Question 1

A potential problem threatening the validity of naturalistic observations is that

Accepted Answer

A)  the observations are never reliable. 
B)  the observer is unable to predict the participant's reaction. 
C)  the participant may react to being observed. 
D)  the observer can not statistically analyze the findings. 
A)  the observations are never reliable. 
B)  the observer is unable to predict the participant's reaction. 
C)  the participant may react to being observed. 
D)  the observer can not statistically analyze the findings.

Question 2

It is important to delimit the choice of behaviors to observe because of confounding factors.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

A scatterplot showing the relationship between two variables

Accepted Answer

A)  provides information about the data that is not reflected in the correlation coefficient. 
B)  can reveal problems with the data that may result in spuriously high or low correlation coefficients. 
C)  illustrates graphically both the strength and the direction of the relationship between them. 
D)  all of these 
A)  provides information about the data that is not reflected in the correlation coefficient. 
B)  can reveal problems with the data that may result in spuriously high or low correlation coefficients. 
C)  illustrates graphically both the strength and the direction of the relationship between them. 
D)  all of these

Question 4

Describe a real life problem that is difficult or impossible to examine with the experimental method. What method would you use to investigate this problem?

Accepted Answer

One real life problem that is difficult

Question 5

The Pearson correlation coefficient is useful only for nonlinear data.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Set up a hypothetical contingency table that describes the relationship between young and older adults in some domain of interest. Try to make your table reflect what you think is the true state of affairs. Describe the relationship shown in your contingency table.

Accepted Answer

Contingency tables are used to display t

Question 7

When making scientific observations, pure objectivity is possible only with deviant-case analysis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

In participant observation, a research participant observes other participants so that the experimenter's preconceived notions do not contribute to observation error.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

A Pearson r can have a value of -.99.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Possible mediation effects prevent the inference of causation from correlation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The correlational method provides for better understanding of events than any other scientific method.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Correlation allows for more control of extraneous factors than does the experimental method.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

A psychologist finds a significant negative correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and self esteem among adolescents in the US. Can we conclude that a high BMI is damaging to self esteem? Why? Offer two alternative interpretations for this correlation.

Accepted Answer

The significant negative correlation bet

Question 14

Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  We can rule out the possible effects of mediating variables in correlational research. 
B)  As a correlation coefficient increases, we can be more sure that a causal relationship exists between the two variables. 
C)  It is not possible to correlate two variables that have different scales of measurement. 
D)  Correlational research cannot demonstrate a causal relationship between two variables. 
A)  We can rule out the possible effects of mediating variables in correlational research. 
B)  As a correlation coefficient increases, we can be more sure that a causal relationship exists between the two variables. 
C)  It is not possible to correlate two variables that have different scales of measurement. 
D)  Correlational research cannot demonstrate a causal relationship between two variables.

Question 15

If two variables are correlated, one may predict the value of one variable given the value of the other variable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

An assumption underlying the Pearson r is that the relationship between two variables is linear.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

If all the values of one variable are about the same, and the values of a second variable are very different, then the correlation coefficient will approach

Accepted Answer

A)  1.0 
B)  zero 
C)  -1.0 
D)  either 1.0 or -1.0 
A)  1.0 
B)  zero 
C)  -1.0 
D)  either 1.0 or -1.0

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of a negative correlation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Body weight increases as children get older. 
B)  The rate of heart attacks is directly proportional to yearly income. 
C)  Shoe size increases as height increases. 
D)  The likelihood of owning a baseball card collection decreases with age. 
A)  Body weight increases as children get older. 
B)  The rate of heart attacks is directly proportional to yearly income. 
C)  Shoe size increases as height increases. 
D)  The likelihood of owning a baseball card collection decreases with age.

Question 19

In making scientific observations, pure objectivity

Accepted Answer

A)  is only possible with naturalistic observation. 
B)  is only possible with experimentation. 
C)  is only possible with deviant-case analysis. 
D)  is never possible. 
A)  is only possible with naturalistic observation. 
B)  is only possible with experimentation. 
C)  is only possible with deviant-case analysis. 
D)  is never possible.

Question 20

A researcher measures the number of birds belonging to each of 5 different species sighted in a particular nature preserve over a three month period. What kind of research is this?

Accepted Answer

A)  correlational 
B)  experimental 
C)  relational. 
D)  observational 
A)  correlational 
B)  experimental 
C)  relational. 
D)  observational

A potential problem threatening the validity of naturalistic observations is that

It is important to delimit the choice of behaviors to observe because of confounding factors.

A scatterplot showing the relationship between two variables

Describe a real life problem that is difficult or impossible to examine with the experimental method. What method would you use to investigate this problem?

The Pearson correlation coefficient is useful only for nonlinear data.

Set up a hypothetical contingency table that describes the relationship between young and older adults in some domain of interest. Try to make your table reflect what you think is the true state of affairs. Describe the relationship shown in your contingency table.

When making scientific observations, pure objectivity is possible only with deviant-case analysis.

In participant observation, a research participant observes other participants so that the experimenter's preconceived notions do not contribute to observation error.

A Pearson r can have a value of -.99.

Possible mediation effects prevent the inference of causation from correlation.

The correlational method provides for better understanding of events than any other scientific method.

Correlation allows for more control of extraneous factors than does the experimental method.

A psychologist finds a significant negative correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and self esteem among adolescents in the US. Can we conclude that a high BMI is damaging to self esteem? Why? Offer two alternative interpretations for this correlation.

Which of the following is true?

If two variables are correlated, one may predict the value of one variable given the value of the other variable.

An assumption underlying the Pearson r is that the relationship between two variables is linear.

If all the values of one variable are about the same, and the values of a second variable are very different, then the correlation coefficient will approach

Which of the following is an example of a negative correlation?

In making scientific observations, pure objectivity

A researcher measures the number of birds belonging to each of 5 different species sighted in a particular nature preserve over a three month period. What kind of research is this?

Explanation in Scientific Psychology

Research Techniques: Experiments

Ethics in Psychological Research

How to Read and Write Research Reports

Psychophysics

Perception

Attention and Reaction Time

Learning and Conditioning

Remembering and Forgetting

Thinking and Problem Solving

Individual Differences and Development

Social Psychology

Environmental Psychology

Human Factors

Experimental Psychology: A Historical Sketch

Statistical Reasoning: An Introduction

Filters

Exam 2: Research Techniques: Observation and Correlation

A potential problem threatening the validity of naturalistic observations is that

It is important to delimit the choice of behaviors to observe because of confounding factors.

A scatterplot showing the relationship between two variables

Describe a real life problem that is difficult or impossible to examine with the experimental method. What method would you use to investigate this problem?

The Pearson correlation coefficient is useful only for nonlinear data.

Set up a hypothetical contingency table that describes the relationship between young and older adults in some domain of interest. Try to make your table reflect what you think is the true state of affairs. Describe the relationship shown in your contingency table.

When making scientific observations, pure objectivity is possible only with deviant-case analysis.

In participant observation, a research participant observes other participants so that the experimenter's preconceived notions do not contribute to observation error.

A Pearson r can have a value of -.99.

Possible mediation effects prevent the inference of causation from correlation.

The correlational method provides for better understanding of events than any other scientific method.

Correlation allows for more control of extraneous factors than does the experimental method.

A psychologist finds a significant negative correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and self esteem among adolescents in the US. Can we conclude that a high BMI is damaging to self esteem? Why? Offer two alternative interpretations for this correlation.

Which of the following is true?

If two variables are correlated, one may predict the value of one variable given the value of the other variable.

An assumption underlying the Pearson r is that the relationship between two variables is linear.

If all the values of one variable are about the same, and the values of a second variable are very different, then the correlation coefficient will approach

Which of the following is an example of a negative correlation?

In making scientific observations, pure objectivity

A researcher measures the number of birds belonging to each of 5 different species sighted in a particular nature preserve over a three month period. What kind of research is this?

Explanation in Scientific Psychology

Research Techniques: Experiments

Ethics in Psychological Research

How to Read and Write Research Reports

Psychophysics

Perception

Attention and Reaction Time

Learning and Conditioning

Remembering and Forgetting

Thinking and Problem Solving

Individual Differences and Development

Social Psychology

Environmental Psychology

Human Factors

Experimental Psychology: A Historical Sketch

Statistical Reasoning: An Introduction

Filters