Exam 2: Studying Behaviour Scientifically

In an experiment, the main difference between internal validity and external validity is that

A researcher who observes behaviour as it occurs in a normal or typical setting is doing _________.

Two research assistants trained to code the type of interactions observed between siblings, repeatedly disagree on how to code siblings' sarcastic comments toward one another. The resulting data may then be

Which of following most accurately describes the distinction between independent and dependent variables?

An educational psychologist wants to study the effectiveness of using the Internet as a way of taking academic classes. She designs a study in which one group of students is assigned to take a course in a standard classroom with a live instructor. Another group of students is assigned to take the same course over the Internet. The psychologist then compares the course grades for students in each of the two groups. In this case, the instruction group (regular class vs. Internet class) would be considered the ____________ variable.

Dr. Sesay is testing a new antidepressant. He gives the experimental group the new medication and the control group sugar pills that look exactly the same as the real medication. However, some of the people who are taking the sugar pills start to feel less depressed. What is the most likely explanation?

The first step in the scientific process is to

Despite having excellent vision, Kris was unable to grasp or pick up objects properly. It is likely that he has damaged his

A researcher is interested in studying the frequency of aggression in school-aged children. Which would be the best method to use to measure aggression?

Lelani wants to know what percentage of all American college students receive financial aid in their freshman year. She attends a two-year community college, to which many students commute to campus every day. She stands outside the dining hall one weekday evening and hands out surveys to every third person entering the hall for dinner. Her data will

Why are we unable to draw causal conclusions from correlational findings?

The essential function of an operational definition is that it translates something

What are the major limitations of case studies?

In Canada, research ethics rules are determined by the

The first step in the scientific process is to

Consider the following distribution: (3, 4, 5, 2, 256). What would be the most representative measure of central tendency for you to report?

The essential function of an operational definition is that it translates something

The optimum operational definition for exam stress would be to focus on the psychological variable of self-reported anxiety.

Maddie does an experiment to test whether exercising gives her more energy. She spends one week exercising every day, and one week not exercising at all. For both weeks, she rates her energy level at the end of the day on a scale of 1-10. In her study, the independent variable is

An animal researcher is studying the effect of a new drug on the memory of mice. One group of mice receives the drug while a second group does not. The memory of the mice is then tested by how quickly they can negotiate a previously learned maze. In this example, the group of mice that does not receive the drug would be considered the