Question 1

In critically evaluating a media report about a psychological finding or study, you should:
A) remember that the terms correlation and causality mean the same thing.
B) look for the elements of good research design, including operational definitions of the variables and the use of control groups.
C) remember that some of the most compelling scientific evidence is anecdotal evidence.
D) assume that the reporter understands all the details of the study.

Accepted Answer

Looking for elements of good research design, such as operational definitions and control groups, is important in evaluating the validity of a psychological study. The other options, such as assuming a reporter fully understands the study or equating correlation with causality, can lead to faulty interpretations of the research. Additionally, anecdotal evidence should not be relied upon as compelling scientific evidence.

Question 2

How might the different goals of media and science clash?
A) Media reporters are more likely to objectively report research findings than are the scientists who discovered them.
B) Scientists are more interested in taking personal credit for new discoveries, while media reporters are more interested in the discoveries themselves.
C) Media reporters are often more interested in attracting viewers or listeners than accurately portraying scientific findings.
D) Media reporters are likely to have different political goals than scientists.

Accepted Answer

Media reporters often prioritize grabbing attention and attracting viewers or listeners over accurately portraying scientific findings. This can lead to sensationalizing results, oversimplifying complex concepts, and even misrepresenting data in order to create more interesting stories. Scientists, on the other hand, are generally more concerned with accurately reporting their findings and ensuring that their research is rigorous and unbiased. This clash of goals between the media and science can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or miscommunications about scientific research.

Question 3

According to the Enhancing Well-Being with Psychology feature, when psychological research is reported in the mass media, which of the following criteria is a good indicator of credibility?
A) the specific location where the research was conducted
B) the professional journal in which the research was originally published
C) whether the research was supported by a government grant
D) the number of participants who participated in the study

Accepted Answer

The professional journal in which the research was originally published is a good indicator of credibility as it indicates that the research passed through a peer-review process and was conducted by reputable professionals in the field. The other options listed do not necessarily reflect the credibility of the research.

Question 4

Anecdotal evidence:
A) is more reliable than data generated by artificial laboratory experiments.
B) consists of telling personal stories to support a particular claim.
C) is essentially the same as conducting a survey.
D) typically involves large groups of randomly selected research participants.

Accepted Answer

Anecdotal evidence involves telling personal stories or experiences to support a particular claim, without any proper scientific or statistical evidence. It can be biased and unreliable as it is based on individual experiences and perceptions rather than on a representative sample or evidence-based studies.

Question 5

A news article about psychological research on sex differences in rates of major depression noted that the research was originally reported in Psychological Science, a journal published by the American Psychological Society. Knowing this, you can safely assume that:
A) the study was probably reviewed by other psychologists with expertise in research methods before the study was accepted for publication.
B) the reporter read the published study before interviewing the researchers.
C) the researchers paid to have the study published in a professional journal.
D) the news article is reporting the results of the study in an unbiased, even-handed manner.

Accepted Answer

Knowing that the study was published in Psychological Science, a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Psychological Society, suggests that the study underwent a rigorous review process by other psychologists with expertise in research methods before acceptance for publication. This increases the scientific validity and reliability of the study's results.

Question 6

According to the Enhancing Well-Being with Psychology feature at the end of Chapter 1, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) Testimonials from people who have actually used a psychology-related product, such as a hypnosis tape, represent strong evidence that a product is effective.
B) You would be wise to assume that your life experiences are identical to those of the vast majority of people.
C) You can trust the accuracy of a newspaper or magazine report of psychological findings as long as it appears in a well-known publication.
D) Correlational studies are often reported in the mass media with the implication that a cause-and-effect relationship exists.

Accepted Answer

The Enhancing Well-Being with Psychology feature at the end of Chapter 1 warns that correlational studies are often reported in the mass media with the implication that a cause-and-effect relationship exists, but this may not be the case. It cautions readers to be skeptical of media reports of psychological findings and to look for additional sources of information. Therefore, the statement that correlates with this information is D. A and C are incorrect because testimonials and media reports are not always reliable sources of evidence, and B is incorrect because life experiences can vary widely among individuals.

Quiz 1: Introduction and Research Methods

In critically evaluating a media report about a psychological finding or study, you should:

How might the different goals of media and science clash?

According to the Enhancing Well-Being with Psychology feature, when psychological research is reported in the mass media, which of the following criteria is a good indicator of credibility?

Anecdotal evidence:

A news article about psychological research on sex differences in rates of major depression noted that the research was originally reported in Psychological Science, a journal published by the American Psychological Society. Knowing this, you can safely assume that:

According to the Enhancing Well-Being with Psychology feature at the end of Chapter 1, which of the following statements is TRUE?