Exam 1: Psychology Is a Way of Thinking

Which of the following is the reason that scientific journals use peer review?

RESEARCH STUDY 1.1: Deci and Ryan (1985, 2001) have proposed that there are three fundamental needs that are required for human growth and fulfillment: relatedness, autonomy, and competence.Susan predicts that students who have these needs met in their psychology class feel happier and more satisfied with the class.She collects data and finds that students who feel more related and competent do feel happier but that feeling more autonomous does not seem to matter.Susan thinks that maybe autonomy is only necessary when people are in situations in which they are not being evaluated. Susan's hypothesis was not completely supported by her data.What does this mean?

What are the three components of a good theory?

RESEARCH STUDY 1.1: Deci and Ryan (1985, 2001) have proposed that there are three fundamental needs that are required for human growth and fulfillment: relatedness, autonomy, and competence.Susan predicts that students who have these needs met in their psychology class feel happier and more satisfied with the class.She collects data and finds that students who feel more related and competent do feel happier but that feeling more autonomous does not seem to matter.Susan thinks that maybe autonomy is only necessary when people are in situations in which they are not being evaluated. Deci and Ryan's general statement of how the three needs are related to growth and fulfillment is an example of which of the following?

RESEARCH STUDY 1.2: Dr.White reads about a new theory that states that depression is caused by increased levels of estrogen in the womb.To test this theory, she conducted a study comparing the level of estrogen in amniotic fluid in individuals who were later diagnosed with depression with the level of those who did not develop depression.Dr.White found no differences between the groups in estrogen levels in the amniotic fluid. What should Dr.White do next?

Explain why we do not say that a single study proves a theory or that a single study disproves a theory.

Elliott is double majoring in English and psychology.He plans on being a high school English teacher and is only majoring in psychology because he finds the classes interesting.Which of the following is an important reason for him to be a good consumer of research?

RESEARCH STUDY 1.2: Dr.White reads about a new theory that states that depression is caused by increased levels of estrogen in the womb.To test this theory, she conducted a study comparing the level of estrogen in amniotic fluid in individuals who were later diagnosed with depression with the level of those who did not develop depression.Dr.White found no differences between the groups in estrogen levels in the amniotic fluid. Another depression researcher reads Dr.White's findings.This new researcher is LEAST likely to:

RESEARCH STUDY 1.2: Dr.White reads about a new theory that states that depression is caused by increased levels of estrogen in the womb.To test this theory, she conducted a study comparing the level of estrogen in amniotic fluid in individuals who were later diagnosed with depression with the level of those who did not develop depression.Dr.White found no differences between the groups in estrogen levels in the amniotic fluid. Dr.White publishes her findings in a scientific journal.Who is most likely to read her article?

Which of the following is an example of being a producer of research?

Benjamin is a social psychologist who studies marriage.He believes that marital satisfaction has two components: the ability to trust one's partner and a belief that one can be a good spouse.He conducts a study to test his ideas.Assuming that his data match his theory, which of the following statements should he make?

Occam's razor states that the simplest solution is the best, all things being equal.This speaks to a theory's:

Scientific journals and magazines are similar in which of the following ways?

Which of the following is an example of being a consumer of research?

Dr.Mendoza sends a paper to a journal.The editor sends the paper to four experts in the field for peer review.Name three things that the peer reviewers should comment on in evaluating Dr.Mendoza's paper.

How can you ensure that a popular media article accurately reflects the original research of a scientific study?

Research that is done specifically to solve a practical problem, like increasing memory ability or decreasing symptoms of depression, is known as:

Benjamin is a social psychologist who studies marriage.He believes that marital satisfaction has two components: the ability to trust one's partner and a belief that one can be a good spouse.This is known as:

Which of the following is a reason psychological scientists publish their research in scientific journals?

Explain how the peer-review process ensures that only quality science is published.