Question 1

To identify which brain areas are most active when a person suffering from schizophrenia has hallucinations, researchers could use a(n) _____ scan to track the use of radioactively tagged glucose throughout the brain.

Accepted Answer

PET scan is the best choice to track the use of radioactively tagged glucose throughout the brain. It can help identify which brain areas are most active when a person suffering from schizophrenia has hallucinations.

Question 2

A study investigating the effects of a naturally occurring event on the research participants is known as:

Accepted Answer

A natural experiment involves the study of the effects of a naturally occurring event on the research participants, making it the best choice out of the given options. Correlational research investigates the relationship between two variables, a case study research examines a particular individual or group in-depth, and the double-blind technique is a method to control for bias in studies where neither the participant nor the researcher knows which group they are in.

Question 3

As part of her graduate research Lydia conducted a study on how college students respond to hypothetical moral dilemmas. She read the dilemmas aloud to the participants and then asked a series of questions. When a participant responded in a manner that supported her hypothesis, Lydia nodded slightly in agreement. Lydia's behavior illustrates the concept of:

Accepted Answer

Lydia's behavior of nodding slightly in agreement is likely to influence participants' responses, as they may try to give answers that they believe are consistent with what Lydia expects or wants to hear. This is an example of demand characteristics, which refers to cues in an experiment that convey information about the study's purpose or how participants are expected to behave.

Question 4

Six-year-old Gary could not stop throwing up after being hit on his head. To help detect possible damage or brain swelling, doctors took a detailed image of the boy's brain structures using a powerful, non-invasive technique that involves harmless magnetic fields. What instrument was used?

Accepted Answer

The non-invasive technique that involves harmless magnetic fields is an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanner. PET scanner uses a radioactive tracer to create images, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) instrument is used for electric shock treatment and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used for therapeutic purposes. None of the three options involve magnetic fields. Therefore, the best choice is D, MRI scanner.

Question 5

An experimental control in which neither the researchers nor the participants are aware of the treatment or condition to which the participants have been assigned is called _____.

Accepted Answer

The double-blind technique is used to avoid bias in research studies by ensuring that neither the researchers nor the participants are aware of the treatment or condition being tested. This helps to eliminate any potential placebo effects or other biases that might come into play if either group knows which treatment they are receiving. The correlation technique is a statistical tool used to measure associations between variables, while the pseudoscientific method is a set of flawed or incomplete methods that can give the appearance of science, but are not based on scientific principles. Meta-analysis is a statistical method used to synthesize and analyze data from multiple studies to draw conclusions about the overall effect of a particular treatment or intervention.

Question 6

After the dictatorship ended in Slobonia, many children were found in state-run orphanages where they had been badly treated and often neglected. These children were placed for adoption and researchers followed their progress over a number of years, measuring psychological and physical indicators of well-being. This type of research is called:

Accepted Answer

This is a natural experiment, where the situation occurred naturally (the end of the dictatorship) and the researchers did not manipulate any variables. They simply observed the effects of the situation on the children who were placed for adoption.

Question 7

Which of the following techniques or instruments generates color-coded images of the brain's activity by tracking a small amount of radioactively tagged compound, such as glucose, oxygen, or a drug that is injected into the person's bloodstream?

Accepted Answer

Positron emission tomography (PET) generates color-coded images of the brain's activity by tracking a small amount of radioactively tagged compound, such as glucose, oxygen, or a drug that is injected into the person's bloodstream. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are methods of stimulating or modifying brain activity, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate images of the brain's structure.

Question 8

In a double-blind study:

Accepted Answer

In a double-blind study, both the participants and the researcher who interacts with them are unaware of the treatment or condition to which the participants have been assigned. This is done to avoid biases and ensure the validity of the study results.

Question 9

The results of experiments conducted in a laboratory may not _____ well, meaning that the results cannot be applied to real-world situations or to more general populations beyond the participants in a study.

Accepted Answer

Generalization refers to the ability to apply the results to larger populations or real-world situations. Replication and duplication refer to the ability to reproduce the results in a different study or with the same participants, while internalization refers to the personalization of new knowledge or skills.

Question 10

The purpose of using a double-blind research design is to:

Accepted Answer

The purpose of using a double-blind research design is to guard against the possibility that a researcher will inadvertently communicate the behavior that is expected of the participants. This is done by ensuring that neither the researcher nor the participants know which group they are assigned to (i.e. treatment or control) until after the study is completed.

Question 11

When evaluating research claims it is important to engage in _____, which involves actively questioning statements rather than blindly accepting them.

Accepted Answer

Scientific replication involves repeating studies to verify results, which is a critical part of questioning and validating research claims.

Question 12

Limitations of experimental research include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Experimental research may face limitations when the phenomena of interest are impossible or unethical to manipulate or control in an experimental setting.

Question 13

A placebo effect is:

Accepted Answer

A placebo effect refers to a change in a subject's behavior or symptoms that are not due to the actual drug, treatment, or procedure but to the subject's beliefs and expectations about them. For example, if a person takes a sugar pill thinking that it is a pain reliever, they may feel better even though the pill has no active ingredients.

Question 14

A natural experiment is a study that:

Accepted Answer

A natural experiment involves the investigation of the effects of a naturally occurring event on the research participants. This could be an event such as a natural disaster or a policy change that affects a particular group of people. The researchers do not manipulate the situation, but instead observe the effects of the event on the participants.

Question 15

Which of the following four steps are used when determining the validity of a scientific claim?

Accepted Answer

The steps listed in option D are specifically focused on evaluating the validity of a claim or research finding, whereas the other options involve more general steps in the scientific process such as hypothesis formulation and data analysis. Option D includes identifying the claim, which is important in assessing the validity of a scientific assertion, and also emphasizes considering alternative explanations and the source of the claim, which are crucial in distinguishing credible scientific research from pseudoscience or unreliable sources.

Question 16

A placebo is:

Accepted Answer

A placebo is a fake substance, treatment, or procedure that has no known direct effects. It is often used in clinical trials as a control group to compare the effects of a new medication or treatment against.

Question 17

In a study on the effects of caffeine on memory, Dr. Levine asked participants to drink a bottle of unflavored water containing 100, 50, or 0 milligrams of caffeine. Neither Dr. Levine nor the study participants knew whether the water contained caffeine or not. This is an example of a _____ study.

Accepted Answer

This is a double-blind study because both the participants and the experimenter (Dr. Levine) are unaware of whether the water contains caffeine or not, which helps to reduce bias and increase the validity of the results.

Question 18

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI):

Accepted Answer

fMRI combines the ability to create detailed brain images with the ability to track the brain's activity and functioning. It does not involve injecting the participant with a radioactive compound like PET scans, and it can be repeatedly used unlike SPECT scans.

Question 19

Experiments can provide important information, but they also have limitations. Which of the following is one of the limitations discussed in textbook?

Accepted Answer

One of the limitations of experiments discussed in textbook is that they are often conducted in highly controlled laboratory environments and thus may have little to do with actual behavior. This means that the findings may not generalize to real-life situations.

Question 20

One limitation of naturalistic experiments is that:

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic experiments involve observing individuals in their natural environment, but researchers cannot manipulate or control the situations in which participants find themselves. This means that researchers cannot randomly assign large numbers of participants to different living situations for long periods, which limits the scope of naturalistic experiments. This makes choice C the correct answer. A, B, and D are incorrect because naturalistic experiments can provide insights into cause-and-effect relationships, can be conducted in an unbiased manner, and do not necessarily have to be conducted in a lab setting.

Quiz 1: Section 2: Introduction and Research Methods