has been emotionally affected by her parents' divorce.Jennifer's therapist suggests that she write a book about her life;he says that this will be therapeutic for Jennifer and might help her get closure on her past.Which of the following guidelines should Jennifer follow while attempting to write this book?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jennifer has had a troubled past and...

Question 4

Explain the third variable problem of correlational research with an example.

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

What is an operational definition? Explain its importance in the field of psychology.

Accepted Answer

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Question 6

List four drawbacks of doing research in a laboratory.

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Question 7

Inmates at a correctional facility take part in an experiment on social development.Once the experiment is over,the correctional officer goes home and tells his roommates about the results of the study and about the inmates who did not perform well.In this scenario,which ethical guideline of psychological research has been violated by the correctional officer?

Accepted Answer

The ethical guideline of confidentiality has been violated. The correctional officer disclosed information about the inmates' performance without their consent, breaking the requirement to keep participants' personal information private.

Question 8

Explain the concepts of random assignment and random sample.State the difference between the two.

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

Briefly describe the process of replication in the final step of psychology's scientific method.

Accepted Answer

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Question 10

Describe the placebo effect.Provide an example to explain how this effect works.

Accepted Answer

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Question 11

Explain the concepts of experimental groups and control groups with examples.

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

Explain the difference between a dependent variable and an independent variable in experimental research.

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

In the context of ethical guidelines in psychological research,when data are confidential

Accepted Answer

When data are confidential, it means that participant identities are kept confidential, but it is still possible to link a participant's identity to his or her data if necessary. This is important for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the research findings, as well as protecting the rights and privacy of the participants. Therefore, it is essential for researchers to maintain strict confidentiality and take adequate measures to protect participant confidentiality.

Question 14

Aaron wants to study people's reaction to violent images.He lets all the participants of his experiment know that they will be subjected to violent images and asks if they are willing to participate.In this scenario,Aaron is

Accepted Answer

Aaron is obtaining informed consent from the participants by letting them know in advance that they will be subjected to violent images and asking if they are willing to participate. Informed consent is an ethical principle in research, and it requires that participants have all the necessary information about the study before they decide to participate. By obtaining informed consent, Aaron is respecting the participants' autonomy and giving them a chance to make an informed decision about whether they want to be part of his study.

Question 15

Dr.Schwartzmiller believes that herbal medicines significantly reduce the number of depressive symptoms in women.She wants to use experimental methods to test her hypothesis.What components of a well-designed experiment should be included in this study?

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

Given the following data set,calculate the mean,and discuss why the mean in this case is,or is not,the best measure of central tendency.
12,16,11,2,44,15

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Question 17

Define the term external validity,and determine the research technique that provides the highest degree of external validity.

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Question 18

Haley reads in a magazine that people who drink five cups of coffee a day are smarter and more productive than people who do not drink coffee.She does not drink coffee but is now considering drinking coffee every day.Which of the following information does she need to consider before making this decision?

Accepted Answer

The media often leaves out important details about the study, such as the size and characteristics of the sample used. It is important to consider these details before making a decision about whether to adopt a behavior or not. In this case, Haley should investigate whether the study used a representative sample and whether other factors may have influenced the results. “A” is incorrect because the quality of research can vary. “B” is incorrect because the media may draw casual conclusions from correlational studies, and “D” is incorrect because generalizing from a small group to all people or applying conclusions from a group to an individual is not always appropriate.

Question 19

Contestants of reality television (TV)shows are often asked to engage in unpleasant behaviors,such as eating bugs or living in isolation for days.While viewers think they are learning about human nature,these experiments are not real psychological studies that employ the scientific method and ethical guidelines as put forth by the American Psychological Association.Describe why these TV shows do not meet the ethical guidelines that psychological research must follow.

Accepted Answer

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Question 20

Alfred conducted a study on the relationship between playground aggression observed in 5-year-old boys and their time spent playing with toy guns. The data he obtained gave him a correlation coefficient of +0.64. Explain what this coefficient means with reference to a graph, indicate the approximate appearance of the line, and discuss the strength and direction of the relationship.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Alfred conducted a study on the relationship...

Quiz 2: Psychologys Scientific Method