Exam 1: Psychology Is a Way of Thinking

Paul wakes up on Tuesday morning and none of the lights or the appliances in his apartment are working. What theory might explain why this is happening? What could Paul do to test this theory? How is this an example of the theory-data cycle in science?

Scientific journals and magazines are similar in which of the following ways?

Which of the following is the reason that scientific journals use peer review?

Provide two reasons why it is beneficial to be a good consumer of research, even if you are not a psychologist.

Your friend Gaby loves reading articles about psychology studies in her monthly women's magazine. Which of the following would you tell her?

Dr. White reads about a new theory that states that depression is caused by increased levels of estrogen in the womb. To test this theory, she conducted a study comparing the level of estrogen in amniotic fluid in individuals who were later diagnosed with depression with the level of those who did not develop depression. Dr. White found no differences between the groups in estrogen levels in the amniotic fluid. What should Dr. White do next?

A research consumer scientific results.

Occam's razor states that the simplest solution is the best, all things being equal. This speaks to a theory's:

Dr. White reads about a new theory that states that depression is caused by increased levels of estrogen in the womb. To test this theory, she conducted a study comparing the level of estrogen in amniotic fluid in individuals who were later diagnosed with depression with the level of those who did not develop depression. Dr. White found no differences between the groups in estrogen levels in the amniotic fluid. In this study, estrogen levels in participants were the .

How can you ensure that a popular media article accurately reflects the original research of a scientific study?

Deci and Ryan (1985, 2001) have proposed that there are three fundamental needs that are required for human growth and fulfillment: relatedness, autonomy, and competence. Susan predicts that students who have these needs met in their psychology class feel happier and more satisfied with the class. She collects data and finds that students who feel more related and competent do feel happier but that feeling more autonomous does not seem to matter. Susan thinks that maybe autonomy is only necessary when people are in situations in which they are not being evaluated. Susan's hypothesis was not completely supported by her data. What does this mean?

Explain why we do not say that a single study proves a theory or that a single study disproves a theory.

Which of the following is an example of applied research?

Which of the following is a reason psychological scientists publish their research in scientific journals?

Dr. White reads about a new theory that states that depression is caused by increased levels of estrogen in the womb. To test this theory, she conducted a study comparing the level of estrogen in amniotic fluid in individuals who were later diagnosed with depression with the level of those who did not develop depression. Dr. White found no differences between the groups in estrogen levels in the amniotic fluid. Based on these results, Dr. White should conclude that:

The text mentions two important questions to ask about a popular media story. What are these two questions, and why are they important to consider as you evaluate a story?

The Harlow study described in the text is an example of basic research. It found that attachment to a caregiver is important in the early months of life. How might a researcher use this study as inspiration for an applied research study?

Dr. Stewart is an editor of a psychology journal. She wants to ensure that reviewers give honest reviews of the papers they are asked to read. Which of the following could she do to increase the likelihood of honest feedback?

Explain why the relationship between applied and basic research can best be thought of as interrelated.

Name the two aspects that improve the publication process from journal to journalism.