Question 1

Explain why sometimes, the artificial laboratory environment may be preferable to real world settings.

Accepted Answer

Researchers may be interested in isolating an independent variable to see how it affects a dependent variable. In the real world, it is impossible to do this, but it is possible in the lab. Also, the goal of laboratory research is often to test theories, which needn't occur under naturalistic conditions. In general, the first step should be understanding the causal relationships among variables, and causality usually cannot be attained when there are other possible explanations for findings (as is usually the case in field research).

Question 2

_________ is considered to be the "father of Black American psychology."

Accepted Answer

A)  Sigmund Freud 
B)  Erik Eriksen 
C)  Francis Cecil Sumner 
D)  Alfred Adler 
A)  Sigmund Freud 
B)  Erik Eriksen 
C)  Francis Cecil Sumner 
D)  Alfred Adler C

Question 3

___________ refers to a threat to internal validity that occurs when low scorers improve or high scorers fall on a second administration of a test as a result of statistical reasons.

Accepted Answer

A)  Mortality 
B)  Selection 
C)  Statistical regression 
D)  History 
A)  Mortality 
B)  Selection 
C)  Statistical regression 
D)  History C

Question 4

Ron is conducting an experiment that lasts several hours. During part of the experiment, a noisy power saw operates outside the room. Ron is concerned that responses may be influenced by the power saw instead of his independent variable. This example illustrates the potential problem of

Accepted Answer

A)  instrumentation. 
B)  testing. 
C)  history. 
D)  selection. 
A)  instrumentation. 
B)  testing. 
C)  history. 
D)  selection.

Question 5

An industrial-organizational psychologist is hired to help increase productivity at a company. He teaches one group of workers strategies to improve productivity and has a control group who does not learn the new strategies. However, workers in the experimental group talk to their friends in the control group about the new strategies, and pretty soon everyone is using them. Which kind of problem has the psychologist encountered?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mortality 
B)  Maturation 
C)  Diffusion of treatment 
D)  Statistical regression 
A)  Mortality 
B)  Maturation 
C)  Diffusion of treatment 
D)  Statistical regression

Question 6

Pablo gives a racism scale to participants, then gives a half-hour lecture on racism, and then gives participants the racism scale again. Which threat to external validity should Pablo be most concerned about?

Accepted Answer

A)  Multiple-treatment interference 
B)  Interaction of testing and treatment 
C)  Interaction of selection and treatment 
D)  Statistical regression 
A)  Multiple-treatment interference 
B)  Interaction of testing and treatment 
C)  Interaction of selection and treatment 
D)  Statistical regression

Question 7

If an experiment has diffusion of treatment, what is the likely result of such an experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  The differences between the groups would be large. 
B)  There would be no differences between the groups. 
C)  The results would not be affected by diffusion of treatment. 
D)  None of the above. 
A)  The differences between the groups would be large. 
B)  There would be no differences between the groups. 
C)  The results would not be affected by diffusion of treatment. 
D)  None of the above.

Question 8

The extensive use of white rats in research represents a potential problem with ________ validity

Accepted Answer

A)  internal 
B)  external 
C)  construct 
D)  content 
A)  internal 
B)  external 
C)  construct 
D)  content

Question 9

Reactive arrangements tend to __________ external validity.

Accepted Answer

A)  increase 
B)  decrease 
C)  be unrelated to 
D)  first increase, then decrease 
A)  increase 
B)  decrease 
C)  be unrelated to 
D)  first increase, then decrease

Question 10

Tony uses one-way mirrors in his study so that participants won't know that they are being watched. Tony is concerned about

Accepted Answer

A)  reactive measures. 
B)  maturation. 
C)  history. 
D)  statistical regression. 
A)  reactive measures. 
B)  maturation. 
C)  history. 
D)  statistical regression.

Question 11

________ refers to a threat to internal validity that occurs because measuring the dependent variable causes a change in the dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

A)  History 
B)  Maturation 
C)  Testing 
D)  Instrumentation 
A)  History 
B)  Maturation 
C)  Testing 
D)  Instrumentation

Question 12

If research has been validated cross-culturally, it has ______ external validity.

Accepted Answer

A)  decreased 
B)  increased 
C)  no 
D)  ethnocentric 
A)  decreased 
B)  increased 
C)  no 
D)  ethnocentric

Question 13

Emily conducts an experiment in which her experimental group and control group are not equivalent at the beginning of the experiment. Emily has a(n)__________ problem.

Accepted Answer

A)  regression 
B)  selection 
C)  maturation 
D)  instrumentation 
A)  regression 
B)  selection 
C)  maturation 
D)  instrumentation

Question 14

Describe a few ways in which researchers measure aggression in a laboratory setting.

Accepted Answer

(1) Shock intensity/noise blasts/heat pu

Question 15

Harlow conducted research on rhesus monkeys and their need for contact comfort. According to Mook (1983),

Accepted Answer

A)  this study had low external validity and therefore is of little use in understanding the phenomenon of contact comfort. 
B)  this study had high external validity and therefore is very useful in understanding the phenomenon of contact comfort. 
C)  this study had low external validity but is nonetheless very useful in understanding the phenomenon of contact comfort. 
D)  this study had high external validity but is nonetheless of little use in understanding the phenomenon of contact comfort. 
A)  this study had low external validity and therefore is of little use in understanding the phenomenon of contact comfort. 
B)  this study had high external validity and therefore is very useful in understanding the phenomenon of contact comfort. 
C)  this study had low external validity but is nonetheless very useful in understanding the phenomenon of contact comfort. 
D)  this study had high external validity but is nonetheless of little use in understanding the phenomenon of contact comfort.

Question 16

Which of the following is absolutely necessary for every experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  Internal validity 
B)  External validity 
C)  Both internal and external validity 
D)  Neither internal nor external validity 
A)  Internal validity 
B)  External validity 
C)  Both internal and external validity 
D)  Neither internal nor external validity

Question 17

Reactive arrangements tend to ________ demand characteristics.

Accepted Answer

A)  increase 
B)  decrease 
C)  be unrelated to 
D)  first increase, then decrease 
A)  increase 
B)  decrease 
C)  be unrelated to 
D)  first increase, then decrease

Question 18

Describe the internal validity threat of selection and give an example.

Accepted Answer

The internal validity threat of selectio

Question 19

Briefly summarize the history of women and African-Americans in psychology. Why is it important to consider gender and ethnicity when discussing external validity?

Accepted Answer

The history of women and African-America

Question 20

If participants in one treatment group become familiar with the treatment of another group and copy that treatment, the experiment has low internal validity due to

Accepted Answer

A)  selection. 
B)  maturation. 
C)  statistical regression. 
D)  diffusion of treatment. 
A)  selection. 
B)  maturation. 
C)  statistical regression. 
D)  diffusion of treatment.

Explain why sometimes, the artificial laboratory environment may be preferable to real world settings.

_________ is considered to be the "father of Black American psychology."

___________ refers to a threat to internal validity that occurs when low scorers improve or high scorers fall on a second administration of a test as a result of statistical reasons.

Ron is conducting an experiment that lasts several hours. During part of the experiment, a noisy power saw operates outside the room. Ron is concerned that responses may be influenced by the power saw instead of his independent variable. This example illustrates the potential problem of

Pablo gives a racism scale to participants, then gives a half-hour lecture on racism, and then gives participants the racism scale again. Which threat to external validity should Pablo be most concerned about?

If an experiment has diffusion of treatment, what is the likely result of such an experiment?

The extensive use of white rats in research represents a potential problem with ________ validity

Reactive arrangements tend to __________ external validity.

Tony uses one-way mirrors in his study so that participants won't know that they are being watched. Tony is concerned about

________ refers to a threat to internal validity that occurs because measuring the dependent variable causes a change in the dependent variable.

If research has been validated cross-culturally, it has ______ external validity.

Emily conducts an experiment in which her experimental group and control group are not equivalent at the beginning of the experiment. Emily has a(n)__________ problem.

Describe a few ways in which researchers measure aggression in a laboratory setting.

Harlow conducted research on rhesus monkeys and their need for contact comfort. According to Mook (1983),

Which of the following is absolutely necessary for every experiment?

Reactive arrangements tend to ________ demand characteristics.

Describe the internal validity threat of selection and give an example.

Briefly summarize the history of women and African-Americans in psychology. Why is it important to consider gender and ethnicity when discussing external validity?

If participants in one treatment group become familiar with the treatment of another group and copy that treatment, the experiment has low internal validity due to

Psychological Research and the Research Methods Course

Developing a Good Research Idea and Conducting an Ethical Project

Qualitative Research Methods

Nonexperimental Methods: Descriptive Methods, Correlational Studies, Ex Post Facto Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sampling, and Basic Research Strategies

Using the Scientific Method in Psychology

Conducting a Good Experiment I: Variables and Control

Conducting a Good Experiment Ii: Final Considerations, Unanticipated Influences, and Cross-Cultural Issues

Using Statistics to Answer Questions

Designing, Conducting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Experiments With Two Groups

Designing, Conducting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Experiments With More Than Two Groups

Designing, Conducting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Experiments With Multiple Independent Variables

Alternative Research Designs

Writing and Assembling an Apa-Format Research Report

Filters

Exam 8: Internal and External Validity

Explain why sometimes, the artificial laboratory environment may be preferable to real world settings.

_________ is considered to be the "father of Black American psychology."

___________ refers to a threat to internal validity that occurs when low scorers improve or high scorers fall on a second administration of a test as a result of statistical reasons.

Ron is conducting an experiment that lasts several hours. During part of the experiment, a noisy power saw operates outside the room. Ron is concerned that responses may be influenced by the power saw instead of his independent variable. This example illustrates the potential problem of

Pablo gives a racism scale to participants, then gives a half-hour lecture on racism, and then gives participants the racism scale again. Which threat to external validity should Pablo be most concerned about?

If an experiment has diffusion of treatment, what is the likely result of such an experiment?

The extensive use of white rats in research represents a potential problem with ________ validity

Reactive arrangements tend to __________ external validity.

Tony uses one-way mirrors in his study so that participants won't know that they are being watched. Tony is concerned about

________ refers to a threat to internal validity that occurs because measuring the dependent variable causes a change in the dependent variable.

If research has been validated cross-culturally, it has ______ external validity.

Emily conducts an experiment in which her experimental group and control group are not equivalent at the beginning of the experiment. Emily has a(n)__________ problem.

Describe a few ways in which researchers measure aggression in a laboratory setting.

Harlow conducted research on rhesus monkeys and their need for contact comfort. According to Mook (1983),

Which of the following is absolutely necessary for every experiment?

Reactive arrangements tend to ________ demand characteristics.

Describe the internal validity threat of selection and give an example.

Briefly summarize the history of women and African-Americans in psychology. Why is it important to consider gender and ethnicity when discussing external validity?

If participants in one treatment group become familiar with the treatment of another group and copy that treatment, the experiment has low internal validity due to

Psychological Research and the Research Methods Course

Developing a Good Research Idea and Conducting an Ethical Project

Qualitative Research Methods

Nonexperimental Methods: Descriptive Methods, Correlational Studies, Ex Post Facto Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sampling, and Basic Research Strategies

Using the Scientific Method in Psychology

Conducting a Good Experiment I: Variables and Control

Conducting a Good Experiment Ii: Final Considerations, Unanticipated Influences, and Cross-Cultural Issues

Using Statistics to Answer Questions

Designing, Conducting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Experiments With Two Groups

Designing, Conducting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Experiments With More Than Two Groups

Designing, Conducting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Experiments With Multiple Independent Variables

Alternative Research Designs

Writing and Assembling an Apa-Format Research Report

Filters