Question 1

When researchers observe a correlation between two variables,such as between the amount of time spent studying and test scores,they know that

Accepted Answer

Observing a correlation between two variables does not determine which variable causes the other. Therefore, neither option A nor B can be assumed to be true. Therefore, the correct answer is D- neither A nor B.

Question 2

The criteria used to classify and define mental disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders represent an illustration of which of the following goals of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

The criteria used to classify and define mental disorders in the DSM represents the goal of description in the scientific method, as it aims to provide a comprehensive and detailed description of the symptoms and characteristics of different mental disorders.

Question 3

Research that focuses on describing the unique characteristics of individuals is referred to as the

Accepted Answer

The idiographic approach is centered around describing the unique characteristics of individuals, as opposed to the nomothetic approach, which focuses on establishing general principles that apply to large groups of people. The other options listed are not accurate descriptions of this type of research.

Question 4

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between correlation and causation?

Accepted Answer

Correlation is a statistical relationship between two variables, but it does not necessarily mean that one variable causes the other. There could be other factors or variables that influence the relationship. Therefore, correlation does not imply causation.

Question 5

Four goals of research in psychology are

Accepted Answer

The four goals of research in psychology are commonly accepted to be description (describing behavior), prediction (predicting when and under what circumstances the behavior will occur), explanation (explaining why the behavior occurs), and application (using the information gathered from research to solve practical problems). Option B best captures these four goals. Option A focuses more on the methods used in research (reliability, validity, experimentation), while option C includes correlation as a goal, which is actually a method of analysis. Option D includes important aspects of research (observation, measurement, causal inference), but does not fully encompass the four overarching goals of psychology research.

Question 6

A correlational study is uniquely useful for meeting which of the following goals of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

Correlational studies are useful for predicting the relationship between two variables, but they do not establish causation or provide explanations for why the relationship exists.

Question 7

Research has indicated that amount of undergraduate research activity predicts measures of later success in the profession of psychology.For this prediction to be possible,undergraduate research activity and later success must be

Accepted Answer

For a prediction to be possible based on undergraduate research activity about later success in psychology, there must be a correlation between the two variables. This means that as one variable changes, the other variable tends to change in a predictable way. Correlation does not imply causation but is necessary for making predictions.

Question 8

When an hypothesis is stated in such a way that the event to be explained becomes the explanation itself (e.g.,the child is distractable because he has attention deficit disorder),the hypothesis is said to be

Accepted Answer

The hypothesis is circular because it uses the event to be explained (distractability) as the explanation itself, without providing any independent evidence or explanation for attention deficit disorder. This does not provide a clear explanation and instead creates a circular reasoning.

Question 9

The nomothetic approach in psychology (or in any science)is intended to establish broad generalizations and universal "laws." When using the nomothetic approach researchers are likely to make

Accepted Answer

The nomothetic approach typically involves making observations of many individuals and focusing on the average or typical score. This allows researchers to establish broad generalizations and universal laws that apply to a large group of people. It is not focused on extreme scores or the scores that occur most often, nor does it involve many observations of one individual.

Question 10

who live on the streets of Toronto about their experiences with suicide.When the researchers read transcripts of the interviews,they noticed themes of isolation and rejection.This is an example of ____________ research.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of qualitative research, as it involves analyzing interviews and identifying common themes and experiences. It is not idiographic, as it is not focused on understanding individual cases in depth, nor is it correlational or explanatory, as it is not focused on identifying relationships between variables or testing hypotheses.

Question 11

When research consists of verbal summaries of "naturally occurring,ordinary events in natural settings" the research is

Accepted Answer

Verbal summaries of naturally occurring events in natural settings are more likely to be qualitative research than quantitative research because qualitative research focuses on understanding experiences, perceptions, and meanings attributed to phenomena rather than measuring or quantifying them. Verbal summaries of events in natural settings are often used in qualitative research to explore and gain insights into people's experiences and interpretations of everyday life events.

Question 12

A researcher asks a sample of 200 individuals to complete a questionnaire.She then computes statistics to describe how individuals respond in general to the questions.This researcher's approach is

Accepted Answer

The researcher's approach is nomothetic, meaning they are interested in generalizing their findings to a larger population, rather than focusing on individual cases. The approach is also quantitative, as the researcher is using statistics to describe the responses.

Question 13

A cross-cultural study that examined helping behaviors in 23 large cities around the world found that,in general,people in Rio de Janeiro were most helpful and people in Kuala Lampur were least helpful.From these findings,we know that

Accepted Answer

The study only provides information about the general tendencies of people in the two cities to exhibit helpful behaviors. It does not provide information about every individual in either city, nor does it provide information about the specific demographics or populations of the cities. Therefore, none of the given options are necessarily true based on the information provided.

Question 14

Using the nomothetic approach,psychologists seek to

Accepted Answer

Nomothetic approach emphasizes the study of general principles of behavior that can be applied to many people instead of focusing on individual differences. Therefore, psychologists who use this approach aim to establish general laws of behavior that apply to a diverse population.

Question 15

A correlation exists when

Accepted Answer

A correlation exists when there is a relationship between two measures of the same people, events, or things that vary together. It does not necessarily imply causation, but rather a statistical association. Therefore, options A, B, and D are incorrect.

Question 16

Researchers have shown that teacher evaluations based on brief viewings of videotapes made by students who were not enrolled in a course correlate well with end-of-the-semester teacher evaluations made by students enrolled in the class.The researchers suggest that the relationship occurs because people can make relatively accurate judgments of affective behavior (e.g.,likableness)very quickly because doing so is adaptive.Based on the correlational evidence alone,the researchers' explanation for their findings can best be considered

Accepted Answer

The researchers' explanation is speculative because it is based on a correlation and has not been tested through experimental manipulation or other methods of establishing causality.

Question 17

The research goal of "prediction" is most associated with _________ research,and the research goal of "explanation" is most associated with _________ research.

Accepted Answer

Correlational research seeks to establish a relationship or association between two or more variables. The goal of such research is often prediction. On the other hand, experimental research seeks to explain a cause-and-effect relationship between variables. Its goal is often explanation. Therefore, the research goal of "prediction" is most associated with correlational research, and the research goal of "explanation" is most associated with experimental research.

Question 18

Which of the following characterizes the majority of the research conducted in psychology?

Accepted Answer

The majority of the research conducted in psychology is quantitative, which involves measuring variables and using statistical analyses to determine patterns and relationships. Additionally, the nomothetic approach focuses on identifying general laws and principles that apply to groups of individuals, which is a common approach in psychology research.

Question 19

Researchers demonstrated a relationship between the extent to which people in large cities help strangers and the degree of cultural embeddedness in the city (i.e.,concern for family and in-group members).As cultural embeddedness increased,people were less likely to help strangers.This relationship indicates that

Accepted Answer

The statement indicates a correlation between cultural embeddedness and willingness to help strangers, but it does not establish causation in either direction.

Question 20

Correlations are valuable because they allow psychologists to

Accepted Answer

Correlations allow psychologists to make predictions by examining how two variables covary, but they do not establish causation or directly create change.

Quiz 2: The Scientific Method