Question 1

The temptation to attribute human thoughts,feelings,and motives to animals is called the _______ error.

Accepted Answer

Anthropomorphic error is the tendency to attribute human qualities to non-human entities such as animals or inanimate objects. It is a common error in interpreting animal behavior and can lead to misunderstandings of their true nature and motivations.

Question 2

Teachers in one study were told to watch normal elementary school children who had been labeled for the study as "learning disabled," "intellectually disabled," "emotionally disturbed," or "normal." Sadly,the teachers gave the children very different ratings,depending on the labels used.This illustrates the serious consequences of

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes observer bias, which occurs when preconceived beliefs or expectations about a group of individuals influence the observer's perception and ratings of the behavior or characteristics of those individuals. This can lead to inaccurate or unfair evaluations. The other options (A, B, D) do not accurately describe the situation described in the scenario.

Question 3

A researcher observing children and recording only those details that match his expectations would be

Accepted Answer

This behavior would demonstrate observer bias, where the researcher's preconceived beliefs and expectations influence their observations and what they record. The observer effect refers to the phenomenon where the presence of an observer changes the behavior of those being observed. Scientific surveys and case studies involve more systematic and objective approaches to data collection.

Question 4

In keeping an observational record,which of the following methods tends to be the most objective?

Accepted Answer

Video recording tends to be the most objective method to keep an observational record because it captures the exact behavior of the subject without any interpretation or bias from the observer. It can also be reviewed by multiple observers to ensure accuracy and reduce individual biases.

Question 5

A psychologist notes an association between the IQs of parents and their children,or between beauty and social popularity,or between anxiety and test performance.In each case,two events are correlated,which means

Accepted Answer

Correlation means that the two events are linked together in an orderly way, but it does not necessarily mean that one caused the other. Correlation allows for the possibility of other factors influencing the relationship between the two events.

Question 6

The anthropomorphic error would pose the greatest problem for which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Comparative psychologists study animal behavior and would be most affected by anthropomorphic error, which is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human entities like animals. This error can lead to inaccurate conclusions about animal behavior and can limit our understanding of it. Clinical, Freudian, and humanist psychologists study human behavior and would not be as affected by anthropomorphic error in their work.

Question 7

A police officer expecting criminal behavior shoots a person who is reaching for his wallet because he perceives the suspect as reaching for a gun.This is a dangerous example of the

Accepted Answer

Observer bias refers to the tendency for an observer to distort or influence what they see based on their own preconceived expectations or beliefs. In this scenario, the police officer's expectation of criminal behavior led to a biased perception of the suspect's actions, resulting in the shooting.

Question 8

Zoologists have attached minaturized cameras called "critter cams" directly to many species allowing observations in a wide range of natural environments with the use of these tiny cameras minimizing the

Accepted Answer

The observer effect occurs when the act of observing something changes the outcomes or behavior being observed. By using critter cams, zoologists are able to minimize the observer effect as they are not directly present to potentially influence the behavior of the animals they are studying.

Question 9

My cat knows when I am upset and comes and comforts me.In psychology this is an example of

Accepted Answer

The answer of My cat knows when I am upset...

Question 10

A teacher asks the school psychologist to observe her class through the two-way mirror and determine why the class disruptions are occurring.Just as the psychologist is walking into the room off to the side of the classroom to observe,the teacher assistant tells the psychologist,"Pay close attention to Claire and Robert over there by the maps.I think they are the real troublemakers in the class." After this encounter,the school psychologist will have to struggle with the

Accepted Answer

The teacher assistant's comment could bias the school psychologist's observation, causing him/her to focus too much on Claire and Robert and potentially miss other factors that may be contributing to the class disruptions. This is an example of observer bias, which is the tendency of an observer to see what they expect or want to see rather than what is actually happening.

Question 11

Psychologists conducting naturalistic studies make a special effort to minimize bias by keeping a detailed summary of data and observations known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A naturalistic study is an observation of behavior in its natural setting without manipulating any variables. To minimize bias, psychologists keep a detailed record of their observations, known as an observation record. The other options don't accurately describe this type of record.

Question 12

A researcher observes the play activities of children at recess.The videotape of these play activities serves as the

Accepted Answer

The videotape of the play activities serves as an observation record, capturing the data of the behaviors observed during recess.

Question 13

A college student has volunteered to tutor students in a first-grade classroom.She hopes to gain a realistic picture of the everyday behavior of these students.However,every time she enters the classroom,the students all stop what they are doing and run up to her begging her to tutor them next.This college student will probably never get a realistic picture of a typical first grader's school day because of the

Accepted Answer

The observer effect refers to how the presence of an observer can influence the behavior of those being observed. In this case, the first-grade students are stopping their usual activities and running up to the college student because they are excited about the prospect of being tutored by her. This is likely due to the observer effect, and it means that the college student may not be able to observe the typical behavior of the students when she is present.

Question 14

Sometimes observers in naturalistic observation see what they expect to see even when it doesn't occur.This problem is called

Accepted Answer

Observer bias refers to when an observer's expectations or beliefs influence their interpretation of the observed behavior. This can lead to seeing what they expect or want to see instead of what is actually happening.

Question 15

In observing the changes in their clients during therapy,psychologists often believe they get better results when using the type of therapy they favor.This illustrates the

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes observer bias, which is the tendency for an observer to see what they expect or want to see, based on their personal beliefs, preferences, or preconceived notions. In this case, the psychologist's preference for a specific type of therapy may influence their perception of their clients' progress, leading them to believe that their favored therapy is more effective.

Question 16

A person who praises his or her dog for its loyalty and devotion to its master is committing a(n)

Accepted Answer

Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human-like qualities or characteristics to non-human entities or animals, including pets. Praising a dog for its loyalty and devotion is an example of anthropomorphism because it projects human emotions and motives onto the dog.

Question 17

You go to Africa to study elephants.You follow one particular group,and one day you observe the other members of the group gather around a sick and dying elephant.The healthy elephants shuffle and trumpet and act in an agitated manner.You conclude that they are sad because one of their members is dying.Without any other evidence,you have just

Accepted Answer

The anthropomorphic error is the tendency to attribute human emotions and behaviors to non-human animals without sufficient evidence. In this case, assuming that the elephants are "sad" is an example of anthropomorphism because it assumes that they have emotions that are similar to our own, even though there is no direct evidence for this.

Question 18

Which of the following is an appropriate use of naturalistic observation?

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation is an appropriate method to raise questions and suggest hypotheses because the researcher simply observes and records behavior as it occurs naturally without any manipulation or interference. This method can help identify patterns and generate ideas for further research. However, it is not suitable for testing cause-and-effect relationships or developing formal psychological theory as it lacks experimental control and manipulations.

Question 19

Helen ties a frilly blue bow around the neck of her husband's bulldog,Bruiser.When her husband sees Bruiser trying to take the bow off,he explains to his wife that Bruiser is embarrassed to be seen wearing "the frilly little bow." Her husband's comment illustrates the

Accepted Answer

The husband's comment is an example of anthropomorphism, which is attributing human emotions and motives to non-human animals. In this case, the husband is assuming that Bruiser is embarrassed by the bow, which is a human emotion that may not apply to a dog.

Question 20

The existence of a consistent,systematic relationship between two events,measures,or variables is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

The consistent and systematic relationship between two events or variables is known as correlation. Survey error refers to inaccuracies in data collection, statistical anomaly refers to outlier data points, and confirmation bias refers to the tendency to interpret evidence in a way that confirms preexisting beliefs or expectations.

Quiz 6: Introducing Psychology: Non-Experimental Research Methods