Question 1

The degree to which a good scientific theory provides the simplest explanation of some phenomenon is known as .

Accepted Answer

A) minimalism 
B) pretentiousness 
C) parsimony 
D) density 
A) minimalism 
B) pretentiousness 
C) parsimony 
D) density

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT true of third variables and mediating variables?

Accepted Answer

A) Third variables are external to the causal variable, but mediating variables are internal to the causal variable. 
B) Third variables are considered nuisances, but mediating variables are not. 
C) Third variables can be detected using multiple regression techniques, but mediating variables cannot. 
D) Third variables are not usually of central interest to researchers, but mediating variables are. 
A) Third variables are external to the causal variable, but mediating variables are internal to the causal variable. 
B) Third variables are considered nuisances, but mediating variables are not. 
C) Third variables can be detected using multiple regression techniques, but mediating variables cannot. 
D) Third variables are not usually of central interest to researchers, but mediating variables are.

Question 3

When examining the results of a multiple regression, which of the following should be compared to determine which predictor variables have the largest relationship to the criterion variable?

Accepted Answer

A) b values 
B) Beta values 
C) Significance values 
D) Effect sizes 
A) b values 
B) Beta values 
C) Significance values 
D) Effect sizes

Question 4

Dr. Finkel is a social psychologist who studies romantic relationships. Several researchers have found that there is a link between income and marital satisfaction (e.g., Dakin & Wampler, 2012). Dr. Finkel is curious as to whether there is a causal link between the two variables, such that having a higher income causes higher levels of marital satisfaction. He is confident that he cannot reasonably or ethically manipulate people's income level, so he decides to use a multivariate design. He is also curious as to whether there is a causal link between these two variables or if two other variables (number of arguments and life satisfaction) can explain the relationship. He measures his three variables in a sample of 124 married couples recruited from a local community center. Below are his results.
 
Which of the following is a criterion variable in Dr. Finkel's study?

Accepted Answer

A) Marital satisfaction 
B) Life satisfaction 
C) Income 
D) Number of arguments 
A) Marital satisfaction 
B) Life satisfaction 
C) Income 
D) Number of arguments

Question 5

Dr. Nguyen is a psychologist who studies legal decision making. Specifically, he is curious about the factors that are irrelevant to the crime committed that influence the sentences juries give to defendants (known as extra-legal factors). To study this further, he samples a group of jury-eligible adults from the Memphis area. He provides them with the fact pattern to a particular case and allows them to watch the closing statements from the trial. He then asks them to provide a sentence (in months) for the defendant. In addition, he measures two legal factors (the number of arguments made by the prosecuting attorney and the length of time the defense attorney speaks during his or her closing argument) and two extra-legal factors (how attractive the participants think the defendant is [higher scores indicate higher ratings of attractiveness] and how many legal televisions shows the participants watch). The data are below.
   
Choose one of the variables in Dr. Nguyen's study. Explain how this variable relates to criminal sentencing, considering direction of the effect, statistical significance, and strength of relationship compared with the other variables.

Accepted Answer

In their responses,students should choos

Question 6

Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the potential causal relationship between doing homework and academic achievement. In January, Dr. Farah has her students report their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement) and estimate how many hours they spent doing homework during a typical week in the fall semester. In May, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the estimated number of hours spent doing homework during a typical week in the spring semester and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.
 
A colleague of Dr. Farah's questions the internal validity of her causal claim. He is curious as to whether the relationship between homework and academic achievement could be explained by interest in one's classes. Specifically, he thinks that students who are interested in their classes will both do more homework and have higher GPAs. Which of the following is a solution to this possible threat to internal validity?

Accepted Answer

A) Dr. Farah should replicate her study. 
B) Dr. Farah should also measure students' interest in their class. 
C) Dr. Farah should measure students' interest in their class instead of time spent doing homework. 
D) Dr. Farah should measure students' interest in their class instead of GPA. 
A) Dr. Farah should replicate her study. 
B) Dr. Farah should also measure students' interest in their class. 
C) Dr. Farah should measure students' interest in their class instead of time spent doing homework. 
D) Dr. Farah should measure students' interest in their class instead of GPA.

Question 7

Name two consequences of journalists reporting on single studies rather than reporting on patterns of data.

Accepted Answer

In each response,students should name at

Question 8

Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the potential causal relationship between doing homework and academic achievement. In January, Dr. Farah has her students report their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement) and estimate how many hours they spent doing homework during a typical week in the fall semester. In May, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the estimated number of hours spent doing homework during a typical week in the spring semester and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.
 
Imagine that Dr. Farah noted a cyclical, reinforcing relationship between homework and academic achievement. For this to be case, which of the following correlations would need to be significant?

Accepted Answer

A) Correlations 1 and 6 
B) Correlations 2 and 5 
C) Correlations 3 and 4 
D) Correlations 2 and 3 
A) Correlations 1 and 6 
B) Correlations 2 and 5 
C) Correlations 3 and 4 
D) Correlations 2 and 3

Question 9

Why should journalists report on the previous body of research when writing about a newly published scientific study?

Accepted Answer

A) To highlight pattern and parsimony in scientific research 
B) To demonstrate that they have a background in science 
C) To make it easier for their readers to determine that the story is credible 
D) To prove to their editors that readers will be interested in the story 
A) To highlight pattern and parsimony in scientific research 
B) To demonstrate that they have a background in science 
C) To make it easier for their readers to determine that the story is credible 
D) To prove to their editors that readers will be interested in the story

Question 10

Dr. Finkel is a social psychologist who studies romantic relationships. Several researchers have found that there is a link between income and marital satisfaction (e.g., Dakin & Wampler, 2012). Dr. Finkel is curious as to whether there is a causal link between the two variables, such that having a higher income causes higher levels of marital satisfaction. He is confident that he cannot reasonably or ethically manipulate people's income level, so he decides to use a multivariate design. He is also curious as to whether there is a causal link between these two variables or if two other variables (number of arguments and life satisfaction) can explain the relationship. He measures his three variables in a sample of 124 married couples recruited from a local community center. Below are his results.
 
One of Dr. Finkel's colleagues argues that he should have considered years of marriage in his study, which is a known predictor of marital satisfaction. If Dr. Finkel conducts his study again and asks people to report on how many years they have been married as well, which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A) The beta value for number of arguments may no longer be statistically significant. 
B) The beta value for number of arguments will remain unchanged. 
C) He will need to add another criterion variable. 
D) He will need to delete a predictor variable. 
A) The beta value for number of arguments may no longer be statistically significant. 
B) The beta value for number of arguments will remain unchanged. 
C) He will need to add another criterion variable. 
D) He will need to delete a predictor variable.

Question 11

All of the following are true of betas and correlation coefficients EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A) Betas describe the relationship between two variables exactly as correlations coefficients do. 
B) Both betas and correlation coefficients can tell you something about the strength of a relationship. 
C) Both betas and correlation coefficients can tell you something about the direction of a relationship. 
D) Betas from an analysis can be compared with other beta coefficients from the same analysis just as correlation coefficients can. 
A) Betas describe the relationship between two variables exactly as correlations coefficients do. 
B) Both betas and correlation coefficients can tell you something about the strength of a relationship. 
C) Both betas and correlation coefficients can tell you something about the direction of a relationship. 
D) Betas from an analysis can be compared with other beta coefficients from the same analysis just as correlation coefficients can.

Question 12

Why would a researcher interested in making a causal claim NOT do an experiment?

Accepted Answer

A) Experiments are very expensive and the researcher might not have grant funding. 
B) There may be ethical limitations of manipulating a variable. 
C) Laboratory space is required for experiments and the researcher might not have a lab. 
D) Experiments take longer to do than other types of studies. 
A) Experiments are very expensive and the researcher might not have grant funding. 
B) There may be ethical limitations of manipulating a variable. 
C) Laboratory space is required for experiments and the researcher might not have a lab. 
D) Experiments take longer to do than other types of studies.

Question 13

Dr. Cheong is a clinical psychologist who is curious about how people deal with natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes). His previous research suggests that there is a relationship between how much people feel their emotional well-being was affected by the natural disaster and their likelihood of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, he is curious as to whether the effect of emotional well-being occurs because people receive different levels of social support. He conducts a study in which he asks 174 men and women affected by Hurricane Sandy (2012) to report on how their well-being was affected by the hurricane, the social support felt after the storm, and the number of PTSD symptoms. Dr. Cheong finds support for his proposed relationship. However, in examining his data more closely, he finds that the relationship between emotional well-being and PTSD symptoms is stronger for men than for women.
Using Dr. Cheong's study, identify a mediating variable and a moderating variable and explain the difference between the two types of variables.

Accepted Answer

Participant sex is a moderating variable

Question 14

Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the potential causal relationship between doing homework and academic achievement. In January, Dr. Farah has her students report their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement) and estimate how many hours they spent doing homework during a typical week in the fall semester. In May, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the estimated number of hours spent doing homework during a typical week in the spring semester and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.
 
Which of the following correlations is a cross-lag correlation?

Accepted Answer

A) Both Correlations 1 and 6 
B) Both Correlations 2 and 5 
C) Both Correlations 3 and 4 
D) Both Correlations 3 and 5 
A) Both Correlations 1 and 6 
B) Both Correlations 2 and 5 
C) Both Correlations 3 and 4 
D) Both Correlations 3 and 5

Question 15

Dr. Cheong is a clinical psychologist who is curious about how people deal with natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes). His previous research suggests that there is a relationship between how much people feel their emotional well-being was affected by the natural disaster and their likelihood of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, he is curious as to whether the effect of emotional well-being occurs because people receive different levels of social support. He conducts a study in which he asks 174 men and women affected by Hurricane Sandy (2012) to report on how their well-being was affected by the hurricane, the social support felt after the storm, and the number of PTSD symptoms. Dr. Cheong finds support for his proposed relationship. However, in examining his data more closely, he finds that the relationship between emotional well-being and PTSD symptoms is stronger for men than for women.
Dr) Cheong's finding that the relationship between emotional well-being and PTSD symptoms is stronger for men than for women suggests which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) Participant sex is a moderating variable. 
B) Participant sex is a mediating variable. 
C) Emotional well-being is a moderating variable. 
D) Emotional well-being is a mediating variable. 
A) Participant sex is a moderating variable. 
B) Participant sex is a mediating variable. 
C) Emotional well-being is a moderating variable. 
D) Emotional well-being is a mediating variable.

Question 16

When determining mediation, how many steps are necessary?

Accepted Answer

A) Two 
B) Three 
C) Four 
D) Five 
A) Two 
B) Three 
C) Four 
D) Five

Question 17

Dr. Nguyen is a psychologist who studies legal decision making. Specifically, he is curious about the factors that are irrelevant to the crime committed that influence the sentences juries give to defendants (known as extra-legal factors). To study this further, he samples a group of jury-eligible adults from the Memphis area. He provides them with the fact pattern to a particular case and allows them to watch the closing statements from the trial. He then asks them to provide a sentence (in months) for the defendant. In addition, he measures two legal factors (the number of arguments made by the prosecuting attorney and the length of time the defense attorney speaks during his or her closing argument) and two extra-legal factors (how attractive the participants think the defendant is [higher scores indicate higher ratings of attractiveness] and how many legal television shows the participants watch). The data are below.
   
List the predictor and dependent/criterion variables in Dr. Nguyen's study.

Accepted Answer

There is one dependent variable in Dr.Ng

Question 18

A criterion variable is also known as a(n) variable.

Accepted Answer

A) predictor 
B) independent 
C) control 
D) dependent 
A) predictor 
B) independent 
C) control 
D) dependent

Question 19

Dr. Cheong is a clinical psychologist who is curious about how people deal with natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes). His previous research suggests that there is a relationship between how much people feel their emotional well-being was affected by the natural disaster and their likelihood of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, he is curious as to whether the effect of emotional well-being occurs because people receive different levels of social support. He conducts a study in which he asks 174 men and women affected by Hurricane Sandy (2012) to report on how their well-being was affected by the hurricane, the social support felt after the storm, and the number of PTSD symptoms. Dr. Cheong finds support for his proposed relationship. However, in examining his data more closely, he finds that the relationship between emotional well-being and PTSD symptoms is stronger for men than for women.
Using Dr. Cheong's study, explain the steps he would go through to examine whether there was support for his mediation hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

There are four steps (or students may sa

Question 20

When conducting longitudinal research, researchers typically find to be the most interesting.

Accepted Answer

A) autocorrelations 
B) cross-sectional correlations 
C) cross-lag correlations 
D) multivariate correlations 
A) autocorrelations 
B) cross-sectional correlations 
C) cross-lag correlations 
D) multivariate correlations

The degree to which a good scientific theory provides the simplest explanation of some phenomenon is known as .

Which of the following is NOT true of third variables and mediating variables?

When examining the results of a multiple regression, which of the following should be compared to determine which predictor variables have the largest relationship to the criterion variable?

Name two consequences of journalists reporting on single studies rather than reporting on patterns of data.

Why should journalists report on the previous body of research when writing about a newly published scientific study?

All of the following are true of betas and correlation coefficients EXCEPT:

Why would a researcher interested in making a causal claim NOT do an experiment?

When determining mediation, how many steps are necessary?

A criterion variable is also known as a(n) variable.

When conducting longitudinal research, researchers typically find to be the most interesting.

Psychology Is a Way of Thinking

Sources of Information: Why Research Is Best and How to Find It

Three Claims, Four Validities: Interrogation Tools for Consumers of Research

Ethical Guidelines for Psychology Research

Identifying Good Measurement

Surveys and Observations: Describing What People Do

Sampling: Estimating the Frequency of Behaviors and Beliefs

Bivariate Correlational Research

Introduction to Simple Experiments

More on Experiments: Confounding and Obscuring Variables

Experiments With More Than One Independent Variable

Quasi-Experiments and Small-N Designs

Replication, Generalization, and the Real World

Filters

Exam 9: Multivariate Correlational Research

The degree to which a good scientific theory provides the simplest explanation of some phenomenon is known as .

Which of the following is NOT true of third variables and mediating variables?

When examining the results of a multiple regression, which of the following should be compared to determine which predictor variables have the largest relationship to the criterion variable?

Name two consequences of journalists reporting on single studies rather than reporting on patterns of data.

Why should journalists report on the previous body of research when writing about a newly published scientific study?

All of the following are true of betas and correlation coefficients EXCEPT:

Why would a researcher interested in making a causal claim NOT do an experiment?

When determining mediation, how many steps are necessary?

A criterion variable is also known as a(n) variable.

When conducting longitudinal research, researchers typically find to be the most interesting.

Psychology Is a Way of Thinking

Sources of Information: Why Research Is Best and How to Find It

Three Claims, Four Validities: Interrogation Tools for Consumers of Research

Ethical Guidelines for Psychology Research

Identifying Good Measurement

Surveys and Observations: Describing What People Do

Sampling: Estimating the Frequency of Behaviors and Beliefs

Bivariate Correlational Research

Introduction to Simple Experiments

More on Experiments: Confounding and Obscuring Variables

Experiments With More Than One Independent Variable

Quasi-Experiments and Small-N Designs

Replication, Generalization, and the Real World

Filters