Exam 1: Introductionand Research Methods

As a psychology researcher, you have found that the publicexpression of emotions differs among people from the UnitedStates, Japan, Switzerland, and Israel. This type of research fitsbest with which perspective in psychology?

A correlational study:

Whereas structuralists were concerned with the study ofconscious experiences, functionalists abandoned the study ofconscious experiences, favoring the study of overt measurable behavior.

Dr. Kiecolt-Glaser is a health psychologist studying whether stress impairs the body's ability to heal. In the highly stressfull week before final exams, dental students are given an oralpunch biopsy-a small sample of gum tissue is removed. The number of days for the oral wound to completely heal is recorded. The same dental students receive a second oral punchbiopsy during summer vacation. Once again, the number ofdays until the oral wound completely healed was recorded.What is the independent variable in this study?

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

Researchers were interested in the effects of alcohol consumption on the perceived attractiveness of members of the opposite sex. One group of participants was given 4 drinks containing alcohol, another group was given 4 drinks that didnot contain alcohol, but both the alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks tasted identical. A final group was given no drinks at all.Next, all three groups of participants rated the attractiveness ofmembers of the opposite sex by viewing pictures and rating attractiveness on a 1-to-10 scale. Why did the researchers include a group that drank 4 nonalcoholic beverages that tasted identical to the alcoholic beverages?

Which of the following statements about Mary Whiton Calkinsis TRUE?

Lynn has just received a research grant to study the effect ofdownsizing on morale at a large computer company. Lynn ismost likely a(n) _____ psychologist.

In scientific research, experimental controls are:

The practice of applying magnets to the body to supposedlytreat various conditions and ailments is called:

In contrast to the experimental method, the basic goal of thedescriptive method is to:

In the ginkgo biloba experiment, some participants took themanufacturer's recommended daily dosage of the supplementwhile others were given an identical dosage of a substance called the _____, which had no known direct effects.

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.

Structuralism:

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow emphasized how unconscious processes could be the cause of serious psychological problems.

Harvard University awarded Mary Whiton Calkins her Ph.D.,but only after William James intervened on her behalf.

Which of the following statements about clinical psychologists is FALSE?

Biological psychology, also known as biopsychology, was formerly called physiological psychology.

Three of the individuals pictured played key roles in establishing the approach topsychology called behaviorism. Which person was NOT involved in establishingbehaviorism?

According to the evolutionary perspective, psychological processes that were adaptations to a prehistoric way of life may continue to exist in the human behavioral repertoire today.