Question 1

A psychologist visiting a classroom concludes that one of the children is depressed because the child is quiet and unresponsive.Actually,the child has the flu.The psychologist has made what error?
A)failure to distinguish correlation from causation
B)failure to distinguish inference from observation
C)failure to use experimental controls
D)failure to obtain a representative sample

Accepted Answer

The psychologist has made an inference based on the observation of the child being quiet and unresponsive. However, this inference is incorrect as the child's behavior can be explained by the presence of the flu rather than depression. This shows a failure to distinguish inference from observation.

Question 2

Kevin is a law student,who reads an advertisement for a sleep-learning device that claims to have helped a law student pass the state bar exam.Kevin should
A)immediately order this device because the correlation is evidence of the device causing the law student to pass the bar.
B)immediately order this device because a correct inference can be made from this observation.
C)order the device because systematic research has shown that these devices really work.
D)not order the device because an individual case tells nothing about what is true in general.

Accepted Answer

An individual case, in this situation, would provide insufficient evidence about the effectiveness of the sleep-learning device. It is important to consider systematic research and multiple sources of evidence before making a decision.

Question 3

In 2002,baseball pitcher Randy Johnson began wearing a particular metal-impregnated twisted rope necklace designed to "stabilize the electricity flow through the body." He claimed that it improved his pitching and his batting.By the 2010 World Series,hundreds of players were wearing one,all without any scientific explanation of,or evidence for,this rope necklace's efficacy.They bought this necklace
A)due to a single example.
B)due to a causal correlation.
C)because they failed to distinguish observation from inference.
D)due to the performance of the control group.

Accepted Answer

The players bought the necklace based on the example of Randy Johnson, who claimed it improved his performance. There is no scientific evidence to support the efficacy of the necklace. Therefore, the players' decision to buy the necklace was based on a single example.

Question 4

If a television ad tells you that a "life coach" can map out your entire career and financial future if you log­on and pay for three half-hour Web-based sessions,
A)beware of oversimplification.
B)note the difference between observation and inference.
C)remember that correlation does not mean causation.
D)realize the authenticity of the life coach has been thoroughly checked by the TV media before broadcast.

Accepted Answer

The claim that a "life coach" can map out your entire career and financial future in three half-hour Web-based sessions is oversimplified and unlikely to be accurate. Beware of claims that promise quick and easy solutions to complex problems.

Question 5

A friend tells you that he conducted a scientific experiment this summer in which he talked to ten plants and measured their growth.He found that these plants grew faster and taller than any plants he had ever grown.From your friend's research,can we conclude that talking to plants is the cause of their fast growth?
A)Yes,because the scientific data was collected.
B)Yes,because a positive correlation would found between talking and plant growth.
C)No,because the placebo effect was not considered.
D)No,because there was no control group.

Accepted Answer

Without a control group, it is impossible to determine if talking to the plants was the cause of their fast growth or if some other factor, such as the type of soil or amount of sunlight, was responsible. A control group is necessary to provide a baseline comparison for the experimental group. Therefore, we cannot conclude that talking to plants is the cause of their fast growth based on this experiment alone.

Question 6

As consumption of ice cream increases during the year,so does the number of aggravated assaults.A politician advocates that ice cream be banned so that the crime rate will go down.Besides needing to be voted out of office,this politician needs to understand
A)the dangers of a single example.
B)the difference between observation and inference.
C)the difference between correlation and causation.
D)that the Barnum effect occurs only in ten-year cycles.

Accepted Answer

The politician needs to understand the difference between correlation and causation. Just because two things are correlated (as ice cream consumption and aggravated assaults might be), it does not necessarily mean that one causes the other. It is important to consider other factors and potential causality before making drastic policy decisions.

Question 7

When reading the claims of makers of home biofeedback machines,sleep-learning devices,subliminal CDs,and the like,it is important to
A)realize that the authenticity of the report has been thoroughly checked by the media.
B)be wary of overly complex explanations.
C)consider the number of experts that are promoting the product.
D)consider whether the information is motivated by monetary gain.

Accepted Answer

It is important to consider whether the information is motivated by monetary gain because many makers of these types of products have a financial interest in promoting them. Therefore, there may be exaggerations or false claims in order to convince consumers to purchase the product.

Question 8

A theater reported that their highest beverage sales this year occurred during showings of The Great African Desert.However,we cannot conclude that the film affected beverage consumption because
A)the placebo effect was not considered.
B)only a correlation can establish causation.
C)no correlation was computed.
D)there was no control group.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A theater reported that their highest beverage...

Question 9

Incredible but false stories posted on the Internet,such as "The Health Department in Oregon Looking for Someone Fluent in the Fictional Language of Klingon," illustrates the need for readers to always
A)be skeptical.
B)be wary of overly complex explanations.
C)remember that truth is often stranger than fiction.
D)consider that numerous postings of information on the Internet are required to establish proof.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is to always be skeptical when reading stories on the internet. While some stories may be true, it is important to verify sources and facts before believing and sharing information.

Question 10

You caution a friend about eating so many foods that are high in fat content.Your friend replies that his grandfather ate all the bacon and cheese he wanted,and he lived to be 93.Which of the following is the BEST explanation for your friend's error in reasoning?
A)the Barnum effect
B)the use of individual cases
C)the self-fulfilling prophecy
D)the fallacy of negative instances

Accepted Answer

Your friend is using individual cases, specifically his grandfather's longevity despite a diet high in fat, to justify his own dietary choices. This is a fallacy because it ignores the fact that individual cases do not necessarily reflect broader trends or statistics.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the advertising by psychic advisors?
A)No one has passed the preliminary tests set up by James Randi's Million Dollar Challenge to demonstrate psychic abilities under controlled conditions.
B)Usually psychic advisor ads are promoted with a few testimonials and many unsupported claims.
C)Unlike psychic advisors,stage mentalists do not use deception with their audiences or in their advertising.
D)Psychic advisers promoted in TV commercials make use of the Barnum effect.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false as stage mentalists also use deception in their performances and advertising.

Question 12

If students who complete a study skills course raised their grade point averages,can we conclude that the course caused their improvement?
A)Yes,because the scientific data was collected.
B)Yes,because a negative correlation exists between these students' grade point averages before and after taking the course.
C)Yes,because the course resulted in a self-fulfilling prophecy.
D)No,because there was no control group.

Accepted Answer

The absence of a control group makes it impossible to determine whether the improvement in GPA was directly caused by the study skills course. Other factors, such as motivation or external factors, could have contributed to the improvement in grades. Therefore, without a control group, we cannot conclude that the course caused the improvement.

Question 13

Psychic advisers promoted in TV commercials tend to make use of the human tendency to consider personal descriptions accurate if they are stated in general terms,which is called the
A)anthropomorphic error.
B)halo effect.
C)courtesy bias.
D)Barnum effect.

Accepted Answer

The Barnum effect is the tendency for individuals to believe that personality descriptions apply specifically to them even if they are so general that they could apply to almost anyone. This is often seen in psychic readings and is used by psychic advisers to convince people to believe in their abilities.

Question 14

An advertisement promising to "unlock your hidden potential in just two hours!" should be suspect because
A)it is an oversimplification.
B)it is based on single cases and testimonials.
C)the experience is not repeatable.
D)correlation does not mean causation.

Accepted Answer

It is unlikely that a complex process such as unlocking hidden potential could be achieved in just two hours, making the advertisement an oversimplification. Additionally, true personal growth typically requires ongoing effort and practice, rather than a quick fix.

Question 15

A researcher determines that the crime rate in a large city is related to the phases of the moon.She concludes that the gravitational pull of the moon influences human behavior.She does not understand
A)the dangers of a single example.
B)the difference between observation and inference.
C)the difference between correlation and causation.
D)that the Barnum effect occurs only in ten-year cycles.

Accepted Answer

The researcher is making an inference based on correlation. Just because two things are correlated (in this case, crime rate and moon phase), it doesn't mean that one causes the other. There could be other factors at play. The researcher should understand the difference between correlation and causation.

Question 16

When newspaper or magazine articles claim the effectiveness of some product or service,it is wise to
A)realize that the authenticity of the report has been thoroughly checked by the media.
B)be wary of overly complex explanations.
C)remember that truth is often stranger than fiction.
D)consider the source of the information.

Accepted Answer

It is important to consider the source of the information when evaluating the effectiveness of a product or service. The credibility and potential biases of the source can greatly impact the accuracy of the reported information.

Question 17

A psychologist finds that most of the juvenile delinquents at the facility where he counsels have parents who are smokers.If he concludes that parental smoking is the reason for these teens' behavior and poor choices,then he has
A)made a sound conclusion based on scientific observation.
B)confused correlation and causation.
C)based his conclusion on unreliable sources of information.
D)confused observation and inference.

Accepted Answer

The psychologist has only found a correlation between parental smoking and juvenile delinquency. It is possible that there are other factors involved in the teens' behavior and poor choices. Therefore, it would be incorrect to conclude that parental smoking is the cause of their behavior without further research. Confusing correlation and causation is a common logical fallacy.

Question 18

The modern media,and especially the Internet,function as a giant "echo chamber" awash with rumors,hoaxes,half­ truths,and urban legends like the one about giant alligators living in New York sewers.Therefore,as a critical thinker,you should
A)be skeptical.
B)be wary of overly complex explanations.
C)remember that truth is often stranger than fiction.
D)remember that numerous postings of information on the Internet are required to establish proof.

Accepted Answer

As mentioned in the question, the modern media and Internet are filled with rumors, hoaxes, and half-truths. Therefore, it is essential to be skeptical and critically evaluate the information before accepting it as true.

Question 19

Regarding psychology in the media,which of the following statements is FALSE?
A)Psychology is a popular topic in contemporary media.
B)Most of the time the stories in the media regarding psychology are based more on critical thinking or science than on just entertainment value.
C)Modern media,especially the Internet,function as a giant "echo chamber" awash with rumors,hoaxes,half­ truths,and urban legends.
D)Reports in the popular media tend to be made with a definite bias toward reporting "astonishing" findings and telling interesting stories.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. In reality, many stories in the media related to psychology are based on entertainment value and sensationalism rather than critical thinking and science.

Question 20

Regarding the use of examples,anecdotes,single cases,and testimonials in advertising,which of the following statements is TRUE?
A)They should be viewed as valid indicators of the authenticity of the product or service.
B)They all create a courtesy bias within the customer.
C)They are all potentially deceptive because individual cases tell us nothing about what is true in general.
D)They are all invalid due to the Barnum effect.

Accepted Answer

Using examples, anecdotes, single cases, and testimonials in advertising is potentially deceptive because individual cases do not represent what is true in general. This is because they are often subject to selection bias, where only the positive experiences are chosen to be included. It is important to consider larger sample sizes and empirical evidence when evaluating the legitimacy of a product or service.

Quiz 7: Psychology in Action: Thinking Critically About the Media

A psychologist visiting a classroom concludes that one of the children is depressed because the child is quiet and unresponsive.Actually,the child has the flu.The psychologist has made what error?

Kevin is a law student,who reads an advertisement for a sleep-learning device that claims to have helped a law student pass the state bar exam.Kevin should

If a television ad tells you that a "life coach" can map out your entire career and financial future if you logon and pay for three half-hour Web-based sessions,

As consumption of ice cream increases during the year,so does the number of aggravated assaults.A politician advocates that ice cream be banned so that the crime rate will go down.Besides needing to be voted out of office,this politician needs to understand

When reading the claims of makers of home biofeedback machines,sleep-learning devices,subliminal CDs,and the like,it is important to

A theater reported that their highest beverage sales this year occurred during showings of The Great African Desert.However,we cannot conclude that the film affected beverage consumption because

Incredible but false stories posted on the Internet,such as "The Health Department in Oregon Looking for Someone Fluent in the Fictional Language of Klingon," illustrates the need for readers to always

You caution a friend about eating so many foods that are high in fat content.Your friend replies that his grandfather ate all the bacon and cheese he wanted,and he lived to be 93.Which of the following is the BEST explanation for your friend's error in reasoning?

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the advertising by psychic advisors?

If students who complete a study skills course raised their grade point averages,can we conclude that the course caused their improvement?

Psychic advisers promoted in TV commercials tend to make use of the human tendency to consider personal descriptions accurate if they are stated in general terms,which is called the

An advertisement promising to "unlock your hidden potential in just two hours!" should be suspect because

A researcher determines that the crime rate in a large city is related to the phases of the moon.She concludes that the gravitational pull of the moon influences human behavior.She does not understand

When newspaper or magazine articles claim the effectiveness of some product or service,it is wise to

A psychologist finds that most of the juvenile delinquents at the facility where he counsels have parents who are smokers.If he concludes that parental smoking is the reason for these teens' behavior and poor choices,then he has

The modern media,and especially the Internet,function as a giant "echo chamber" awash with rumors,hoaxes,half truths,and urban legends like the one about giant alligators living in New York sewers.Therefore,as a critical thinker,you should

Regarding psychology in the media,which of the following statements is FALSE?

Regarding the use of examples,anecdotes,single cases,and testimonials in advertising,which of the following statements is TRUE?