Question 1

Extraneous variables are also called confounding variables.

Accepted Answer

Extraneous variables are also known as confounding variables because they can affect the outcome of the study in a way that is not intended.

Question 2

A correlation coefficient always falls in the range from -1.00 to +1.00.

Accepted Answer

A correlation coefficient measures the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two variables. It can range from -1.00 (perfect negative correlation) to +1.00 (perfect positive correlation). Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 3

In their survey of how much time young people spent playing video games, psychologists Craig Anderson and Karen Dill surveyed more than 200 students taking introductory psychology classes at a large midwestern university.

Accepted Answer

The statement correctly describes the methodology of the study conducted by psychologists Craig Anderson and Karen Dill.

Question 4

The dependent variable is also called the treatment variable.

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is not the same as the treatment variable. The dependent variable is the outcome being measured or predicted, while the treatment variable is what is being manipulated or studied to understand its effect on the dependent variable.

Question 5

A negative correlation is one in which both factors decrease together.

Accepted Answer

A negative correlation means that as one factor increases, the other decreases.

Question 6

Independent variable is to dependent variable as deliberately varied is to measured.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is deliberately varied by the researcher, just as the dependent variable is measured to observe the effect of the independent variable. So, the relationship between "independent variable" and "deliberately varied" is the same as the relationship between "dependent variable" and "measured".

Question 7

Even if two factors are very strongly correlated, correlation does NOT necessarily indicate causality.

Accepted Answer

Correlation only shows a relationship between two variables but does not prove that one causes the other. There could be other factors influencing the relationship or it could be a coincidence. Additional research and analysis is needed to establish causality.

Question 8

Extraneous variables are factors other than the ones being studied that, if not controlled, could affect the outcome of the experiment.

Accepted Answer

Extraneous variables can have an impact on the outcome of an experiment and need to be controlled for accurate results.

Question 9

If a perfect positive correlation of +1.00 occurs, it means that as factor A increases, factor B always decreases.

Accepted Answer

A perfect positive correlation of +1.00 means that as factor A increases, factor B always increases as well. A perfect negative correlation of -1.00, on the other hand, means that as factor A increases, factor B always decreases.

Question 10

The dependent variable is the factor that is observed and measured for change in an experiment and is thought to be influenced by the independent variable.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The dependent variable is the factor that is being studied and measured for change, and is thought to be influenced by the independent variable, which is the factor that is being manipulated in the experiment.

Question 11

Increased number of hours watching television is associated with decreased grades on school tests. This finding represents a positive correlation.

Accepted Answer

A positive correlation means that as one variable increases, the other also increases. In this case, increased TV hours are associated with decreased grades, which is a negative correlation.

Question 12

In an experiment, the independent variable is the purposely manipulated factor thought to produce change in the dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

This statement correctly defines the independent variable as the factor that is intentionally changed to see its effect on the dependent variable.

Question 13

The experimental method is a research method used to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships by purposely manipulating one factor thought to produce change in another factor.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately describes the experimental method.

Question 14

Of the nearly 6,000 people who participated in the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), which is a survey on sexual behaviors, each was randomly selected from the entire U.S. population.

Accepted Answer

The statement says that each participant was randomly selected from the entire U.S. population, which means that the sample is representative of the population.

Question 15

A recent meta-analysis found a moderately strong correlation between parental socioeconomic status and use of corporal punishment. The correlation revealed that as parental level of socioeconomic status increased, rates of parents' use of corporal punishment decreased. This finding represents a negative correlation.

Accepted Answer

The statement correctly describes a negative correlation between parental socioeconomic status and use of corporal punishment.

Question 16

Compared to a correlation of -.60, a correlation of +.60 represents a relationship between two factors that is twice as strong.

Accepted Answer

The strength of a correlation is determined by the absolute value, not the sign. Both +.60 and -.60 have the same strength of relationship, just in opposite directions.

Question 17

Several correlational studies all point to the same basic conclusion: the more time students spend playing violent video games, the lower their grade point average tends to be. This means that low grades cause students to play violent video games.

Accepted Answer

The statement in the question is a classic example of the correlation-causation fallacy. Just because two variables are correlated does not mean that one causes the other. It is possible that another variable, such as lack of motivation or poor study habits, is causing both the low grades and the increased time spent playing video games. Therefore, we cannot conclude that low grades cause students to play violent video games based on correlational studies alone.

Question 18

In an experiment, the group of participants who are exposed to all the experimental conditions, including the independent variable, is called the experimental group or experimental condition.

Accepted Answer

This is because the purpose of an experiment is to determine the effect of changes to one variable, the independent variable, on another variable, the dependent variable. The experimental group is the group that experiences the changes in the independent variable, while the control group is a group that is maintained under normal conditions or is subject to a neutral treatment condition.

Question 19

Even though correlational research cannot be used to establish a cause-and-effect relationship, correlational research can be used to make meaningful predictions.

Accepted Answer

Correlational research involves examining the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating them. Therefore, it cannot establish a causal relationship. However, if a strong correlation is found between two variables, we can use that information to make predictions about one variable based on the other. For example, if there is a strong correlation between smoking and lung cancer, we may predict that individuals who smoke are more likely to develop lung cancer.

Question 20

A positive correlation reflects a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables, while a negative correlation indicates the absence of a cause-and-effect relationship between the variables.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Correlation does not necessarily imply causation, whether the correlation is positive or negative. A correlation simply means that two variables are related or connected in some way, but it does not necessarily indicate that one variable causes the other.

Quiz 1: Introduction and Research Methods