Question 1

What does "p < 0.05" mean?​

Accepted Answer

A) Random events would produce this outcome less than 5 percent of the time. 
B) ​The correlation between two variables is very low, almost random. 
C) ​Fewer than 5 percent of individuals had scores above the mean. 
D) ​Fewer than 5 percent of scientists agree with this theory. 
A) Random events would produce this outcome less than 5 percent of the time. 
B) ​The correlation between two variables is very low, almost random. 
C) ​Fewer than 5 percent of individuals had scores above the mean. 
D) ​Fewer than 5 percent of scientists agree with this theory.

Question 2

What is a placebo?​

Accepted Answer

A) It is a procedure intended to eliminate the effects of independent variables. 
B) ​It is a pill with no known pharmacological effects. 
C) ​It is an observer who does not know the experimenter's predictions. 
D) ​It is a procedure given prior to asking for informed consent. 
A) It is a procedure intended to eliminate the effects of independent variables. 
B) ​It is a pill with no known pharmacological effects. 
C) ​It is an observer who does not know the experimenter's predictions. 
D) ​It is a procedure given prior to asking for informed consent.

Question 3

If we want to describe the "average" person,when would the mean and median give very different results?​

Accepted Answer

A) The sample follows the normal distribution. 
B) ​The mean is equal to the mode. 
C) ​A few individuals have extreme scores. 
D) ​The sample includes thousands of individuals. 
A) The sample follows the normal distribution. 
B) ​The mean is equal to the mode. 
C) ​A few individuals have extreme scores. 
D) ​The sample includes thousands of individuals.

Question 4

The "Yes-ists" claim there are intelligent beings somewhere in outer space.The "No-ists" claim there are not.Which side has the burden of proof,and why?​

Accepted Answer

A) The Yes-ists have the burden of proof because they are defending the more popular point of view. 
B) The Yes-ists have the burden of proof because they might be able to find evidence, and the No-ists could not. 
C) The No-ists have the burden of proof because they are defending the more popular point of view. 
D) The No-ists have the burden of proof because they might be able to find evidence, and the Yes-ists could not. 
A) The Yes-ists have the burden of proof because they are defending the more popular point of view. 
B) The Yes-ists have the burden of proof because they might be able to find evidence, and the No-ists could not. 
C) The No-ists have the burden of proof because they are defending the more popular point of view. 
D) The No-ists have the burden of proof because they might be able to find evidence, and the Yes-ists could not.

Question 5

A researcher tests learning for one group of rats in a cold room and for another group in a warm room.What is the independent variable in this experiment?​

Accepted Answer

A) The rats' learning performance 
B) ​The experimenter 
C) ​The temperature of the room 
D) ​The size of the room 
A) The rats' learning performance 
B) ​The experimenter 
C) ​The temperature of the room 
D) ​The size of the room

Question 6

Because students at private high schools get better test scores,on average,than those in public schools,a researcher concludes that the private high schools provide a better education.What is a major weakness of this study,from a scientific standpoint?​

Accepted Answer

A) Students were not randomly assigned to groups. 
B) ​Public high schools tend to be larger than private high schools. 
C) ​Private high schools are more expensive than public high schools. 
D) ​Many students prefer public schools, because they have friends there. 
A) Students were not randomly assigned to groups. 
B) ​Public high schools tend to be larger than private high schools. 
C) ​Private high schools are more expensive than public high schools. 
D) ​Many students prefer public schools, because they have friends there.

Question 7

Which of the following could be an operational definition of "love" of someone?​

Accepted Answer

A) Increase of heart rate upon seeing a picture of the person 
B) ​A desire to be with the person whenever possible 
C) ​A feeling of jealousy if someone else makes this person smile 
D) ​The opposite of dislike or hate 
A) Increase of heart rate upon seeing a picture of the person 
B) ​A desire to be with the person whenever possible 
C) ​A feeling of jealousy if someone else makes this person smile 
D) ​The opposite of dislike or hate

Question 8

What is a "descriptive statistic"?​

Accepted Answer

A) A rule about how to conduct a research study 
B) ​A prediction of probable results 
C) ​An exaggeration of the actual results 
D) ​A mathematical summary of results 
A) A rule about how to conduct a research study 
B) ​A prediction of probable results 
C) ​An exaggeration of the actual results 
D) ​A mathematical summary of results

Question 9

What does it mean to say that a result is "replicable"?​

Accepted Answer

A) The results would be unlikely to arise by chance. 
B) ​The results conform to the predictions of a theory. 
C) ​Most scientists consider the results important. 
D) ​Other researchers can get the same results. 
A) The results would be unlikely to arise by chance. 
B) ​The results conform to the predictions of a theory. 
C) ​Most scientists consider the results important. 
D) ​Other researchers can get the same results.

Question 10

To test the effects of thirst on work motivation,a company permits older workers to use the water cooler but not the younger workers.The experimenter who designed the study watches the workers to decide who appears more motivated.What are two serious flaws in this experiment?​

Accepted Answer

A) It has neither random assignment nor blind observations. 
B) ​It has several independent variables and a falsifiable hypothesis. 
C) ​It has neither a hypothesis nor a method. 
D) ​It has a falsifiable hypothesis and too few demand characteristics. 
A) It has neither random assignment nor blind observations. 
B) ​It has several independent variables and a falsifiable hypothesis. 
C) ​It has neither a hypothesis nor a method. 
D) ​It has a falsifiable hypothesis and too few demand characteristics.

Question 11

What is an anecdote?​

Accepted Answer

A) A way of testing the statistical significance of a result 
B) ​A participant in a research study 
C) ​A report of a single event 
D) ​A medicine that blocks the damage from a poison 
A) A way of testing the statistical significance of a result 
B) ​A participant in a research study 
C) ​A report of a single event 
D) ​A medicine that blocks the damage from a poison

Question 12

Which of the following is an operational definition of "hunger"?​

Accepted Answer

A) How much someone would be willing to pay for a meal 
B) ​A desire for food 
C) ​The opposite of "feeling full" 
D) ​The biological need for nutrition 
A) How much someone would be willing to pay for a meal 
B) ​A desire for food 
C) ​The opposite of "feeling full" 
D) ​The biological need for nutrition

Question 13

What is a dependent variable?​

Accepted Answer

A) Something that occurs, but cannot be measured 
B) ​Something that the researcher changes or controls 
C) ​Something that the researcher measures to determine the outcome 
D) ​Something irrelevant to the procedure that might interfere with the results 
A) Something that occurs, but cannot be measured 
B) ​Something that the researcher changes or controls 
C) ​Something that the researcher measures to determine the outcome 
D) ​Something irrelevant to the procedure that might interfere with the results

Question 14

Which of the following is part of an experiment but NOT part of a correlational study?​

Accepted Answer

A) A case history 
B) ​Careful avoidance of independent variables 
C) ​Random assignment to groups 
D) ​Operational definitions 
A) A case history 
B) ​Careful avoidance of independent variables 
C) ​Random assignment to groups 
D) ​Operational definitions

Question 15

A psychic claims that he can read the minds of people who lived thousands of years ago.What is the main scientific objection to this claim?​

Accepted Answer

A) The claim is not based on mathematics. 
B) ​The claim is based on correlational data. 
C) ​The claim is not falsifiable. 
D) ​The claim is based on independent variables. 
A) The claim is not based on mathematics. 
B) ​The claim is based on correlational data. 
C) ​The claim is not falsifiable. 
D) ​The claim is based on independent variables.

Question 16

What does p < 0.05 mean?​

Accepted Answer

A) The results are so unlikely that there has to be some explanation.​ 
B) The results are so unlikely that we are entitled to look for an explanation.​ 
C) ​The results are so unsurprising that we do not need an explanation. 
D) ​The results are so hard to replicate that we should not look for an explanation. 
A) The results are so unlikely that there has to be some explanation.​ 
B) The results are so unlikely that we are entitled to look for an explanation.​ 
C) ​The results are so unsurprising that we do not need an explanation. 
D) ​The results are so hard to replicate that we should not look for an explanation.

Question 17

During the last five days,Sarah studied 3,5,9,3,and 10 hours (for a total of 30).What was her mean number of study hours per day?​

Accepted Answer

A) 3 
B) ​5 
C) ​6 
D) ​9 
A) 3 
B) ​5 
C) ​6 
D) ​9

Question 18

What are "inferential statistics"?​

Accepted Answer

A) Mathematical summaries of results​ 
B) ​Sums that combine the mean, median, and mode 
C) ​Estimates of the whole population, based on a sample 
D) ​Predictions of the results, prior to starting the experiment 
A) Mathematical summaries of results​ 
B) ​Sums that combine the mean, median, and mode 
C) ​Estimates of the whole population, based on a sample 
D) ​Predictions of the results, prior to starting the experiment

Question 19

The Central Math & Science high school "Fighting Hypotenuses" scored 40,45,55,40,and 60 points (a total of 240)in their first five basketball games.What was their median number of points?​

Accepted Answer

A) 40 
B) ​45 
C) ​48 
D) ​55 
A) 40 
B) ​45 
C) ​48 
D) ​55

Question 20

People with a rare type of brain damage have trouble seeing whether something is moving,or if so how fast and which direction.A study of this condition would probably rely on which method?​

Accepted Answer

A) Single-blind experiment 
B) ​Double-blind experiment 
C) ​Case history 
D) ​Cross-cultural research 
A) Single-blind experiment 
B) ​Double-blind experiment 
C) ​Case history 
D) ​Cross-cultural research

Exam 2: Scientific Methods in Psychology

What does "p < 0.05" mean?​

What is a placebo?​

If we want to describe the "average" person,when would the mean and median give very different results?​

The "Yes-ists" claim there are intelligent beings somewhere in outer space.The "No-ists" claim there are not.Which side has the burden of proof,and why?​

A researcher tests learning for one group of rats in a cold room and for another group in a warm room.What is the independent variable in this experiment?​

Because students at private high schools get better test scores,on average,than those in public schools,a researcher concludes that the private high schools provide a better education.What is a major weakness of this study,from a scientific standpoint?​

Which of the following could be an operational definition of "love" of someone?​

What is a "descriptive statistic"?​

What does it mean to say that a result is "replicable"?​

To test the effects of thirst on work motivation,a company permits older workers to use the water cooler but not the younger workers.The experimenter who designed the study watches the workers to decide who appears more motivated.What are two serious flaws in this experiment?​

What is an anecdote?​

Which of the following is an operational definition of "hunger"?​

What is a dependent variable?​

Which of the following is part of an experiment but NOT part of a correlational study?​

A psychic claims that he can read the minds of people who lived thousands of years ago.What is the main scientific objection to this claim?​

What does p < 0.05 mean?​

During the last five days,Sarah studied 3,5,9,3,and 10 hours (for a total of 30).What was her mean number of study hours per day?​

What are "inferential statistics"?​

The Central Math & Science high school "Fighting Hypotenuses" scored 40,45,55,40,and 60 points (a total of 240)in their first five basketball games.What was their median number of points?​

People with a rare type of brain damage have trouble seeing whether something is moving,or if so how fast and which direction.A study of this condition would probably rely on which method?​

What Is Psychology

A: Scientific Methods in Psychology

Biological Psychology

A: Biological Psychology

Sensation and Perception

A: Sensation and Perception

Development

A: Development

Learning

A: Learning

Memory

A: Memory

Cognition and Language

A: Cognition and Language

Intelligenceintelligence

A: Intelligence Intelligence

Consciousnessconsciousness

A: Consciousnessconsciousness

Motivated Behaviorsmotivated Behaviors

A: Motivated Behaviorsmotivated Behaviors

Part 1 Emotions,stress,and Healthemotions,stress,and Health

A: Emotional,stress,and Healthemotional,stress,and Health

Social Psychologysocial Psychology

A: Social Psychologysocial Psychology

Personalitypersonality

A: Personalitypersonality

Part 1 Abnormal Psychology: Disorders and Treatmentabnormal Psychology: Disorders and Treatment

A: Abnormal Psychology: Disorders and Treatmentabnormal Psychology: Disorders and Treatment

Filters

What does "p < 0.05" mean?

What is a placebo?

If we want to describe the "average" person,when would the mean and median give very different results?

The "Yes-ists" claim there are intelligent beings somewhere in outer space.The "No-ists" claim there are not.Which side has the burden of proof,and why?

A researcher tests learning for one group of rats in a cold room and for another group in a warm room.What is the independent variable in this experiment?

Because students at private high schools get better test scores,on average,than those in public schools,a researcher concludes that the private high schools provide a better education.What is a major weakness of this study,from a scientific standpoint?

Which of the following could be an operational definition of "love" of someone?

What is a "descriptive statistic"?

What does it mean to say that a result is "replicable"?

To test the effects of thirst on work motivation,a company permits older workers to use the water cooler but not the younger workers.The experimenter who designed the study watches the workers to decide who appears more motivated.What are two serious flaws in this experiment?

What is an anecdote?

Which of the following is an operational definition of "hunger"?

What is a dependent variable?

Which of the following is part of an experiment but NOT part of a correlational study?

A psychic claims that he can read the minds of people who lived thousands of years ago.What is the main scientific objection to this claim?

What does p < 0.05 mean?

During the last five days,Sarah studied 3,5,9,3,and 10 hours (for a total of 30).What was her mean number of study hours per day?

What are "inferential statistics"?

The Central Math & Science high school "Fighting Hypotenuses" scored 40,45,55,40,and 60 points (a total of 240)in their first five basketball games.What was their median number of points?

People with a rare type of brain damage have trouble seeing whether something is moving,or if so how fast and which direction.A study of this condition would probably rely on which method?