Question 1

The "third variable" issue refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the possibility that two variables are correlated because both are caused by a third variable. 
B)  the ambiguity introduced when doing more complex research with more than two variables. 
C)  not considering "age" as a variable when doing developmental research. 
D)  the influence of the IV in quantitative experimental research. 
A)  the possibility that two variables are correlated because both are caused by a third variable. 
B)  the ambiguity introduced when doing more complex research with more than two variables. 
C)  not considering "age" as a variable when doing developmental research. 
D)  the influence of the IV in quantitative experimental research.

Question 2

Which of the following is a weakness of using tests at a method of data collection?

Accepted Answer

A)  expense 
B)  reactivity 
C)  biased questions 
D)  all of the above 
A)  expense 
B)  reactivity 
C)  biased questions 
D)  all of the above

Question 3

What is the main difference between descriptive and experimental research approaches?

Accepted Answer

A)  the former always uses qualitative data while the latter always uses quantitative data 
B)  descriptive research is done by social scientists while natural scientists do experimental research 
C)  descriptive research involves manipulating variables but experimental research does not 
D)  experimental research is designed to establish cause-and-effect relationships but descriptive research focuses on describing something 
A)  the former always uses qualitative data while the latter always uses quantitative data 
B)  descriptive research is done by social scientists while natural scientists do experimental research 
C)  descriptive research involves manipulating variables but experimental research does not 
D)  experimental research is designed to establish cause-and-effect relationships but descriptive research focuses on describing something

Question 4

Qualitative research can be described in the following way:

Accepted Answer

A)  it is objective, involves multiple methods, and focuses on people in subcultures 
B)  it is opinionated, involves two specific methods, and focuses on cultures, not people 
C)  it is emotional, involves historical methods, and focuses on people with odd cultural
Practices 
D)  it is interpretive, involves multiple methods, and focuses on people in their natural environment 
A)  it is objective, involves multiple methods, and focuses on people in subcultures 
B)  it is opinionated, involves two specific methods, and focuses on cultures, not people 
C)  it is emotional, involves historical methods, and focuses on people with odd cultural
Practices 
D)  it is interpretive, involves multiple methods, and focuses on people in their natural environment

Question 5

Several recent studies have found that moderate drinkers of alcohol have lowered levels of heart disease risk than non-drinkers. It has been hypothesized that moderate drinking may reduce stress which in turn may lead to a reduction in the risk of heart disease. In this example lowered stress levels would be considered an)_______ variable.

Accepted Answer

A)  independent 
B)  dependent 
C)  extraneous 
D)  mediating 
A)  independent 
B)  dependent 
C)  extraneous 
D)  mediating

Question 6

An increasing number of researchers are conducting experiments over the Internet because of the advantages it affords. Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of using the Internet to conduct and experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  the experiment is brought to the participant instead of the participant coming to the experiment 
B)  there is a less experimental control 
C)  there is a greater probability of self-selection 
D)  there is a greater probability of dropout of participants 
A)  the experiment is brought to the participant instead of the participant coming to the experiment 
B)  there is a less experimental control 
C)  there is a greater probability of self-selection 
D)  there is a greater probability of dropout of participants

Question 7

According to your text, what is probably the most commonly cited disadvantage of using laboratory experiments to learn about human behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  because they tend to be done in highly controlled settings, their results may not be generalizable to the real world 
B)  with their mechanistic approach to human behavior, they ignore the participants' thoughts and emotions 
C)  operational definitions reduce the abstract concept to a trivial level, making broad interpretations difficult at best 
D)  because they tend to use other species, the results are usually irrelevant to human behavior 
A)  because they tend to be done in highly controlled settings, their results may not be generalizable to the real world 
B)  with their mechanistic approach to human behavior, they ignore the participants' thoughts and emotions 
C)  operational definitions reduce the abstract concept to a trivial level, making broad interpretations difficult at best 
D)  because they tend to use other species, the results are usually irrelevant to human behavior

Question 8

What does it mean to say that an observation is "objective?"

Accepted Answer

A)  the observation is empirical 
B)  it is done by professional 
C)  the observation has an intuitive basis 
D)  it is unaffected by the observer's personal biases 
A)  the observation is empirical 
B)  it is done by professional 
C)  the observation has an intuitive basis 
D)  it is unaffected by the observer's personal biases

Question 9

In a longitudinal study of a behavior, a researcher would

Accepted Answer

A)  select groups of participants from each age group and study each group at one time. 
B)  observe and participate in the behavior in question. 
C)  measure the degree to which the behavior changed when a factor thought to influence it also changes. 
D)  study one group of similarly aged people multiple times over a long period of time. 
A)  select groups of participants from each age group and study each group at one time. 
B)  observe and participate in the behavior in question. 
C)  measure the degree to which the behavior changed when a factor thought to influence it also changes. 
D)  study one group of similarly aged people multiple times over a long period of time.

Question 10

The cohort-sequential design is an alternative developmental design

Accepted Answer

A)  where different age groups are tested longitudinally 
B)  where one age group is tested longitudinally 
C)  where different age groups are tested once 
D)  where one age group is tested once 
A)  where different age groups are tested longitudinally 
B)  where one age group is tested longitudinally 
C)  where different age groups are tested once 
D)  where one age group is tested once

Question 11

Focus groups are useful in which of the following types of research?

Accepted Answer

A)  experimental 
B)  qualitative 
C)  quantitative 
D)  correlational 
A)  experimental 
B)  qualitative 
C)  quantitative 
D)  correlational

Question 12

Qualitative researchers use many methods in part to

Accepted Answer

A)  find one that produces the expected outcome. 
B)  make the process more like an experiment. 
C)  provide a better understanding of the phenomenon being investigated. 
D)  verify their quantitative observations. 
A)  find one that produces the expected outcome. 
B)  make the process more like an experiment. 
C)  provide a better understanding of the phenomenon being investigated. 
D)  verify their quantitative observations.

Question 13

An) _______ variable is one that can compete with the independent variable in explaining the outcome of the experiment.

Accepted Answer

A)  independent 
B)  extraneous 
C)  dependent 
D)  moderating 
A)  independent 
B)  extraneous 
C)  dependent 
D)  moderating

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a categorical variable?

Accepted Answer

A)  reaction time 
B)  gender 
C)  age 
D)  height 
A)  reaction time 
B)  gender 
C)  age 
D)  height

Question 15

______observation is done in the real world, while ______observation is done in a controlled environment.

Accepted Answer

A)  Laboratory; naturalistic 
B)  Event; time-sampling 
C)  Participant; complete 
D)  Naturalistic; laboratory 
A)  Laboratory; naturalistic 
B)  Event; time-sampling 
C)  Participant; complete 
D)  Naturalistic; laboratory

Question 16

Nonexperimental quantitative research is particularly useful for

Accepted Answer

A)  developing hypotheses for new experiments. 
B)  deciding which variable causes which effect. 
C)  manipulating the IV 
D)  controlling relevant environmental variables. 
A)  developing hypotheses for new experiments. 
B)  deciding which variable causes which effect. 
C)  manipulating the IV 
D)  controlling relevant environmental variables.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of a psychological experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  it involves objective observation 
B)  variables are manipulated in a highly controlled environment 
C)  it always takes place in a laboratory 
D)  one or more factors are varied while the rest are held constant 
A)  it involves objective observation 
B)  variables are manipulated in a highly controlled environment 
C)  it always takes place in a laboratory 
D)  one or more factors are varied while the rest are held constant

Question 18

According to your text there are three conditions for making justified claims of cause and effect. Which of the following is NOT one of these conditions?

Accepted Answer

A)  the independent and dependent variables must be related 
B)  the dependent variable must be manipulated by the researcher 
C)  the independent variable must precede the dependent variable 
D)  no other plausible explanations for the relation between the independent and dependent variables should exist 
A)  the independent and dependent variables must be related 
B)  the dependent variable must be manipulated by the researcher 
C)  the independent variable must precede the dependent variable 
D)  no other plausible explanations for the relation between the independent and dependent variables should exist

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a weakness of observation as a major method of data collection?

Accepted Answer

A)  reactivity 
B)  typically dominated by one participant 
C)  can be expensive 
D)  data analysis can be time consuming. 
A)  reactivity 
B)  typically dominated by one participant 
C)  can be expensive 
D)  data analysis can be time consuming.

Question 20

For his senior thesis, Jacob is studying the development of motor coordination in monkeys from birth to old age, but only has one semester to collect his data. What kind of descriptive research design should he use?

Accepted Answer

A)  longitudinal 
B)  experimental 
C)  cross sectional 
D)  historical 
A)  longitudinal 
B)  experimental 
C)  cross sectional 
D)  historical

The "third variable" issue refers to

Which of the following is a weakness of using tests at a method of data collection?

What is the main difference between descriptive and experimental research approaches?

Qualitative research can be described in the following way:

An increasing number of researchers are conducting experiments over the Internet because of the advantages it affords. Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of using the Internet to conduct and experiment?

According to your text, what is probably the most commonly cited disadvantage of using laboratory experiments to learn about human behavior?

What does it mean to say that an observation is "objective?"

In a longitudinal study of a behavior, a researcher would

The cohort-sequential design is an alternative developmental design

Focus groups are useful in which of the following types of research?

Qualitative researchers use many methods in part to

An) _______ variable is one that can compete with the independent variable in explaining the outcome of the experiment.

Which of the following is an example of a categorical variable?

observation is done in the real world, while observation is done in a controlled environment.

Nonexperimental quantitative research is particularly useful for

Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of a psychological experiment?

According to your text there are three conditions for making justified claims of cause and effect. Which of the following is NOT one of these conditions?

Which of the following is NOT a weakness of observation as a major method of data collection?

For his senior thesis, Jacob is studying the development of motor coordination in monkeys from birth to old age, but only has one semester to collect his data. What kind of descriptive research design should he use?

Introduction to Scientific Research

Problem Identification and Hypothesis Formation

Ethics

Measuring Variables and Sampling

Research Validity

Control Techniques in Experimental Research

Experimental Research Design

Procedure for Conducting an Experiment

Quasi-Experimental Designs

Single-Case Research Designs

Survey Research

Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research

Descriptive Statistics

Inferential Statistics

Preparing the Research Report for Presentation or Publication

Filters

Exam 2: Research Approaches and Methods of Data Collection

The "third variable" issue refers to

Which of the following is a weakness of using tests at a method of data collection?

What is the main difference between descriptive and experimental research approaches?

Qualitative research can be described in the following way:

An increasing number of researchers are conducting experiments over the Internet because of the advantages it affords. Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of using the Internet to conduct and experiment?

According to your text, what is probably the most commonly cited disadvantage of using laboratory experiments to learn about human behavior?

What does it mean to say that an observation is "objective?"

In a longitudinal study of a behavior, a researcher would

The cohort-sequential design is an alternative developmental design

Focus groups are useful in which of the following types of research?

Qualitative researchers use many methods in part to

An) _______ variable is one that can compete with the independent variable in explaining the outcome of the experiment.

Which of the following is an example of a categorical variable?

______observation is done in the real world, while ______observation is done in a controlled environment.

Nonexperimental quantitative research is particularly useful for

Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of a psychological experiment?

According to your text there are three conditions for making justified claims of cause and effect. Which of the following is NOT one of these conditions?

Which of the following is NOT a weakness of observation as a major method of data collection?

For his senior thesis, Jacob is studying the development of motor coordination in monkeys from birth to old age, but only has one semester to collect his data. What kind of descriptive research design should he use?

Introduction to Scientific Research

Problem Identification and Hypothesis Formation

Ethics

Measuring Variables and Sampling

Research Validity

Control Techniques in Experimental Research

Experimental Research Design

Procedure for Conducting an Experiment

Quasi-Experimental Designs

Single-Case Research Designs

Survey Research

Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research

Descriptive Statistics

Inferential Statistics

Preparing the Research Report for Presentation or Publication

Filters

observation is done in the real world, while observation is done in a controlled environment.