Exam 1: Theories and Methods in Social Psychology

A researcher wants to learn about changes in divorce patterns over the last fifty years. She uses U.S. Census data to examine this issue. She is conducting

Sarah decides that after four years of a non-reciprocal friendship with Shannon she does not want to continue her friendship with Shannon because Shannon does not contribute to the relationship and only takes from it. Sarah's decision may be based on

David is choosing between two computer programs to buy for his company. He makes lists of the pros and cons of each and buys the one that has the most pros and the fewest cons. Social psychologists would explain this as a use of a

Features introduced into a research setting by virtue of the fact that it is a research study and the subjects know that they are a part of it are known as ________ characteristics.

Social exchange theory is an example of

Drew watches others as they use the "do it yourself" checkout station at the grocery store. He learns how to use the station through watching others and begins to use these checkout stations habitually. This can be explained by

Larry robbed a liquor store. What types of explanations might a learning theorist be likely to provide for Larry's behavior?

A clinical psychologist using the _____________ level of analysis could explain a client's behavior in terms of her childhood history of physical abuse.

Which is NOT a method of data collection?

In a classroom, the professor usually lectures from the front of the class and gives information, while the students take notes and ask questions. These behaviors are part of their

Which is NOT a necessary element of experimental research?

A researcher wants to study the link between test difficulty and self esteem by giving some people an easy test and others a hard test and then assessing whether these groups differ in self esteem. This researcher is using which of the following approaches?

In an individualistic culture, a person's sense of self is based largely on

Social psychologists almost always use random samples in their research.

Social psychologists who want to do research that represents the increasingly diverse American population will be aware of

The hallmark of an experimental design is

If we know that variables A and B are related, but we cannot determine whether A causes B or vice versa, we have a ________ problem.

________ research allows the researcher to draw causal conclusions.

The "outcome" or effect being studied in an experiment is called the independent variable.

You are interested in doing a survey about the effectiveness of public assistance programs, and you decide to do a phone survey. Why might a phone survey not be the best idea for this study?