Question 1

If a researcher wanted to study the behavior of protesters who were in a closed group and did not easily admit new people,the researcher would probably use which of the following approaches to study them?
A) naturalistic observation
B) participant observation
C) meta-analysis
D) closed-ended questions

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a researcher wanted to study the...

Question 2

When researchers collect data in a study,if they unconsciously code a person's behavior to match their expectations,we say there is:
A) a directionality problem.
B) an observer bias.
C) a sampling error.
D) reactivity.

Accepted Answer

Observer bias occurs when researchers unconsciously code a person's behavior in a way that aligns with their expectations or preconceived notions. This can lead to inaccurate or skewed results. A directionality problem refers to a lack of clarity about the direction of causality between variables, a sampling error involves selecting an unrepresentative sample for the study, and reactivity occurs when people modify their behavior in response to being observed.

Question 3

When a researcher's bias affects the coding of data,there is a problem with:
A) the Hawthorne effect.
B) experimenter expectancy.
C) a third variable.
D) confounds.

Accepted Answer

Experimenter expectancy refers to the phenomenon of a researcher's expectations influencing the results of an experiment, which can lead to biased coding of data. The Hawthorne effect refers to participants changing their behavior because they know they are being observed, while a third variable and confounds refer to other types of issues in research design and analysis.

Question 4

In which of the following types of study do researchers examine the extent to which variables are naturally related in the real world (that is,there is NO attempt by the researcher to influence the relation among the variables)?
A) descriptive
B) case
C) experimental
D) correlational

Accepted Answer

Correlational studies involve examining the natural relationship between variables without manipulating them. Descriptive studies simply describe a phenomenon or behavior, and case studies involve in-depth analysis of an individual or group. Experimental studies involve manipulation of variables to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 5

In correlational studies,we cannot interpret which variable may be the cause and which variable may be the effect.This phenomenon is known as:
A) observer bias.
B) experimenter expectancy effects.
C) the directionality problem.
D) the third variable problem.

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon where we cannot interpret which variable may be the cause and which variable may be the effect is known as the directionality problem in correlational studies. Observer bias and experimenter expectancy effects refer to biases introduced in the collection and interpretation of data, and the third variable problem refers to the possibility of a third variable affecting the relationship between the two variables being studied.

Question 6

When a researcher joins a social group and talks to the members in order to study that group,the approach is referred to as:
A) a self-report method.
B) participant observation.
C) experience sampling.
D) response performance.

Accepted Answer

Participant observation involves a researcher actively immersing themselves in a social group or situation in order to observe and collect data. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of the group's behaviors and perspectives, as the researcher is able to directly interact with and learn from the group members.

Question 7

Gwen is studying the effects of comedic film on depressed participants.She is concerned that the data collectors will produce biased observations if they know the purpose of the study.She addresses this problem by using a(n)________ study.
A) blind
B) correlational
C) experimental
D) descriptive

Accepted Answer

Blind study, also known as a single-blind study, is where the participants are unaware of the purpose of the study or what group they belong to. In Gwen's case, she can make the data collectors unaware of which participants are in the control group and which are in the experimental group. This will prevent the data collectors from producing biased observations based on their knowledge of the purpose of the study. Therefore, choice A (blind) is the best answer.

Question 8

In scientific research,a researcher's expectations about a study can lead to systematic errors in observation.This phenomenon is called:
A) observer bias.
B) critical thinking skills.
C) the third variable problem.
D) the directionality problem.

Accepted Answer

Observer bias refers to the tendency of a researcher to see what they expect to see or to interpret data in a way that is consistent with their prior beliefs or hypotheses. This can lead to systematic errors in observation and undermine the validity of the study's conclusions.

Question 9

If a researcher does not have a clear operational definition of the behavior he or she is studying,he or she might experience:
A) observer bias.
B) reactivity.
C) confounds.
D) a directionality problem.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a researcher does not have a...

Question 10

When a researcher collecting data does NOT know a study's hypothesis,the study is a ________ study.
A) blind
B) confounded
C) meta-analytic
D) reactivity

Accepted Answer

In a blind study, the researcher collecting data does not know the study's hypothesis. This can help to reduce bias in the data collection process. Confounded refers to a situation where the effect of one variable cannot be distinguished from the effect of another variable. Meta-analytic refers to a type of research that combines the results of multiple studies on a similar topic. Reactivity refers to the phenomenon where the act of observation or measurement alters the behavior or response being studied.

Question 11

If a psychologist's goal is to describe behavior or mental processes,he or she might conduct a(n)________ study.
A) experimental
B) descriptive
C) inferential
D) correlational

Accepted Answer

A descriptive study is best suited for describing behavior or mental processes as it involves observing and documenting behaviors or experiences without manipulating variables. This type of study is useful when a researcher wants to gather information about a particular phenomenon or group without influencing or changing it in any way. On the other hand, experimental studies involve manipulating variables to determine cause-and-effect relationships, correlational studies examine the relationship between two or more variables, and inferential studies involve making predictions based on data.

Question 12

In which of the following types of descriptive studies do researchers involve themselves in the situation of interest?
A) naturalistic observation
B) participant observation
C) longitudinal study
D) cross-sectional study

Accepted Answer

In participant observation, researchers immerse themselves in the situation of interest and become part of the group being studied. This allows them to obtain a deep understanding of the phenomenon being observed.

Question 13

Which of the following activities would NOT be considered a descriptive study?
A) taking notes on the behavior of members in a cult
B) measuring the selection of food items in a cafeteria
C) examining the effects of a new medication in alleviating depression
D) counting the number of mating behaviors in baboons in the natural habitat

Accepted Answer

Examining the effects of a new medication in alleviating depression is an example of an experimental study, not a descriptive study. Descriptive studies involve observing and describing behavior or characteristics, while experimental studies manipulate variables to determine cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 14

When two variables are correlated,it is not clear which one is a causal variable and which is an effect.This ambiguity reflects:
A) the third variable problem.
B) random error.
C) selection bias.
D) the directionality problem.

Accepted Answer

The ambiguity of which variable is the cause and which is the effect when two variables are correlated is known as the directionality problem. This is because the direction of the causal relationship cannot be determined solely based on the correlation between the variables.

Question 15

Data collection is particularly problematic when a researcher uses participant observation because:
A) the researcher is able to make use of only closed-ended questions.
B) the researcher fails to recognize the third variable problem.
C) random error occurs in the initial stages of observation.
D) the researcher loses objectivity in participating with a group.

Accepted Answer

Participant observation involves the researcher becoming an active member of the group being observed. This can lead to the researcher losing objectivity and becoming too involved in the group's activities to accurately observe and record data. Additionally, because the researcher is a part of the group, it may be difficult to remain objective and ask open-ended questions that could lead to meaningful data collection. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 16

Which of the following is likely to be associated with observer bias?
A) reactivity
B) experience sampling
C) experimenter expectancy
D) the Hawthorne effect

Accepted Answer

Experimenter expectancy, also known as observer bias, occurs when the researcher's expectations or biases influence the results of the study.

Question 17

In which of the following types of descriptive studies does a researcher remain separated from the situation and make no attempt to change it?
A) naturalistic observation
B) participant observation
C) longitudinal study
D) cross-sectional study

Accepted Answer

In naturalistic observation, the researcher simply observes and records behavior without attempting to manipulate or change the situation.

Question 18

The psychologist Robert Rosenthal told student researchers that some rats in a study would learn a task quickly and others would learn the task slowly.In reality,there was no difference in the rats' abilities to learn the task.When the students tested the rats,the animals' learning matched what the students were told.These results reflect the:
A) Hawthorne effect.
B) experimenter expectancy effect.
C) directionality problem.
D) third variable problem.

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes the experimenter expectancy effect, where the researchers' beliefs and expectations influence the outcome of the study. By telling the students that some rats would learn the task quickly and others would learn it slowly, they unintentionally influenced the outcome of the study. The Hawthorne effect refers to when participants alter their behavior due to their awareness of being studied, which is not demonstrated in this scenario. The directionality problem and third variable problem relate to issues of establishing cause-and-effect relationships and do not apply to this scenario.

Question 19

Researchers are likely to choose a correlational design when:
A) they are concerned that there will be a third variable problem.
B) the directionality problem is likely.
C) it is impossible to control the variables being studied.
D) they are using psychophysiological assessments.

Accepted Answer

Researchers are more likely to choose a correlational design when it is impossible to control the variables being studied. This is because in this design, variables are measured as they naturally occur without any manipulation or intervention by the researcher, as opposed to experimental designs where variables are controlled by the researcher.

Question 20

Using correlational studies,psychologists have studied whether exposure to violence in the media leads to violent behavior.They have found that participants who have been exposed to more violence in the media are,in general,more violent.It is not clear from such research which one causes the other.The problem in interpreting these results involves:
A) directionality.
B) selection bias.
C) sampling error.
D) confounds.

Accepted Answer

Correlational studies cannot establish causation, only a relationship between variables. Directionality refers to the difficulty in determining whether exposure to violence in media causes violent behavior or whether individuals who are already more prone to violence seek out violent media. Therefore, the problem in interpreting the results of the correlational studies involves directionality. Selection bias, sampling error, and confounds could also be issues in this type of research but they are not specifically mentioned in the question.

Quiz 2: Research Methodology

If a researcher wanted to study the behavior of protesters who were in a closed group and did not easily admit new people,the researcher would probably use which of the following approaches to study them?

When researchers collect data in a study,if they unconsciously code a person's behavior to match their expectations,we say there is:

When a researcher's bias affects the coding of data,there is a problem with:

In which of the following types of study do researchers examine the extent to which variables are naturally related in the real world (that is,there is NO attempt by the researcher to influence the relation among the variables) ?

In correlational studies,we cannot interpret which variable may be the cause and which variable may be the effect.This phenomenon is known as:

When a researcher joins a social group and talks to the members in order to study that group,the approach is referred to as:

Gwen is studying the effects of comedic film on depressed participants.She is concerned that the data collectors will produce biased observations if they know the purpose of the study.She addresses this problem by using a(n) ________ study.

In scientific research,a researcher's expectations about a study can lead to systematic errors in observation.This phenomenon is called:

If a researcher does not have a clear operational definition of the behavior he or she is studying,he or she might experience:

When a researcher collecting data does NOT know a study's hypothesis,the study is a ________ study.

If a psychologist's goal is to describe behavior or mental processes,he or she might conduct a(n) ________ study.

In which of the following types of descriptive studies do researchers involve themselves in the situation of interest?

Which of the following activities would NOT be considered a descriptive study?

When two variables are correlated,it is not clear which one is a causal variable and which is an effect.This ambiguity reflects:

Data collection is particularly problematic when a researcher uses participant observation because:

Which of the following is likely to be associated with observer bias?

In which of the following types of descriptive studies does a researcher remain separated from the situation and make no attempt to change it?

Researchers are likely to choose a correlational design when: