Question 1

Measures of central tendency are most useful for

Accepted Answer

A)  determining statistical significance. 
B)  summarizing data. 
C)  extrapolating from the sample to the population. 
D)  enabling measurement of more variable groups. 
A)  determining statistical significance. 
B)  summarizing data. 
C)  extrapolating from the sample to the population. 
D)  enabling measurement of more variable groups. B

Question 2

After his property was vandalized by a small group of teenagers,Mr.Mahmood concluded that most teenagers are irresponsible and delinquent.Mr.Mahmood ought to be reminded that accurate generalizations depend on

Accepted Answer

A)  a realization that random events may not look random. 
B)  detecting cause-effect relationships. 
C)  the observation of representative samples. 
D)  the selection of samples from a skewed population. 
A)  a realization that random events may not look random. 
B)  detecting cause-effect relationships. 
C)  the observation of representative samples. 
D)  the selection of samples from a skewed population. C

Question 3

Evelyn wants to know how consistent her bowling scores have been during the past season.Which of the following measures would tell her what she wants to know?

Accepted Answer

A)  mean 
B)  median 
C)  standard deviation 
D)  range 
A)  mean 
B)  median 
C)  standard deviation 
D)  range C

Question 4

Two students in an art class are at least 20 years older than the others.Which measure of variation of class members' ages is most affected by the ages of these two students?

Accepted Answer

A)  standard deviation 
B)  mode 
C)  median 
D)  range 
A)  standard deviation 
B)  mode 
C)  median 
D)  range

Question 5

Differences between two sample averages are most likely to be statistically significant if

Accepted Answer

A)  the difference between the samples is large. 
B)  the standard deviations of the samples are large. 
C)  both samples are drawn from the same population. 
D)  the sample means are larger than the sample medians. 
A)  the difference between the samples is large. 
B)  the standard deviations of the samples are large. 
C)  both samples are drawn from the same population. 
D)  the sample means are larger than the sample medians.

Question 6

Median is to range as central tendency is to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  skewed distribution 
B)  mode 
C)  correlation 
D)  variation 
A)  skewed distribution 
B)  mode 
C)  correlation 
D)  variation

Question 7

The symmetrical bell‑shaped figure used to represent the distribution of many physical and psychological characteristics is called a

Accepted Answer

A)  bar graph. 
B)  normal curve. 
C)  range. 
D)  standard deviation. 
A)  bar graph. 
B)  normal curve. 
C)  range. 
D)  standard deviation.

Question 8

________ means that the observed differences between scores is probably not due to chance variation between the samples.

Accepted Answer

A)  Standard deviation 
B)  Statistical significance 
C)  The range 
D)  The normal curve 
A)  Standard deviation 
B)  Statistical significance 
C)  The range 
D)  The normal curve

Question 9

The median of a distribution of scores is the

Accepted Answer

A)  most frequently occurring score. 
B)  difference between the highest and lowest scores. 
C)  arithmetic average of all the scores. 
D)  middle score in a distribution of scores. 
A)  most frequently occurring score. 
B)  difference between the highest and lowest scores. 
C)  arithmetic average of all the scores. 
D)  middle score in a distribution of scores.

Question 10

The precision with which a sample average approximates a population average increases as

Accepted Answer

A)  the standard deviation of the sample increases. 
B)  the standard deviation of the sample decreases. 
C)  the mean of the sample increases. 
D)  the mean of the sample decreases. 
A)  the standard deviation of the sample increases. 
B)  the standard deviation of the sample decreases. 
C)  the mean of the sample increases. 
D)  the mean of the sample decreases.

Question 11

The most familiar measure of central tendency is the

Accepted Answer

A)  mode. 
B)  mean. 
C)  median. 
D)  standard deviation. 
A)  mode. 
B)  mean. 
C)  median. 
D)  standard deviation.

Question 12

If IQ scores are normally distributed,having a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15,approximately what percentage of people have IQ scores between 55 and 145?

Accepted Answer

A)  34 
B)  68 
C)  95 
D)  100 
A)  34 
B)  68 
C)  95 
D)  100

Question 13

For which of the following distributions of scores would the median most clearly be a more appropriate measure of central tendency than the mean?

Accepted Answer

A)  10,22,8,9,6 
B)  12,6,8,5,4 
C)  12,15,12,9,12 
D)  23,7,3,27,16 
A)  10,22,8,9,6 
B)  12,6,8,5,4 
C)  12,15,12,9,12 
D)  23,7,3,27,16

Question 14

Differences between two samples are LEAST likely to be statistically significant if the samples are _______ and the standard deviations of the samples are _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  small;small 
B)  large;large 
C)  small;large 
D)  large;small 
A)  small;small 
B)  large;large 
C)  small;large 
D)  large;small

Question 15

If a set of standardized test scores is normally distributed,having a mean of 75 and a standard deviation of 6,approximately 95 percent of the scores are somewhere between

Accepted Answer

A)  72 and 78. 
B)  75 and 87. 
C)  69 and 81. 
D)  63 and 87. 
A)  72 and 78. 
B)  75 and 87. 
C)  69 and 81. 
D)  63 and 87.

Question 16

On average,Caryl's school bus arrives on time,although sometimes it is a bit early or late.If the arrival times are distributed on a normal curve,which of the following statistics would enable Caryl to estimate the probability that her bus will arrive within 5 minutes of its scheduled arrival time on any given day?

Accepted Answer

A)  median 
B)  mean 
C)  standard deviation 
D)  mode 
A)  median 
B)  mean 
C)  standard deviation 
D)  mode

Question 17

When you read a bar graph,it is most important for you to

Accepted Answer

A)  mentally transform the data into a normal curve. 
B)  identify the value of the standard deviation. 
C)  note the range and size of the scale values. 
D)  identify the correct measure of central tendency. 
A)  mentally transform the data into a normal curve. 
B)  identify the value of the standard deviation. 
C)  note the range and size of the scale values. 
D)  identify the correct measure of central tendency.

Question 18

To calculate the numerical value of the standard deviation,it would be most reasonable to first compute the value of the

Accepted Answer

A)  mean. 
B)  mode. 
C)  range. 
D)  median. 
A)  mean. 
B)  mode. 
C)  range. 
D)  median.

Question 19

An observed difference between two sample groups is more likely to be statistically significant if

Accepted Answer

A)  the observed difference is small. 
B)  the sample groups are small. 
C)  the standard deviations of the sample groups are small. 
D)  both samples are drawn from the same population. 
A)  the observed difference is small. 
B)  the sample groups are small. 
C)  the standard deviations of the sample groups are small. 
D)  both samples are drawn from the same population.

Question 20

Which measure of variation is affected most by a few extreme scores?

Accepted Answer

A)  standard deviation 
B)  mean 
C)  median 
D)  range 
A)  standard deviation 
B)  mean 
C)  median 
D)  range

Exam 3: Research Strategies: How Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions

Measures of central tendency are most useful for

After his property was vandalized by a small group of teenagers,Mr.Mahmood concluded that most teenagers are irresponsible and delinquent.Mr.Mahmood ought to be reminded that accurate generalizations depend on

Evelyn wants to know how consistent her bowling scores have been during the past season.Which of the following measures would tell her what she wants to know?

Two students in an art class are at least 20 years older than the others.Which measure of variation of class members' ages is most affected by the ages of these two students?

Differences between two sample averages are most likely to be statistically significant if

Median is to range as central tendency is to ________.

The symmetrical bell‑shaped figure used to represent the distribution of many physical and psychological characteristics is called a

________ means that the observed differences between scores is probably not due to chance variation between the samples.

The median of a distribution of scores is the

The precision with which a sample average approximates a population average increases as

The most familiar measure of central tendency is the

If IQ scores are normally distributed,having a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15,approximately what percentage of people have IQ scores between 55 and 145?

For which of the following distributions of scores would the median most clearly be a more appropriate measure of central tendency than the mean?

Differences between two samples are LEAST likely to be statistically significant if the samples are _______ and the standard deviations of the samples are _______.

If a set of standardized test scores is normally distributed,having a mean of 75 and a standard deviation of 6,approximately 95 percent of the scores are somewhere between

When you read a bar graph,it is most important for you to

To calculate the numerical value of the standard deviation,it would be most reasonable to first compute the value of the

An observed difference between two sample groups is more likely to be statistically significant if

Which measure of variation is affected most by a few extreme scores?

The History and Scope of Psychology

Thinking Critically with Psychological Science

Neural and Hormonal Systems

The Brain

Behavior Genetics and Evolutionary Psychology

Environmental Influences on Behavior, and Reflections on Nature and Nurture

Prenatal Development and the Newborn

Infancy and Childhood

Adolescence

Adulthood, and Reflections on Developmental Issues

Introduction to Sensation and Perception

Vision

Hearing

Other Senses

Perceptual Organization

Perceptual Interpretation

Waking and Sleeping Rhythms

Hypnosis

Drugs and Consciousness

Classical Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

Learning by Observation

Introduction to Memory

Encoding: Getting Information In

Storage: Retaining Information

Retrieval: Getting Information Out

Forgetting, Memory Construction, and Applying Memory Principles to Your Own Education

Thinking

Language and Thought

Introduction to Intelligence

Assessing Intelligence

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Introduction to Motivation

Hunger

Sexual Motivation and the Need to Belong

Motivation at Work

Introduction to Emotion

Experienced Emotion

Expressed Emotion

Stress and Illness

Coping With Stress

Modifying Illness-Related Behaviors

Psychoanalytic Perspective

Humanistic Perspective

Contemporary Research on Personality

Introduction to Psychological Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Dissociative and Personality Disorders

Mood Disorders

Schizophrenia

The Psychological Therapies

Evaluating Psychotherapies

The Biomedical Therapies

Social Thinking

Appendix

Filters

Differences between two samples are LEAST likely to be statistically significant if the samples are _ and the standard deviations of the samples are _.