Exam 2: From Hunches to Testable Hypotheses

Definitions based on how something will be measured or manipulated are referred to as

A waitress is interested in whether providing candy at the end of a meal to her customers can have a positive impact on the tips she receives. She either does or does not provide candy to her customers when she delivers the final check. The waitress then records the amount of the tip she receives from the dining party. What would tips be in this study?

Bill is interested in how people react to news of an impending snow storm. He informs subjects that it is going to snow 2, 6, or 12 inches and then assesses their anxiety levels. Anxiety levels represent the __________ variable in this study.

According to the philosopher Hans Reichenbach, it is during the __________ stage of research that scientists formulate the ideas they pursue using the scientific method.

What is the difference between operational and theoretical definitions? Give an example of each.

In an experiment, one manipulates the __________ variable in order to measure its effect on the __________ variable.

How do hypotheses differ from theories?

What is meant by the "discovery" phase of the research process? How is this different from the "justification" phase?

A researcher defines frustration as the number of teeth marks a student makes on a pencil while trying to solve a difficult problem. This is an example of a(n)

While studying possible factors related to heart disease, two cardiologists, Meyer Freidman and Ray Rosenman, noticed that there were discernible differences in behavioral patterns between men who were and were not prone to coronary problems. This observation led to the identification of Type A and Type B personality types. The source of Friedman and Rosenman's initial research idea can best be described as

Describe the three essential criteria for acceptable hypotheses.

The inspiration for Robert Zajonc's research that ultimately led to his theory of social facilitation was

A waitress is interested in whether providing candy at the end of a meal to her customers can have a positive impact on the tips she receives. She either does or does not provide candy to her customers when she delivers the final check. The waitress then records the amount of the tip she receives from the dining party. What would the act of providing or not providing candy be in this study?

Describe two general categories of independent variables discussed in the text. Provide an example of each.

Irving Janis was fascinated by how a group of intelligent men such as President John F. Kennedy and his advisors could make such a disastrous decision when they authorized the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion. To find out, Janis began his study of decision-making in groups that eventually led to the phenomenon of "groupthink." Janis's hypothesis-generating heuristic could best be described as

Occam's razor is used to address which criterion for acceptable hypotheses?

A testable supposition is also referred to as a

Describe two strategies one may employ when trying to identify studies relevant to one's research idea.

Theories that result in further hypotheses and additional observations are known as __________ theories.

A researcher defines frustration as the negative affect one experiences when trying to solve a difficult problem. This is an example of a(n)