Question 1

Which of the following is true about observational research design and open-ended interviews?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are unscientific because they are qualitative. 
B)  They can be very helpful in the early stages of research that is new and understudied. 
C)  They do not provide any new information to the researcher. 
D)  They often provide the final, definitive evidence for a theory. 
A)  They are unscientific because they are qualitative. 
B)  They can be very helpful in the early stages of research that is new and understudied. 
C)  They do not provide any new information to the researcher. 
D)  They often provide the final, definitive evidence for a theory. B

Question 2

Which of the following is true about correlational and causal designs?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both designs allow you to investigate an association between variables only. 
B)  Both designs allow you to investigate what factors influence a particular behavior without knowing anything about causality. 
C)  A correlational design allows you to investigate what factors influence a particular behavior while a causal design allows you to investigate if a behavior is associated with other factors. 
D)  A correlational design allows you to investigate an association between variables while a causal design allows you to investigate directionality of an association. 
A)  Both designs allow you to investigate an association between variables only. 
B)  Both designs allow you to investigate what factors influence a particular behavior without knowing anything about causality. 
C)  A correlational design allows you to investigate what factors influence a particular behavior while a causal design allows you to investigate if a behavior is associated with other factors. 
D)  A correlational design allows you to investigate an association between variables while a causal design allows you to investigate directionality of an association. D

Question 3

Qualitative researchers come from a very narrow tradition. They have similar foci and goals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

The following question are based on this survey. The survey responses range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) with 3 as a neutral point: 1.) In general my life is quite satisfactory.
2)) I find myself eager and motivated for every new day.
3)) I am happy for the most part.
4)) I am not upset about anything important in my life.
A researcher conducted a study using this survey and found that for the most part, this survey of 4 items is internally consistent. What does this suggest?

Accepted Answer

A)  The 4 items are asking about more or less the same thing. 
B)  The survey is high on internal validity. 
C)  The survey is high on internal reliability. 
D)  The survey valid and reliable. 
A)  The 4 items are asking about more or less the same thing. 
B)  The survey is high on internal validity. 
C)  The survey is high on internal reliability. 
D)  The survey valid and reliable.

Question 5

A researcher used the following survey. The survey responses range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) with 3 as a neutral point: 1.) In general my life is quite satisfactory.
2)) I find myself eager and motivated for every new day.
3)) I am happy for the most part.
4)) I am not upset about anything important in my life.
She found that although her participants all scored very high on the scale (meaning they agreed or strongly agreed with almost all the statements), they don't seem to accurately measure anything. What does this suggest?

Accepted Answer

A)  The survey has low construct validity. 
B)  The survey has low internal consistency. 
C)  The survey has low conclusion validity. 
D)  The survey has high internal validity, but low external validity. 
A)  The survey has low construct validity. 
B)  The survey has low internal consistency. 
C)  The survey has low conclusion validity. 
D)  The survey has high internal validity, but low external validity.

Question 6

Sally is interested in studying the effects of maternal exposure to pollution on infant health. She would like to examine whether exposure to air pollution during pregnancy is linked to an increase in infant health problems. Which is the best option for the study design that should Sally use, and why?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sally should use an experimental design because it will allow her to make causal claims about pollution and infant health. 
B)  Sally should use an experimental design because it is a more rigorous method than a nonexperimental design. 
C)  Sally should use a nonexperimental design because it is unethical to use an experimental design in this case. 
D)  Sally should use a nonexperimental design because it is less artificial than an experimental design in this case. 
A)  Sally should use an experimental design because it will allow her to make causal claims about pollution and infant health. 
B)  Sally should use an experimental design because it is a more rigorous method than a nonexperimental design. 
C)  Sally should use a nonexperimental design because it is unethical to use an experimental design in this case. 
D)  Sally should use a nonexperimental design because it is less artificial than an experimental design in this case.

Question 7

Which of the following is the best source of precise predictions that can be falsified?

Accepted Answer

A)  Framework theories 
B)  Specific theories 
C)  Model-driven theories 
D)  Implicit theories 
A)  Framework theories 
B)  Specific theories 
C)  Model-driven theories 
D)  Implicit theories

Question 8

Researchers who have a political agenda may claim that all research has some sort of underlying agenda.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Correlational designs help you conclude if your variables are related.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Moderating variables _________________ the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Mediating variables _________________ the relationship between two variables.

Accepted Answer

A)  uncover; also reveal 
B)  influence; explain 
C)  explain; influence 
D)  conceal; influence 
A)  uncover; also reveal 
B)  influence; explain 
C)  explain; influence 
D)  conceal; influence

Question 11

Identify three different types of validity, and define each one. Explain one way that can compromise each one of them.

Accepted Answer

Construct validity: this is the extent t

Question 12

If a psychological concept cannot be falsified, it means that the concept…

Accepted Answer

A)  is false. 
B)  must always be true. 
C)  will always be outside the realm of science. 
D)  could one day be within the realm of science due to technological advancements. 
A)  is false. 
B)  must always be true. 
C)  will always be outside the realm of science. 
D)  could one day be within the realm of science due to technological advancements.

Question 13

A testable-hypothesis means that it is purely driven by theory without assumptions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

John Watson claimed, "Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own special world to bring them up in, and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select-doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief, and yes, beggar-man and thief." (Watson, 1913)
Considering this claim, which of the following is true about Watson's approach to child development?

Accepted Answer

A)  Watson's approach does not contain any assumptions. In other words, his approach is atheoretical. 
B)  Watson holds the assumption that nature defines the eventual career of a person. 
C)  Watson holds the assumption that nurture determines the eventual career of a person. 
D)  Watson holds the assumption that both nature and nurture defines the eventual career of a person. 
A)  Watson's approach does not contain any assumptions. In other words, his approach is atheoretical. 
B)  Watson holds the assumption that nature defines the eventual career of a person. 
C)  Watson holds the assumption that nurture determines the eventual career of a person. 
D)  Watson holds the assumption that both nature and nurture defines the eventual career of a person.

Question 15

Quantitative and qualitative approaches to research differ in their degree of falsifiability.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

A grounded theory approach is generally a top-down approach.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Which of the following describes random assignment in the context of an experiment containing an experimental treatment group and a control group?

Accepted Answer

A)  All participants are assigned to a method of treatment that was randomly selected from ten known treatments in the clinical field. After undergoing treatment, all participants were then placed in the control group. 
B)  The researcher randomly decides that the first thirty people recruited for the experiment will be assigned to the control group and the next thirty people recruited for the experiment will be assigned to the treatment group. 
C)  After deciding randomly which condition to start with, the researcher assigned participants alternately to either the control group or the treatment group. That is, if the first participant was assigned to the control group, then the second participant was assigned to the treatment group. 
D)  Each participant is assigned to either the control group or the treatment group based on a random decision. 
A)  All participants are assigned to a method of treatment that was randomly selected from ten known treatments in the clinical field. After undergoing treatment, all participants were then placed in the control group. 
B)  The researcher randomly decides that the first thirty people recruited for the experiment will be assigned to the control group and the next thirty people recruited for the experiment will be assigned to the treatment group. 
C)  After deciding randomly which condition to start with, the researcher assigned participants alternately to either the control group or the treatment group. That is, if the first participant was assigned to the control group, then the second participant was assigned to the treatment group. 
D)  Each participant is assigned to either the control group or the treatment group based on a random decision.

Question 18

Ron finds that students who played with a puzzle before solving mathematical problems perform better than students who did not play with a puzzle. Ron is concerned about whether other researchers will obtain similar findings if they conduct the same experiment. Ron is mainly concerned about the study's….

Accepted Answer

A)  relativism. 
B)  mediation. 
C)  reliability. 
D)  population. 
A)  relativism. 
B)  mediation. 
C)  reliability. 
D)  population.

Question 19

Explain how the role of theory can differ between different methods.

Accepted Answer

Theory-driven methods are often top down

Question 20

Experimental groups generally always need a standard or second group to be compared to.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Which of the following is true about observational research design and open-ended interviews?

Which of the following is true about correlational and causal designs?

Qualitative researchers come from a very narrow tradition. They have similar foci and goals.

Which of the following is the best source of precise predictions that can be falsified?

Researchers who have a political agenda may claim that all research has some sort of underlying agenda.

Correlational designs help you conclude if your variables are related.

Moderating variables _ the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Mediating variables _ the relationship between two variables.

Identify three different types of validity, and define each one. Explain one way that can compromise each one of them.

If a psychological concept cannot be falsified, it means that the concept…

A testable-hypothesis means that it is purely driven by theory without assumptions.

Quantitative and qualitative approaches to research differ in their degree of falsifiability.

A grounded theory approach is generally a top-down approach.

Which of the following describes random assignment in the context of an experiment containing an experimental treatment group and a control group?

Explain how the role of theory can differ between different methods.

Experimental groups generally always need a standard or second group to be compared to.

Introduction to Research Methods

The Ethical Imperative

Negotiating the Institutional Review Board Process

Starting Your Research

Developing Your Research Protocol

Survey and Interview Approaches

Experimental Designs

Variations on Experimental Designs

Observation, Case Studies, Archival Research, and Meta-Analysis

Neuroscience Methods

Research Over Age and Time

Analyzing Your Data I: an Overview

Analyzing Your Data II: Specific Approaches

Writing up Your Results

Publishing Your Research

Filters

Exam 5: Focusing Your Question and Choosing a Design

Which of the following is true about observational research design and open-ended interviews?

Which of the following is true about correlational and causal designs?

Qualitative researchers come from a very narrow tradition. They have similar foci and goals.

Which of the following is the best source of precise predictions that can be falsified?

Researchers who have a political agenda may claim that all research has some sort of underlying agenda.

Correlational designs help you conclude if your variables are related.

Moderating variables _________________ the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Mediating variables _________________ the relationship between two variables.

Identify three different types of validity, and define each one. Explain one way that can compromise each one of them.

If a psychological concept cannot be falsified, it means that the concept…

A testable-hypothesis means that it is purely driven by theory without assumptions.

Quantitative and qualitative approaches to research differ in their degree of falsifiability.

A grounded theory approach is generally a top-down approach.

Which of the following describes random assignment in the context of an experiment containing an experimental treatment group and a control group?

Explain how the role of theory can differ between different methods.

Experimental groups generally always need a standard or second group to be compared to.

Introduction to Research Methods

The Ethical Imperative

Negotiating the Institutional Review Board Process

Starting Your Research

Developing Your Research Protocol

Survey and Interview Approaches

Experimental Designs

Variations on Experimental Designs

Observation, Case Studies, Archival Research, and Meta-Analysis

Neuroscience Methods

Research Over Age and Time

Analyzing Your Data I: an Overview

Analyzing Your Data II: Specific Approaches

Writing up Your Results

Publishing Your Research

Filters

Moderating variables _ the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Mediating variables _ the relationship between two variables.