Question 1

Little Hans' extreme fear of horses was observed as part of a(n)
A) experiment.
B) survey.
C) case study.
D) double-blind procedure.

Accepted Answer

Little Hans' extreme fear of horses was observed as part of a case study conducted by Sigmund Freud.

Question 2

The case study is a research method in which
A) a single individual or group is studied in great depth.
B) a representative sample of people are questioned regarding their opinions or behaviors.
C) organisms are carefully observed in a laboratory environment.
D) an investigator manipulates one or more variables that might affect behavior.

Accepted Answer

The case study method involves studying a single individual or group in great depth, often over a prolonged period of time, to gain a detailed understanding of their unique experiences and behaviors. This method is useful for exploring complex and rare phenomena, and can provide rich qualitative data that can inform theory and practice.

Question 3

Dr.Psychology is studying the relationship between alcohol intoxication and risky driving behaviors.Dr.Psychology defines alcohol intoxication as having a blood alcohol level of .08.This definition of alcohol intoxication is a(n)
A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) operational definition.
D) hunch.

Accepted Answer

The definition of alcohol intoxication given by Dr. Psychology is an operational definition because it defines a concept (alcohol intoxication) in measurable terms (a blood alcohol level of .08).

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a descriptive method?
A) case study
B) naturalistic observation
C) survey
D) experiment

Accepted Answer

Case study, naturalistic observation, and survey are all types of descriptive methods, as they aim to observe and describe behavior without manipulating any variables. Experiment, on the other hand, is a type of experimental method, as it involves manipulating variables to observe their effects on behavior.

Question 5

Dr.Jones is studying the effect of room lighting on college students' test performance and has defined room lighting as either dimly lit or brightly lit.This definition is an example of a(n)
A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) operational definition.
D) hunch.

Accepted Answer

An operational definition is a clear, concise description of how a variable is going to be measured in a particular study. In this case, Dr. Jones is defining room lighting as either dimly lit or brightly lit, which is an operational definition. A theory is a well-established explanation for a phenomenon, a hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction about the outcome of a study, and a hunch is an informal idea or intuition without any evidence to support it.

Question 6

Professor Ober carefully observes and records the behaviors of children in their classrooms in order to track the development of their social and intellectual skills.Professor Ober is most clearly engaged in
A) survey research.
B) naturalistic observation.
C) experimentation.
D) replication.

Accepted Answer

Professor Ober is engaged in naturalistic observation as he is observing and recording the behaviors of children in their real-life classroom environments without any manipulation or intervention.

Question 7

Professor Ambra was skeptical about the accuracy of recently reported research on sleep deprivation.Which process would best enable her to assess the reliability of these findings?
A) naturalistic observation
B) replication
C) random sampling
D) the case study

Accepted Answer

Replication involves conducting the same study again to determine if the same results are achieved. This is the best way for Professor Ambra to assess the reliability of the research on sleep deprivation.

Question 8

Psychologists who carefully watch the behavior of chimpanzee societies in the jungle are using a research method known as
A) the survey.
B) experimentation.
C) naturalistic observation.
D) the case study.

Accepted Answer

Psychologists who are observing the behavior of chimpanzee societies in their natural habitat are likely using the research method of naturalistic observation. This method involves observing and recording behavior in a natural setting without any intervention or manipulation by the researcher.

Question 9

In a research study in which participants were fitted with electronically activated recorders so that researchers could sample their daily activities,researchers employed a scientific method known as
A) naturalistic observation.
B) the double-blind procedure.
C) experimentation.
D) the case study.

Accepted Answer

The method described involves naturalistic observation, as the participants are being observed in their natural environment without interference from the researchers.

Question 10

By revealing what can happen through an in-depth examination of an atypical individual,________ often suggests directions for future research.
A) the double-blind procedure
B) random assignment
C) a case study
D) a survey

Accepted Answer

A case study focuses on the detailed examination of one individual or a small group of individuals, providing rich and comprehensive data that can be used to generate hypotheses and ideas for future research. Through the analysis of an atypical individual, researchers can identify unique factors that may contribute to a particular phenomenon or behavior, and develop research questions to explore these factors in a more systematic way.

Question 11

New technologies such as smart-phone apps and body-worn sensors have enabled the collection of "big data" by means of
A) scatterplots.
B) case studies.
C) experimentation.
D) naturalistic observation.

Accepted Answer

Smart-phone apps and body-worn sensors are technologies that can enable naturalistic observation, which involves the observation of individuals in their natural settings without intervening or manipulating the environment. Therefore, the best choice is D, naturalistic observation. The other options, such as scatterplots, case studies, and experimentation, do not involve the use of these technologies to collect big data.

Question 12

Replication of a research study is most likely to be facilitated by
A) regression toward the mean.
B) debriefing.
C) operational definitions.
D) the placebo effect.

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions provide a standardized and clear description of variables and procedures used in a study, which makes it easier for other researchers to replicate the study.

Question 13

Repeating the essence of a previous research study to verify whether its findings extend to a new group of research participants and to different circumstances is called
A) replication.
B) random sampling.
C) naturalistic observation.
D) the double-blind procedure.

Accepted Answer

Replication involves repeating a research study to verify whether its findings extend to a new group of research participants and to different circumstances. Random sampling involves selecting participants from a larger population in a way that every individual has an equal chance of being selected. Naturalistic observation involves observing and recording behavior in its natural setting. The double-blind procedure is a research technique in which neither the participants nor the experimenter knows which group is receiving the treatment.

Question 14

Dr.Smith just reviewed an article that found a relationship between playing violent video games and childhood aggression.Dr.Smith would like to conduct a similar study to see if he obtains the same results.Dr.Smith is planning on ________ this study.
A) operationalizing
B) replicating
C) copying
D) plagiarizing

Accepted Answer

Dr. Smith is planning on replicating this study, which means he will conduct a similar study with a similar methodology to see if he obtains the same results. This is a common ethical practice in science, as it allows for the validation of previous findings and the generalizability of results. Operationalizing refers to defining or measuring a variable, copying refers to an unethical practice of stealing someone else's work, and plagiarizing refers to presenting someone else's work as one's own without giving proper credit.

Question 15

To understand the unusual behavior of an adult client,a clinical psychologist carefully investigates the client's current life situation and his physical,social-cultural,and educational history.Which research method has the psychologist used?
A) the survey
B) the case study
C) experimentation
D) naturalistic observation

Accepted Answer

The psychologist has used the case study method, which involves intensive examination of an individual or group in order to understand the behavior or situation in depth. This approach is particularly useful when investigating unusual or rare behaviors, or when studying individuals who cannot or should not be manipulated for ethical reasons.

Question 16

The biggest danger of relying on case-study evidence is that it
A) is based on naturalistic observation.
B) may be unrepresentative of what is generally true.
C) overestimates the importance of operational definitions.
D) leads us to underestimate the causal relationships between events.

Accepted Answer

Case-study evidence is based on a single or a small number of cases, and therefore may not be representative of what is generally true. It is important to generalize findings from case studies cautiously and only when supported by other research methods.

Question 17

When 270 psychologists attempted to replicate 100 psychological studies,they were able to successfully replicate only 36 percent of them.Which of the following is NOT a possible explanation for this?
A) The 270 psychologists did not accurately repeat the original studies.
B) Psychology is a pseudoscience.
C) Some research topics make replication quite difficult.
D) Using a small sample size makes replication difficult.

Accepted Answer

Psychology is a recognized science and has a scientific methodology like any other science. The fact that only 36 percent of studies were successfully replicated does not indicate that psychology is a pseudoscience.

Question 18

One research team studied the ups and downs of human moods by counting positive and negative words in 504 million Twitter messages from 84 countries.The researchers' method best illustrates the use of
A) experimentation.
B) naturalistic observation.
C) case studies.
D) a survey.

Accepted Answer

The researchers counted positive and negative words in Twitter messages from around the world, without manipulating any variables. This best demonstrates naturalistic observation.

Question 19

A descriptive technique of monitoring and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to change or control the situation is called
A) random sampling.
B) naturalistic observation.
C) replication.
D) the double-blind procedure.

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in its natural setting without any attempt to manipulate or control the situation. This allows for a more accurate representation of how individuals typically behave in their everyday lives, as opposed to in a laboratory setting or under experimental conditions. Random sampling involves selecting a representative sample from a larger population, replication refers to repeating a study to see if the same results are obtained, and the double-blind procedure is a research method that helps to control for biases in both the participant and the experimenter.

Question 20

Which of the following facilitates descriptions of ongoing behaviors without explaining them?
A) random assignment
B) informed consent
C) naturalistic observation
D) the double-blind procedure

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing and recording ongoing behaviors in their natural setting without manipulating or explaining them. Random assignment refers to the procedure of assigning participants to different groups randomly, informed consent refers to obtaining permission from participants before they participate in a study and explaining the nature of the study to them, and the double-blind procedure involves neither the participants nor the researchers knowing which group they are in to avoid bias.

Quiz 2: Thinking Critically with Psychological Science

Little Hans' extreme fear of horses was observed as part of a(n)

The case study is a research method in which

Dr.Psychology is studying the relationship between alcohol intoxication and risky driving behaviors.Dr.Psychology defines alcohol intoxication as having a blood alcohol level of .08.This definition of alcohol intoxication is a(n)

Which of the following is NOT a descriptive method?

Dr.Jones is studying the effect of room lighting on college students' test performance and has defined room lighting as either dimly lit or brightly lit.This definition is an example of a(n)

Professor Ober carefully observes and records the behaviors of children in their classrooms in order to track the development of their social and intellectual skills.Professor Ober is most clearly engaged in

Professor Ambra was skeptical about the accuracy of recently reported research on sleep deprivation.Which process would best enable her to assess the reliability of these findings?

Psychologists who carefully watch the behavior of chimpanzee societies in the jungle are using a research method known as

In a research study in which participants were fitted with electronically activated recorders so that researchers could sample their daily activities,researchers employed a scientific method known as

By revealing what can happen through an in-depth examination of an atypical individual,________ often suggests directions for future research.

New technologies such as smart-phone apps and body-worn sensors have enabled the collection of "big data" by means of

Replication of a research study is most likely to be facilitated by

Repeating the essence of a previous research study to verify whether its findings extend to a new group of research participants and to different circumstances is called

Dr.Smith just reviewed an article that found a relationship between playing violent video games and childhood aggression.Dr.Smith would like to conduct a similar study to see if he obtains the same results.Dr.Smith is planning on ________ this study.

To understand the unusual behavior of an adult client,a clinical psychologist carefully investigates the client's current life situation and his physical,social-cultural,and educational history.Which research method has the psychologist used?

The biggest danger of relying on case-study evidence is that it

When 270 psychologists attempted to replicate 100 psychological studies,they were able to successfully replicate only 36 percent of them.Which of the following is NOT a possible explanation for this?

One research team studied the ups and downs of human moods by counting positive and negative words in 504 million Twitter messages from 84 countries.The researchers' method best illustrates the use of

A descriptive technique of monitoring and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to change or control the situation is called

Which of the following facilitates descriptions of ongoing behaviors without explaining them?