Question 1

A researcher finds that people who own more than two cars have bigger homes, more garage space, and make more money than people who own only one or two cars. Therefore, the researcher concludes that having more than two cars causes people to have homes with bigger garages. According to Cook and Campbell's types of evidence, the researcher failed to eliminate:

Accepted Answer

The researcher failed to eliminate alternative explanations, which means there could be other factors causing the relationship between owning more than two cars and having bigger homes and garages, such as income or location. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that owning more than two cars causes people to have homes with bigger garages.

Question 2

In determining the cause of behavior, which principle considers the order when two events occur together?

Accepted Answer

Temporal precedence is the principle that the cause must come before the effect. In other words, the event that is thought to cause the behavior must occur before the behavior itself. This principle helps to determine the cause of behavior by considering the timing of events.

Question 3

Which of the following journal-article titles is an example of basic research?

Accepted Answer

The title "Effect of situational factors on assessment of blame: A test of attribution theory" is an example of basic research because it involves conducting experiments to test a specific theory (attribution theory) and to uncover new knowledge about how situational factors influence people's assessments of blame. The other article titles describe applied research (A), program evaluation (B), and organizational behavior (D).

Question 4

In the case of knowing that watching television violence is a predictor of actual aggression, which of the following evidence accentuates the need to know that aggression followed after television viewing occurred?

Accepted Answer

Temporal precedence is the order of cause and effect, meaning that the cause (watching television violence) comes before the effect (actual aggression). Knowing that aggression followed after television viewing occurred demonstrates temporal precedence, which is important in establishing a causal relationship between the two variables. The other options (B, C, and D) are also important considerations in determining causality, but they do not specifically address the issue of temporal precedence.

Question 5

Which of the following journal article titles represents an example of a basic research study?

Accepted Answer

This title suggests a study that is focused on investigating the relationship between two variables (self-awareness and cognitive reasoning task) without any immediate practical application or intervention.

Answer: D 
 This title suggests an applied research study with a practical goal of increasing cultural sensitivity through a specific intervention (peer tutoring program).

Question 6

Kenneth knows that when Jeremy drinks alcohol, he becomes very talkative. This identification of a cause of behavior exemplifies:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kenneth knows that when Jeremy drinks alcohol,...

Question 7

Which of the following is true of applied research?

Accepted Answer

Applied research is often guided by the findings of basic research. Basic research seeks to answer fundamental questions about the nature of behavior while applied research uses this knowledge to solve real-world problems. Both types of research are important and valuable in their own ways. Therefore, option A is incorrect. Option C is also incorrect as it describes the purpose of basic research. Option D is incorrect as the value of applied research does not solely depend on publication of results but on whether it produces useful outcomes for solving real-world problems.

Question 8

In the context of the goals of behavioral research, the statement "People eat more when they are alone than when they are with friends" exemplifies _____ behavior.

Accepted Answer

The statement is simply describing a phenomenon or behavior (people eating more when alone), without providing any explanation or prediction for why it occurs or under what circumstances it may occur. Describing behavior is an important step in understanding human behavior, but it is not adequate on its own to fully achieve the goals of behavioral research, which also include predicting, explaining, and understanding behavior.

Question 9

The distinction between basic research and applied research is that basic research:

Accepted Answer

Basic research focuses on understanding fundamental questions, often of a theoretical nature, while applied research focuses on identifying and resolving practical problems. Basic research is often exploratory and is aimed at gaining a deep and comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon, regardless of any practical applications. Applied research is more pragmatic and is geared towards finding solutions to real-world problems.

Question 10

Which of the following is an important consideration that people in all organizations too often fail to remember when new ideas are implemented?

Accepted Answer

Even if a new idea seems promising, it is important to evaluate its effectiveness through research and monitoring. This will help to identify if the idea is truly achieving its intended goals and if not, alternative approaches can be attempted. Ignoring the need for ongoing evaluation can result in wasted resources and unintended consequences.

Question 11

According to Cook and Campbell, what are the three types of evidence used to identify the cause of a behavior?

Accepted Answer

Cook and Campbell's three types of evidence for identifying the cause of a behavior are temporal precedence (the cause must come before the effect), covariation of cause and effect (changes in the cause must be accompanied by changes in the effect), and alternative explanations (potential alternative causes must be ruled out).

Question 12

Determining the cause of behavior is an important goal of behavioral science because:

Accepted Answer

Understanding the cause of behavior is crucial for altering it effectively, as interventions or changes can only be appropriately applied when the underlying cause is known.

Question 13

Sharon wishes to identify the food items that are purchased most frequently in the student cafeteria, and, for the purpose, she observes the students' purchasing patterns. This scenario exemplifies the goal of science to:

Accepted Answer

Sharon is observing and recording the purchasing patterns of students to identify the most frequently bought food items, which aligns with the goal of describing behavior. She is not attempting to predict, determine the cause of, or explain the behavior, but rather to document what is happening.

Question 14

Identify a true statement about basic and applied research.

Accepted Answer

The statement that the distinction between basic and applied research is a continuum is true. While there is a general distinction between the two, the lines between them can become blurred, and some research may have elements of both. Additionally, both basic and applied research are important in advancing the field of psychology. So, the best answer is B.

Question 15

In order to conclude that watching television violence gives rise to aggressive behavior in children, researchers need to show that children who watch television violence behave aggressively and that children who do not watch television violence do not behave aggressively. This is called elimination of _____.

Accepted Answer

The elimination of alternative explanations would involve ruling out other potential factors that could be causing the observed relationship between watching television violence and aggressive behavior. Temporal precedence refers to establishing that exposure to television violence precedes the development of aggressive behavior. Covariation of cause and effect involves demonstrating that as exposure to television violence increases, so does the likelihood of aggressive behavior. Illusory correlations are perceived relationships between two variables that are not actually causally related.

Question 16

Which of the following journal-article titles most likely represents an applied research study?

Accepted Answer

The article title "Increasing recycling of styrofoam containers: A test at an amusement park" includes a specific intervention aimed at achieving a tangible outcome, which suggests an applied research study. The other titles are more general descriptions of cognitive or behavioral phenomena, which are more indicative of basic research studies.

Question 17

A major area of applied research that assesses the social reforms and innovations that occur in government, industry, and mental health settings is called _____.

Accepted Answer

Program evaluation is the major area of applied research that assesses social reforms and innovations in various settings such as government, industry, and mental health. Panel studies are a type of longitudinal study that follow the same group of individuals over time. Field experiments involve manipulating and measuring variables in real-world settings. Meta-analysis involves analyzing the results of multiple studies on a similar topic to identify trends or patterns.

Question 18

Administrators at the county's juvenile hall have implemented a reward program to decrease disruptive behavior during meal times. The scientific approach would primarily dictate that the program:

Accepted Answer

The scientific approach emphasizes on collecting and analyzing data to measure the effectiveness of an intervention. Therefore, a thorough assessment of the reward program is necessary to ensure that it is achieving the intended result of reducing disruptive behavior during meal times.

Question 19

Dr. Roussel conducts research to determine whether or not an after-school program improves school performance in fifth-grade children. Dr. Roussel is most likely engaged in _____.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Roussel is evaluating a program (the after-school program) to determine its effectiveness, which falls under program evaluation research.

Question 20

Professor Gordon finds that students who read newspapers daily display more knowledge of current events than students who do not read newspapers daily. What type of evidence does this identification of a cause of behavior exemplify?

Accepted Answer

Covariation of cause and effect, as Professor Gordon has identified that there is a correlation between reading newspapers daily and knowledge of current events.

Quiz 1: Scientific Understanding of Behavior