Question 1

Numerical characterisations that describe data are known as

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics are used to describe and summarize data using numerical characterizations, such as measures of central tendency (A) and measures of dispersion (C). Inferential statistics (B) are used to make inferences or predictions based on a sample about a larger population.

Question 2

If a statistician asks you, his assistant, to calculate the middle score from a data set, he is asking you to determine the value of the ________.

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The answer of If a statistician asks you, his assistant,...

Question 3

This simplest measure of variability is the

Accepted Answer

The range is the difference between the largest and smallest values in a set of data, making it the simplest measure of variability. The mean and standard deviation take into account all the values in the dataset and require more complex calculations. The mode only considers the most frequently occurring value and may not be a useful measure of variability in all situations.

Question 4

Bauer (1992)argued that the scientific method is a myth because the techniques and strategies employed by scientists vary according to the ________ in which they are working.

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The answer of Bauer (1992)argued that the scientific method is...

Question 5

Explain why no single measure of central tendency and measure of dispersion exists that a researcher can use every single time.

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The answer of Explain why no single measure of central...

Question 6

Describe the roles of Human Research Ethics Committees and statements of informed consent within the human research process.

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The answer of Describe the roles of Human Research Ethics...

Question 7

The NHMRC has developed the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes. At the heart of the code are the three Rs of ethical animal experimentation:

Accepted Answer

The Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes centers around the three Rs of replacement, reduction, and refinement. These principles aim to minimize harm to animals used in research and promote ethical treatment of animals in scientific experiments.

Question 8

A researcher wishes to generalise his findings beyond the people at the organisation he is studying in Queensland. He wants to attempt to show that the findings apply to all people who work in similar types of organisation throughout Australia. He should use ________ to analyse his data.

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics would be the best choice for generalising findings beyond a specific sample to a larger population. This type of statistical analysis allows us to make inferences or generalisations about a larger group based on a smaller sample. Descriptive statistics are used to summarise and describe data, while correlational statistics examine the relationship between two or more variables. Logical statistics is not a recognised term in statistics.

Question 9

Dr Williams believes that by administering brief electric shocks to his students, he can improve their attention to his lectures. He blames daydreaming and inattention by his students for their poor performance in his class. His colleagues are not convinced that the potential benefits to the students will outweigh the physical pain they may endure. Ultimately, what will Dr Williams have to obtain from his students before proceeding?

Accepted Answer

Dr Williams must obtain informed consent from his students before proceeding with his plan to administer electric shocks. Informed consent involves providing the students with all the necessary information about the study, including potential risks and benefits, and allowing them to make an informed decision about whether or not to participate. Since the electric shocks could potentially cause physical pain or harm, it is essential that the students understand the nature of the experiment and give their consent before it begins.

Question 10

Which of the following is a measure of central tendency?

Accepted Answer

Mode is a measure of central tendency that refers to the most frequently occurring value in a dataset. Variability (B) and range (C) are measures of dispersion or spread, while standard deviation (D) measures the average amount of variability or deviation from the mean.

Question 11

What is the authors' position on the use of animal research in psychology?

Accepted Answer

The authors' position is that animal research provides important insights, but it also comes with costs in terms of the death and suffering of these subjects. This suggests that while the authors value the insights gained through animal research, they recognize that there are ethical concerns that must be taken seriously. There is no indication that the authors believe all animal research should be ended or that it is more desirable to harm animals than to harm humans, and they do not suggest that results from animal research are irrelevant to understanding human behavior.

Question 12

A university president asks her psychology department chair if the university has more male or more female undergraduate psychology majors. What measure of central tendency is she asking about?

Accepted Answer

The mode is the measure of central tendency that identifies the most frequently occurring category or value in a dataset. In this context, the president is asking which gender is more common among psychology majors, which relates to the mode.

Question 13

Professor Wagner is explaining to his subjects the purpose behind the experiment they just participated in, along with a general description of the results. He is engaging in what aspect of a research study?

Accepted Answer

Debriefing is the process of providing participants with information about the purpose, procedures, and results of a study. It is important for ethical reasons and to ensure the participants feel comfortable with their participation. In this case, Professor Wagner is engaging in debriefing by explaining the purpose and results of the experiment to his subjects.

Question 14

The preferred measure of variability in descriptive statistics is the ________.

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The answer of The preferred measure of variability in descriptive...

Question 15

In most experimental and correlational studies, the researcher is required to obtain the participant's ________.

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The answer of In most experimental and correlational studies, the...

Question 16

In which situation would presenting the mean as one's measure of central tendency be least accurate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In which situation would presenting the mean...

Question 17

A British literature instructor examines the number of class periods his students have missed by mid-terms and has the following data: 1, 0, 10, 0, 2, 1, 0, 0, 5, 2, 3, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2. What is the median for this data set?

Accepted Answer

To find the median, we need to arrange the data set in order from smallest to largest: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 5, 10. The middle value(s) is the median, which in this case is 1 since there are an equal number (9) of values on either side of it.

Question 18

Mathematical methods that allow us to determine whether we can generalise findings from our sample to the full population are called

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics allow us to make inferences or generalizations about a larger population based on our sample data. Central tendencies (A) and dispersion (C) are descriptive statistics that describe the characteristics of the sample, and descriptive statistics (D) simply summarize or describe the sample data.

Question 19

When debating the use of animals as research subjects, people often forget that research on animals

Accepted Answer

The answer of When debating the use of animals as...

Question 20

The application of mathematics to describe and analyse data is known as

Accepted Answer

The application of mathematics to describe and analyze data is known as statistics. Option A, Dispersion is one of the measures of variability used in statistics. Option B, data reduction is the process of reducing the size and complexity of the data while preserving its key features. Option D, Psychometrics is a field of study concerned with the theory and techniques of psychological measurement, including the measurement of knowledge, abilities, attitudes, and personality traits.

Quiz 2: Research Methods