Question 1

Researchers are more likely to achieve reliable observations when

Accepted Answer

A)  one observer has spent a long time observing an event. 
B)  one observer reports having observed a very unusual event. 
C)  two observers provide unique descriptions of an event. 
D)  two observers show agreement in their descriptions of an event. 
A)  one observer has spent a long time observing an event. 
B)  one observer reports having observed a very unusual event. 
C)  two observers provide unique descriptions of an event. 
D)  two observers show agreement in their descriptions of an event. D

Question 2

In an experiment that compares aggressive responses following exposure to media violence (present,absent)in television programming,"aggressive responses" is the __________ and "exposure to media violence" is the __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  construct; operational definition 
B)  operational definition; construct 
C)  independent variable; dependent variable 
D)  dependent variable; independent variable 
A)  construct; operational definition 
B)  operational definition; construct 
C)  independent variable; dependent variable 
D)  dependent variable; independent variable D

Question 3

As an approach to knowledge,the scientific method relies on

Accepted Answer

A)  intuitive hypotheses. 
B)  subjective measurement. 
C)  empirical procedures. 
D)  deductive theorizing. 
A)  intuitive hypotheses. 
B)  subjective measurement. 
C)  empirical procedures. 
D)  deductive theorizing. C

Question 4

A correlation exists when

Accepted Answer

A)  two hypotheses are shown to support the same theory. 
B)  two independent variables are confounded. 
C)  two measures of the same people, events, or things vary together. 
D)  a measurement is both reliable and valid. 
A)  two hypotheses are shown to support the same theory. 
B)  two independent variables are confounded. 
C)  two measures of the same people, events, or things vary together. 
D)  a measurement is both reliable and valid.

Question 5

When scientists report their findings they strive to describe

Accepted Answer

A)  only what they have observed. 
B)  only their inferences about behavior. 
C)  what they have observed along with their inferences. 
D)  only aspects of what they have observed that differ from what they expected to observe. 
A)  only what they have observed. 
B)  only their inferences about behavior. 
C)  what they have observed along with their inferences. 
D)  only aspects of what they have observed that differ from what they expected to observe.

Question 6

A researcher conducted two experiments to test a theory.One experiment was designed to confirm a hypothesis of the theory and the second experiment was designed to falsify the hypothesis.From the perspective of theory construction and testing,

Accepted Answer

A)  the theory is precise and parsimonious. 
B)  the theory is neither precise nor parsimonious. 
C)  the first experiment is more informative. 
D)  the second experiment is more informative. 
A)  the theory is precise and parsimonious. 
B)  the theory is neither precise nor parsimonious. 
C)  the first experiment is more informative. 
D)  the second experiment is more informative.

Question 7

A new measure of intelligence (e.g.,speed of processing spatial distances)would be a valid measure of intelligence if scores on the new measure were

Accepted Answer

A)  unrelated to scores on other accepted measures of intelligence. 
B)  more varied across people than scores on other accepted measures of intelligence. 
C)  more precise than scores on other accepted measures of intelligence. 
D)  related to scores on other accepted measures of intelligence. 
A)  unrelated to scores on other accepted measures of intelligence. 
B)  more varied across people than scores on other accepted measures of intelligence. 
C)  more precise than scores on other accepted measures of intelligence. 
D)  related to scores on other accepted measures of intelligence.

Question 8

A researcher's hypothesis predicts that people are more aggressive following exposure to media violence because they find the violence disturbing.A potential problem with this hypothesis is

Accepted Answer

A)  the concept "disturbing" is not adequately defined. 
B)  it appeals to forces not recognized by science. 
C)  it is circular: "aggression" and "disturbing" refer to the same thing. 
D)  all of these 
A)  the concept "disturbing" is not adequately defined. 
B)  it appeals to forces not recognized by science. 
C)  it is circular: "aggression" and "disturbing" refer to the same thing. 
D)  all of these

Question 9

Using the nomothetic approach,psychologists seek to

Accepted Answer

A)  describe one individual's behavior in relation to his or her environment. 
B)  create change in an individual's life. 
C)  eliminate confoundings in their experiments. 
D)  establish general laws of behavior that apply to a diverse population. 
A)  describe one individual's behavior in relation to his or her environment. 
B)  create change in an individual's life. 
C)  eliminate confoundings in their experiments. 
D)  establish general laws of behavior that apply to a diverse population.

Question 10

Which of the following characterizes the majority of the research conducted in psychology?

Accepted Answer

A)  quantitative research using the nomothetic approach 
B)  quantitative research using the idiographic approach 
C)  qualitative research using the nomothetic approach 
D)  qualitative research using the idiographic approach 
A)  quantitative research using the nomothetic approach 
B)  quantitative research using the idiographic approach 
C)  qualitative research using the nomothetic approach 
D)  qualitative research using the idiographic approach

Question 11

Distinguish between the reliability and the validity of a measurement and provide an example of a reliable measurement that may not be valid.

Accepted Answer

The reliability of a measure is indicate

Question 12

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between correlation and causation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Correlation does not imply causation. 
B)  Correlation directly implies a causal inference. 
C)  Correlation and causation refer to the same thing. 
D)  Correlation is confounded with causation. 
A)  Correlation does not imply causation. 
B)  Correlation directly implies a causal inference. 
C)  Correlation and causation refer to the same thing. 
D)  Correlation is confounded with causation.

Question 13

A researcher is interested in testing the effectiveness of using "clickers" for question-and-answer sessions during lectures.He asks students in the morning section of his course to use clickers to respond to in-class questions.Students in the afternoon section write answers to questions in their notebook.He compares the students' average test performance for the two sections.The researcher will not be able to interpret the results because his study is flawed due to

Accepted Answer

A)  his limited ability to generalize his results to other students and courses. 
B)  the confounding of class section (morning, afternoon) and response method (clicker, notebook). 
C)  his failure to manipulate an independent variable. 
D)  the correlation between response method (clicker, notebook) and test performance. 
A)  his limited ability to generalize his results to other students and courses. 
B)  the confounding of class section (morning, afternoon) and response method (clicker, notebook). 
C)  his failure to manipulate an independent variable. 
D)  the correlation between response method (clicker, notebook) and test performance.

Question 14

A cross-cultural study that examined helping behaviors in 23 large cities around the world found that,in general,people in Rio de Janeiro were most helpful and people in Kuala Lampur were least helpful.From these findings,we know that

Accepted Answer

A)  everyone in Rio de Janeiro is more helpful than everyone in Kuala Lampur. 
B)  there are more people in Rio de Janeiro than in Kuala Lampur. 
C)  any one individual we choose in Rio de Janeiro will be helpful. 
D)  none of these 
A)  everyone in Rio de Janeiro is more helpful than everyone in Kuala Lampur. 
B)  there are more people in Rio de Janeiro than in Kuala Lampur. 
C)  any one individual we choose in Rio de Janeiro will be helpful. 
D)  none of these

Question 15

A student sets a computer program to record participants' responses to materials in her experiment to the millisecond,rather than to the tenth of a second.Which characteristic of the measuring instrument is the student trying to ensure?

Accepted Answer

A)  accuracy 
B)  precision 
C)  validity 
D)  reliability 
A)  accuracy 
B)  precision 
C)  validity 
D)  reliability

Question 16

An individual's score on a test such as the SAT represents how that person consistently performs on such a test only if the SAT test is a _____________ measure.

Accepted Answer

A)  precise 
B)  reliable 
C)  valid 
D)  standardized 
A)  precise 
B)  reliable 
C)  valid 
D)  standardized

Question 17

The greater the scope of a theory,the more complex it is likely to be.Complexity is

Accepted Answer

A)  a serious obstacle to testing a theory. 
B)  a necessary characteristic of psychological theories given the nature and range of phenomena psychologists try to understand. 
C)  (
A)  and (
B)  
D)  none of these 
A)  a serious obstacle to testing a theory. 
B)  a necessary characteristic of psychological theories given the nature and range of phenomena psychologists try to understand. 
C)  (
A)  and (
B)  
D)  none of these

Question 18

A researcher develops a brief questionnaire measure of people's level of optimism.To determine whether his measure is a good one,he asks a sample of people to complete his questionnaire twice,separated by one month.At the second session,he also asks his participants to complete another measure of optimism-one that has been an accepted measure of optimism for many years.Using this procedure,the researcher is establishing the

Accepted Answer

A)  independent variable of optimism. 
B)  precision and accuracy of his measure. 
C)  reliability and validity of his measure. 
D)  nomothetic and idiographic features of optimism. 
A)  independent variable of optimism. 
B)  precision and accuracy of his measure. 
C)  reliability and validity of his measure. 
D)  nomothetic and idiographic features of optimism.

Question 19

Distinguish between the nomothetic approach and the idiographic approach in descriptions of psychological phenomena.

Accepted Answer

The nomothetic approach is used to seek

Question 20

Which of the following characteristics is most assured when scientists use operational definitions to communicate?

Accepted Answer

A)  reliable measurement 
B)  meaningfulness 
C)  clarity of meaning 
D)  valid measurement 
A)  reliable measurement 
B)  meaningfulness 
C)  clarity of meaning 
D)  valid measurement

Researchers are more likely to achieve reliable observations when

In an experiment that compares aggressive responses following exposure to media violence (present,absent)in television programming,"aggressive responses" is the and "exposure to media violence" is the .

As an approach to knowledge,the scientific method relies on

A correlation exists when

When scientists report their findings they strive to describe

A researcher conducted two experiments to test a theory.One experiment was designed to confirm a hypothesis of the theory and the second experiment was designed to falsify the hypothesis.From the perspective of theory construction and testing,

A new measure of intelligence (e.g.,speed of processing spatial distances)would be a valid measure of intelligence if scores on the new measure were

A researcher's hypothesis predicts that people are more aggressive following exposure to media violence because they find the violence disturbing.A potential problem with this hypothesis is

Using the nomothetic approach,psychologists seek to

Which of the following characterizes the majority of the research conducted in psychology?

Distinguish between the reliability and the validity of a measurement and provide an example of a reliable measurement that may not be valid.

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between correlation and causation?

A cross-cultural study that examined helping behaviors in 23 large cities around the world found that,in general,people in Rio de Janeiro were most helpful and people in Kuala Lampur were least helpful.From these findings,we know that

A student sets a computer program to record participants' responses to materials in her experiment to the millisecond,rather than to the tenth of a second.Which characteristic of the measuring instrument is the student trying to ensure?

An individual's score on a test such as the SAT represents how that person consistently performs on such a test only if the SAT test is a _____________ measure.

The greater the scope of a theory,the more complex it is likely to be.Complexity is

Distinguish between the nomothetic approach and the idiographic approach in descriptions of psychological phenomena.

Which of the following characteristics is most assured when scientists use operational definitions to communicate?

Introduction

Ethical Issues in the Conduct of Psychological Research

Observation

Survey Research

Independent Groups Designs

Repeated Measures Designs

Complex Designs

Single-Case Research Designs

Quasi-Experimental Designs and Program Evaluation

Data Analysis and Interpretation: Part Idescribing Data, confidence Intervals, correlation

Data Analysis and Interpretation: Part Iitests of Statistical Significance and the Analysis Story

Communication in Psychology

Filters

Exam 2: The Scientific Method

Researchers are more likely to achieve reliable observations when

In an experiment that compares aggressive responses following exposure to media violence (present,absent)in television programming,"aggressive responses" is the __________ and "exposure to media violence" is the __________.

As an approach to knowledge,the scientific method relies on

A correlation exists when

When scientists report their findings they strive to describe

A researcher conducted two experiments to test a theory.One experiment was designed to confirm a hypothesis of the theory and the second experiment was designed to falsify the hypothesis.From the perspective of theory construction and testing,

A new measure of intelligence (e.g.,speed of processing spatial distances)would be a valid measure of intelligence if scores on the new measure were

A researcher's hypothesis predicts that people are more aggressive following exposure to media violence because they find the violence disturbing.A potential problem with this hypothesis is

Using the nomothetic approach,psychologists seek to

Which of the following characterizes the majority of the research conducted in psychology?

Distinguish between the reliability and the validity of a measurement and provide an example of a reliable measurement that may not be valid.

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between correlation and causation?

A cross-cultural study that examined helping behaviors in 23 large cities around the world found that,in general,people in Rio de Janeiro were most helpful and people in Kuala Lampur were least helpful.From these findings,we know that

A student sets a computer program to record participants' responses to materials in her experiment to the millisecond,rather than to the tenth of a second.Which characteristic of the measuring instrument is the student trying to ensure?

An individual's score on a test such as the SAT represents how that person consistently performs on such a test only if the SAT test is a _____________ measure.

The greater the scope of a theory,the more complex it is likely to be.Complexity is

Distinguish between the nomothetic approach and the idiographic approach in descriptions of psychological phenomena.

Which of the following characteristics is most assured when scientists use operational definitions to communicate?

Introduction

Ethical Issues in the Conduct of Psychological Research

Observation

Survey Research

Independent Groups Designs

Repeated Measures Designs

Complex Designs

Single-Case Research Designs

Quasi-Experimental Designs and Program Evaluation

Data Analysis and Interpretation: Part Idescribing Data, confidence Intervals, correlation

Data Analysis and Interpretation: Part Iitests of Statistical Significance and the Analysis Story

Communication in Psychology

Filters

In an experiment that compares aggressive responses following exposure to media violence (present,absent)in television programming,"aggressive responses" is the and "exposure to media violence" is the .