Question 1

The distinction between basic research and applied research is that basic research:
A) relies on the fundamental sciences such as chemistry or biology,whereas applied research relies on the social sciences such as psychology or sociology.
B) relies on the social sciences such as psychology or sociology,whereas applied research relies on the fundamental sciences such as chemistry or biology.
C) focuses on fundamental questions,often of a theoretical nature,whereas applied research focuses on identifying and resolving practical problems.
D) focuses on identifying and resolving practical problems,whereas applied research focuses on fundamental questions,often of a theoretical nature.

Accepted Answer

Basic research is focused on fundamental questions and aims to answer them for the sake of knowledge and understanding. Applied research, on the other hand, is focused on finding practical solutions to real-world problems. Therefore, the best choice is C, as it correctly identifies the focus of basic research on theoretical questions, while applied research seeks to resolve practical issues.

Question 2

Identify a true statement about basic and applied research.
A) Applied research tries to answer fundamental questions about the nature of behavior,whereas basic research is conducted to address issues in which there are practical problems and potential solutions.
B) The distinction between basic and applied research is a convenient typology but is probably more accurately viewed as a continuum.
C) Both basic and applied research are important,but applied research is considered to be superior than basic research.
D) All basic researches are guided by the theories and findings of applied research investigations.

Accepted Answer

The distinction between basic and applied research is not clear-cut and the two types of research are better viewed as existing on a continuum. Both types of research are important and can inform each other. Option A is incorrect as it describes the opposite of the true relationship between basic and applied research. Option C is incorrect as neither type of research is inherently superior to the other. Option D is incorrect as basic research can inform applied research but is not entirely guided by it.

Question 3

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?
A) Cognitive awareness
B) Temporal precedence of cause
C) Covariation of cause and effect
D) Elimination of alternative explanations

Accepted Answer

The identification of a cause (reading newspapers daily) and its relationship to a behavior (knowledge of current events) exemplifies covariation of cause and effect, as the two variables are shown to be related. This does not necessarily demonstrate cognitive awareness, temporal precedence of cause, or elimination of alternative explanations.

Question 4

Which of the following is true of applied research?
A) It is considered more valuable than basic research.
B) It is often guided by the findings of basic research.
C) It is designed to answer fundamental questions about the nature of behavior.
D) It is of value only if the results are published.

Accepted Answer

Applied research is typically conducted with the goal of solving specific real-world problems or improving practical applications. Therefore, it is often guided by the findings of basic research, which focuses on understanding the basic principles underlying behavior. While applied research is certainly valuable, it is not necessarily considered more valuable than basic research, which plays a critical role in advancing our understanding of human behavior. Additionally, while the results of applied research may be published, the value of the research is not dependent on publication, but rather on its ability to contribute to practical solutions.

Question 5

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 _____.
A) basic research
B) theoretical research
C) performance appraisal
D) program evaluation

Accepted Answer

Dr. Roussel is evaluating a specific program (the after-school program) to determine its effectiveness in improving school performance, which falls under program evaluation research. Basic research aims to expand knowledge in a particular field, while theoretical research seeks to build or test theories. Performance appraisal is a process used by employers to evaluate employee job performance, which is not relevant to this scenario.

Question 6

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?
A) Temporal precedence
B) Covariation of cause and effect
C) Elimination of alternative explanations
D) Observational analysis

Accepted Answer

Temporal precedence is the idea that the cause (watching television violence) must occur before the effect (actual aggression) in order to establish a causal relationship. Therefore, knowing that aggression followed after television viewing occurred is essential in establishing this relationship.

Question 7

According to Cook and Campbell,what are the three types of evidence used to identify the cause of a behavior?
A) Temporal precedence,covariation of cause and effect,and alternative explanations
B) Alternative explanations,positive linear relationship,and construct validity
C) Internal consistency reliability,item-total correlation,and covariation of cause and effect
D) Facilitated communication,alternate forms reliability,and falsifiability

Accepted Answer

Cook and Campbell identified three types of evidence that can be used to identify the cause of a behavior: temporal precedence (the cause must come before the effect), covariation of cause and effect (the cause and effect must vary together), and alternative explanations (other possible explanations for the observed relationship between the cause and effect must be ruled out). Option B refers to different types of validity, option C refers to different types of reliability, and option D proposes unrelated terms.

Question 8

Kenneth knows that when Jeremy drinks alcohol,he becomes very talkative.This identification of a cause of behavior exemplifies:
A) temporal precedence.
B) covariation of cause and effect.
C) elimination of alternative explanations.
D) observational analysis.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

Which of the following journal-article titles most likely represents an applied research study?
A) "Measurement of reaction times to different colored lights"
B) "The influence of a food reward on maze running behavior in kittens"
C) "Cognitive factors influencing logical reasoning"
D) "Increasing recycling of styrofoam containers: A test at an amusement park"

Accepted Answer

The title "Increasing recycling of styrofoam containers: A test at an amusement park" suggests a study that is focused on practical application and implementation of a strategy to increase recycling, making it an example of applied research.

Question 10

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:
A) covers theoretical issues concerning social behavior.
B) be thoroughly assessed to measure the intended result.
C) integrates theoretical concepts to eliminate ambiguity.
D) discusses the immediate practical implications and poses new questions.

Accepted Answer

The scientific approach requires that any intervention or program is thoroughly assessed to measure its intended result. Thus, implementing a reward program to decrease disruptive behavior during meal times must also be evaluated for its effectiveness through assessment.

Question 11

Which of the following journal-article titles is an example of basic research?
A) "Teaching youths with autism to offer assistance"
B) "Encouraging recycling: An evaluation of a media campaign"
C) "Effect of situational factors on assessment of blame: A test of attribution theory"
D) "Will they stay or will they go? The role of job embeddedness in predicting turnover in individualistic and collectivistic cultures."

Accepted Answer

The title "Effect of situational factors on assessment of blame: A test of attribution theory" suggests a study aimed at investigating a phenomenon or testing a theory, which is characteristic of basic research. Choices A, B, and D suggest applied research, as they all focus on practical or real-world issues, such as teaching strategies for youths with autism, promoting recycling, and predicting turnover in different cultural contexts.

Question 12

A major area of applied research that assesses the social reforms and innovations that occur in government,industry,and mental health settings is called _____.
A) a panel study
B) a field experiment
C) program evaluation
D) meta-analysis

Accepted Answer

Program evaluation is the major area of applied research that assesses the social reforms and innovations that occur in government, industry, and mental health settings. A panel study involves collecting data from the same group of people over a period of time. A field experiment involves manipulating variables in a natural setting. Meta-analysis involves combining statistical results from multiple studies.

Question 13

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:
A) falsifiability.
B) alternate forms reliability.
C) alternative explanations.
D) temporal precedence.

Accepted Answer

The researcher did not consider other possible explanations for the observed relationship between owning more than two cars and having bigger homes with more garage space and higher income. It is possible that these factors are related in a different way, and that owning more cars is just correlated with them. For example, it could be that people who have high-income jobs and large homes are more likely to own multiple cars because they can afford them, rather than the cars causing them to have bigger homes. Therefore, the researcher failed to eliminate alternative explanations.

Question 14

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:
A) describe behavior
B) predict behavior
C) determine the cause of behavior
D) explain behavior

Accepted Answer

The goal of science to describe behavior involves observing and recording phenomena. In this scenario, Sharon is observing the students' purchasing patterns to identify the food items that are purchased most frequently, which is a way of describing their behavior.

Question 15

Which of the following journal article titles represents an example of a basic research study?
A) "The effect of self-awareness on a cognitive reasoning task"
B) "Buying behavior: The influence of item shelf placement in retail grocery stores"
C) "Increasing knowledge of dangers in the home: A tri-state phone survey"
D) "A peer tutoring program as a method to increase cultural sensitivity"

Accepted Answer

A basic research study usually aims to investigate fundamental questions related to a particular phenomenon or behavior. "The effect of self-awareness on a cognitive reasoning task" is an example of a basic research question because it aims to understand a fundamental aspect of human behavior. B is an example of applied research, C is an example of survey research, and D is an example of an intervention study.

Question 16

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.
A) describing
B) predicting
C) explaining
D) understanding

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 17

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 _____.
A) temporal precedence
B) covariation of cause and effect
C) alternative explanations
D) illusory correlations

Accepted Answer

The elimination of covariation of cause and effect is necessary in order to establish that one variable (in this case, watching television violence) is actually causing another variable (aggressive behavior in children). In order to do this, researchers need to demonstrate that there is a consistent relationship between the two variables, and that this relationship persists even when other potential explanations are taken into account (such as a child's upbringing, socioeconomic status, or exposure to other forms of violence).

Question 18

Determining the cause of behavior is an important goal of behavioral science because:
A) behavior cannot be altered unless the cause is known.
B) predicting behavior necessitates a need to know the exact cause of the behavior.
C) without knowing the cause of a specific behavior,there is always the risk of generating an erroneous description.
D) it adds to the credibility of the scientist involved in behavioral research.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Determining the cause of behavior is an...

Question 19

In determining the cause of behavior,which principle considers the order when two events occur together?
A) Temporal precedence
B) Covariation of cause and effect
C) Elimination of alternative explanations
D) Observational analysis

Accepted Answer

Temporal precedence refers to the principle that in order for one event to be considered the cause of another event, it must occur before the effect. This principle considers the order of events and is important in determining causality.

Question 20

Which of the following is an important consideration that people in all organizations too often fail to remember when new ideas are implemented?
A) Social scientists should evaluate each program to determine if it is having its intended effect and if it is not,alternative programs should be tried.
B) Scientists should have strong ethical principles and be committed to treating those who participate in research investigations with respect and dignity.
C) Legislators who control the budgets of research-granting agencies of the government have demanded that research be directly relevant to specific social issues.
D) Both basic and applied research are important,and neither can be considered superior to the other.

Accepted Answer

It is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of new ideas and programs to determine their success or failure. This ensures that resources are being used effectively and alternative solutions can be explored if necessary. However, people often fail to remember this important consideration when implementing new ideas.

Quiz 1: Scientific Understanding of Behavior

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

Identify a true statement about basic and applied research.

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?

Which of the following is true of applied research?

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 _____.

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?

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

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

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

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:

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

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

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:

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

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.

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

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

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