Exam 2: Psychology as a Science

Roger Sperry examined which processes occur in each hemisphere.Since that time,researchers have conducted many different experiments that have helped us understand that,in right handed persons,the left hemisphere typically processes language while the right hemisphere processes non-verbal material such as emotions.This is an example of

Researchers can only generalize their findings if they have studied every individual in the population of interest.

The two main types of research methods are

In a small study,a group of students in an Experimental Psychology course collected scores on two variables - Variables A and B - from five participants as follows: Participant 1: A = 3,B = 10; Participant 2: A = 3,B = 9; Participant 3: A = 8,B = 4; Participant 4: A = 6,B = 6; Participant 5: A = 10,B = 1."The mean score on Variable A is 6,and the variables are not correlated," Ivy notes."The mean Variable B score is 5,and the variables are negatively correlated," John states."No,the mean score on B is 6; but,yes,A and B are negatively correlated," Kenya remarks."Wait.The mean score on A is 5," Lara adds.Which of these students is correct?

Dr.Morris is studying how sleep deprivation affects semantic memory.He has each participant study a list of random facts and then undergo sleep deprivation for either 24 hours,30 hours,or 36 hours.Then,following an additional 48-hour delay period,each participant's memory for the random facts is tested.In this study,what is the independent variable?

People in the control group of an experiment are NOT exposed to the independent variable.

Dr.McMillan is studying the effects of violent cartoon watching on aggressive play behaviour in school-aged children.She divides the children up into two groups: one group watches a violent cartoon for 20 minutes and the other group watches a non-violent cartoon for 20 minutes.Then,all the children play together in a large area,and researchers count the number of aggressive acts performed by each child.Most importantly,when the researchers are counting aggressive acts,they don't know which child watched which cartoon.What potential influence on the results is Dr.McMillan mindful of in collecting her data this way?

Dr.Fillipe is investigating the effects of vitamin B consumption on stress levels.He randomly gives half of his participants a daily dose of vitamin B for one month while the other half takes a sugar pill.Each day,the participants provide a saliva sample to measure stress hormones.If Dr.FIllipe wanted to determine whether the vitamin B group had significantly lower levels of stress hormones compared to the sugar pill group,which of the following pieces of information would he NOT need to know?

Why did the Renaissance philosopher Francis Bacon question the validity of deductive reasoning? Which type of reasoning did he suggest as an alternative?

Ms.Juniper,an elementary school teacher,believes that children who play outdoors do better in school.She predicts that those children who play outside for at least half an hour each day will make better grades than those who stay inside all day.Which of the following terms best describes her predictions?

If a researcher chooses a sample that will all respond in the same way,it can alter the results of the study because the sample is not ___ of the population.

Describe the four steps used in the scientific approach to study behaviour.

How does working with children as research participants differ from working with adults?

Kayley is trying to decide whether to study the relationship between alcohol consumption using survey research techniques on the one hand,or experimental research methods on the other.Which of the following alternatives most accurately identifies considerations Kayley should keep in mind as she plans her research?

A hypothesis is best defined as a(n)

Which of the following alternatives CORRECTLY identifies the order in which the goals of science are pursued using a given type of reasoning?

Without statistical analyses,researchers would not know if their original hypotheses were valid.

Define and provide an example of a demand characteristic.

A ___ correlation results when there is no relationship between two variables.

Which of the following sequences best reflects the order of the steps in the scientific method as it is described and illustrated in your text?