Deck 3: Research Strategies

Question 1

In a well-controlled experiment, researchers seek to minimize

A) confounding variables.
B) informed consent.
C) replication.
D) random assignment.

Answer 1

confounding variables.

Question 2

To test the potential effect of hunger on taste sensitivity, groups of research participants are deprived of food for differing lengths of time before they engage in a taste-sensitivity test. This research is an example of

A) correlational research.
B) an experiment.
C) survey research.
D) naturalistic observation.

Answer 2

an experiment.

Question 3

In an experimental study of the extent to which mental alertness is inhibited by sleep deprivation, alertness would be the

A) control condition.
B) independent variable.
C) experimental condition.
D) dependent variable.

Answer 3

dependent variable.

Question 4

To assess whether sense of humor is affected by sexual stimulation, researchers exposed married couples to either sexually stimulating or to sexually nonstimulating movie scenes prior to watching a comedy skit. In this research, the independent variable consisted of

A) reactions to the comedy skit.
B) level of sexual stimulation.
C) marital status.
D) sense of humor.

Question 5

The ________ is a measure of ________.

A) median; variation
B) range; central tendency
C) standard deviation; variation
D) correlation coefficient; central tendency

Question 6

A negative correlation between people's work-related stress and their marital happiness would indicate that

A) work-related stress has a negative impact on marital happiness.
B) marital unhappiness promotes work-related stress.
C) higher levels of marital happiness are associated with lower levels of work-related stress.
D) marital happiness has no causal influence on work-related stress.

Question 7

A correlation of +0.70 between children's physical height and their popularity among their peers indicates that

A) higher levels of popularity among peers is associated with greater physical height in children.
B) there is no statistically significant relationship between children's height and their popularity.
C) being unusually short or tall has a negative impact on children's popularity.
D) children's height has no causal impact on their popularity.

Question 8

The ________ can be a particularly misleading indication of what is average for a ________ distribution of scores.

A) mean; skewed
B) median; skewed
C) mean; normal
D) median; normal

Question 9

In a study of factors that might affect memory, research participants were assigned to drink either an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic beverage prior to completing a memory test. Those who drank the nonalcoholic beverage were assigned to the ________ group.

A) survey
B) control
C) experimental
D) correlational

Question 10

Stacey suggests that because children are more impulsive than adults, they will have more difficulty controlling their anger. Stacey's prediction regarding anger management is an example of

A) a hypothesis.
B) statistical significance.
C) an operational definition.
D) the placebo effect.

Question 11

Which method offers the most reliable way of assessing whether athletic performance is boosted by caffeine consumption?

A) the survey
B) the case study
C) the experiment
D) naturalistic observation

Question 12

Differences between two samples are LEAST likely to be statistically significant if

A) the samples are small and the standard deviations of the samples are small.
B) the samples are large and the standard deviations of the samples are large.
C) the samples are small and the standard deviations of the samples are large.
D) the samples are large and the standard deviations of the samples are small.

Question 13

In drug-treatment studies, double-blind procedures minimize outcome differences between experimental and control conditions that could be attributed to

A) replication.
B) operational definitions.
C) random sampling.
D) placebo effects.

Question 14

In an experimental study of the effects of dieting on weight loss, dieting would be the

A) control condition.
B) independent variable.
C) dependent variable.
D) placebo.

Question 15

Participants in an experiment are said to be blind if they are uninformed about

A) the experimental hypothesis being tested.
B) whether the experimental findings will be statistically significant.
C) how the dependent variable is measured.
D) which experimental treatment, if any, they are receiving.

Question 16

Which research method runs the greatest risk of collecting evidence that may be unrepresentative of what is generally true?

A) naturalistic observation
B) the case study
C) experimentation
D) the survey

Question 17

Every twenty-fifth person who subscribed to a weekly news magazine was contacted by market researchers to complete a survey of opinions regarding the magazine's contents. The researchers were applying the technique known as

A) naturalistic observation.
B) the double-blind procedure.
C) random sampling.
D) replication.

Question 18

Psychological theories

A) organize scientific observations.
B) explain observed facts.
C) generate hypotheses.
D) do all of these things.

Question 19

Researchers control factors that might influence a dependent variable by means of

A) random assignment.
B) replication.
C) naturalistic observation.
D) operational definitions.

Question 20

Professor Carter observes and records the behavior of grocery shoppers as they select items to purchase. Which type of research is Professor Carter using?

A) survey research
B) case study
C) experimentation
D) naturalistic observation

Question 21

A psychologist studies the play behavior of young children by watching groups during recess at school. Which type of research is being used?

A) correlation
B) case study
C) experimentation
D) naturalistic observation

Question 22

What is the median of the following distribution of scores: 1, 3, 7, 7, 2, 8, 4?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Question 23

Which of the following is important when generalizing from a sample to the population?

A) the sample be representative of the population
B) the sample be large
C) the scores in the sample have low variability
D) all of these conditions exist

Question 24

Random samples provide ________ estimates of population averages if the samples have small ________.

A) good; means
B) good; standard deviations
C) poor; means
D) poor; standard deviations

Question 25

A lopsided set of scores that includes a number of extreme or unusual values is said to be

A) symmetrical.
B) normal.
C) skewed.
D) dispersed.

Question 26

Which of the following would be best for determining whether alcohol impairs memory?

A) case study
B) naturalistic observation
C) survey
D) experiment

Question 27

What is the mean of the following distribution of scores: 2, 3, 7, 6, 1, 4, 9, 5, 8, 2?

A) 5
B) 4
C) 4.7
D) 3.7

Question 28

The ________ is a measure of ________.

A) standard deviation; central tendency
B) mean; variation
C) median; central tendency
D) mode; variation

Question 29

To determine the effects of a new drug on memory, one group of people is given a pill that contains the drug. A second group is given a sugar pill that does not contain the drug. This second group constitutes the

A) random sample.
B) experimental group.
C) control group.
D) test group.

Question 30

One person in a 10-person group is 10 times older than anyone else in the group. With respect to age, it is MOST likely that the majority of group members are younger than the group's

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

Question 31

The maximum height of a normal curve corresponds to the ________ of a normal distribution.

A) range
B) mean
C) standard deviation
D) statistical significance

Question 32

To ensure that other researchers can repeat their work, psychologists use

A) control groups.
B) random assignment.
C) double-blind procedures.
D) operational definitions.

Question 33

What is the mode of the following distribution: 8, 2, 1, 1, 3, 7, 6, 2, 0, 2?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 7

Question 34

If shoe size and IQ are negatively correlated, which of the following is true?

A) People with large feet tend to have high IQs.
B) People with small feet tend to have high IQs.
C) People with small feet tend to have low IQs.
D) IQ is unpredictable based on a person's shoe size.

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT a basic research technique used by psychologists?

A) description
B) replication
C) experimentation
D) correlation

Question 36

After detailed study of a gunshot wound victim, a psychologist concludes that the brain region destroyed is likely to be important for memory functions. Which type of research did the psychologist use to deduce this?

A) the case study
B) a survey
C) correlation
D) experimentation

Question 37

Well-done surveys measure attitudes in a representative subset, or ________, of an entire group, or ________.

A) population; random sample
B) control group; experimental group
C) experimental group; control group
D) random sample; population

Question 38

In an experiment to determine the effects of exercise on motivation, exercise is the

A) control condition.
B) intervening variable.
C) independent variable.
D) dependent variable.

Question 39

When a difference between two groups is statistically significant, this means that

A) the difference is statistically real but of little practical significance.
B) the difference is probably the result of sampling variation.
C) the difference is not likely to be due to chance variation.
D) all of these statements are true.

Question 40

Theories are defined as

A) testable propositions.
B) factors that may change in response to manipulation.
C) statistical indexes.
D) principles that help to organize observations and predict behaviors or events.

Question 41

Which of the following is the measure of central tendency that would be most affected by a few extreme scores?

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

Question 42

To prevent the possibility that a placebo effect or researchers' expectations will influence a study's results, scientists employ

A) control groups.
B) experimental groups.
C) random assignment.
D) the double-blind procedure.

Question 43

What is the mode of the following distribution of scores: 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 14?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6

Question 44

A hypothesis is a(n)

A) observable relationship between specific independent and dependent variables.
B) testable prediction that gives direction to research.
C) set of principles that organizes observations and explains newly discovered facts.
D) unprovable assumption about the unobservable processes that underlie psychological functioning.

Question 45

The set of scores that would likely be most representative of the population from which it was drawn would be a sample with a relatively

A) large standard deviation.
B) small standard deviation.
C) large range.
D) small range.

Question 46

Professor Shalet contends that parents and children have similar levels of intelligence largely because they share common genes. His idea is best described as a(n)

A) theory.
B) replication.
C) naturalistic observation.
D) operational definition.

Question 47

In generalizing from a sample to the population, it is important that

A) the sample be representative.
B) the sample be nonrandom.
C) the sample not be too large.
D) all of these conditions exist.

Question 48

To study the effects of lighting on mood, Dr. Cooper had students fill out questionnaires in brightly lit or dimly lit rooms. In this study, the independent variable consisted of

A) the number of students assigned to each group.
B) the students' responses to the questionnaire.
C) the room lighting.
D) the subject matter of the questions asked.

Question 49

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a normal curve?

A) The distribution is bell-shaped and symmetrical.
B) Most scores fall near the mean.
C) About 95 percent of all scores fall within one standard deviation on either side of the mean.
D) The distribution describes many types of psychological data.

Question 50

In a test of the effects of air pollution, groups of students performed a reaction-time task in a polluted or an unpolluted room. To what condition were students in the unpolluted room exposed?

A) experimental
B) control
C) randomly assigned
D) dependent

Question 51

Which of the following is the measure of variation that is most affected by extreme scores?

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

Question 52

The strength of the relationship between two vivid events will most likely be

A) significant.
B) positive.
C) negative.
D) overestimated.

Question 53

The procedure designed to ensure that the experimental and control groups do not differ in any way that might affect the experiment's results is called

A) variable controlling.
B) random assignment.
C) representative sampling.
D) stratification.

Question 54

What is the median of the following distribution: 10, 7, 5, 11, 8, 6, 9?

A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9

Question 55

In an experiment to determine the effects of attention on memory, memory is the

A) control condition.
B) intervening variable.
C) independent variable.
D) dependent variable.

Question 56

The explanatory power of a scientific theory is most closely linked to its capacity to generate testable

A) assumptions.
B) correlations.
C) predictions.
D) variables.

Question 57

Which type of research would allow you to determine whether students' grades accurately predict later income?

A) case study
B) naturalistic observation
C) experimentation
D) correlation

Question 58

What is the mean of the following distribution of scores: 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 4, 6, 9, 1, 4?

A) 2
B) 10
C) 6
D) 15

Question 59

Which of the following research methods does NOT belong with the others?

A) case study
B) survey
C) naturalistic observation
D) experiment

Question 60

If a difference between two samples is NOT statistically significant, which of the following can be concluded?

A) The difference is probably not a true one.
B) The difference is probably not reliable.
C) The difference could be due to sampling variation.
D) All of these conclusions can be reached.

Question 61

Psychologists who carefully watch the behavior of chimpanzee societies in the jungle are using a research method known as

A) the survey.
B) experimentation.
C) naturalistic observation.
D) the case study.

Question 62

Professor Ambra was skeptical about the accuracy of recently reported research on sleep deprivation. Which process would best enable her to assess the reliability of these findings?

A) naturalistic observation
B) replication
C) random sampling
D) the case study

Question 63

Which technique involves repeating the essence of an earlier research study with different participants and in different circumstances?

A) replication
B) random sampling
C) naturalistic observation
D) the double-blind procedure

Question 64

In a written report of their research, psychologists specify exactly how anxiety is assessed, thus providing their readers with a(n)

A) hypothesis.
B) independent variable.
C) operational definition.
D) standard deviation.

Question 65

Professor Delano suggests that because people are especially attracted to those who are good-looking, handsome men will be more successful than average-looking men in getting a job. The professor's prediction regarding employment success is an example of

A) the hindsight bias.
B) the placebo effect.
C) a hypothesis.
D) a confounding variable.

Question 66

When every individual in a large population has a small but equal chance of being included in a survey, researchers are using a procedure known as

A) the case study.
B) the double-blind procedure.
C) random sampling.
D) naturalistic observation.

Question 67

A statement describing the exact procedures for measuring an anticipated experimental outcome is known as a(n)

A) hypothesis.
B) control condition.
C) replication.
D) operational definition.

Question 68

Professor Ober carefully observes and records the behaviors of children in their classrooms in order to track the development of their social and intellectual skills. Professor Ober is most clearly engaged in

A) survey research.
B) naturalistic observation.
C) experimentation.
D) replication.

Question 69

Which research method would be most appropriate for investigating the relationship between the religious beliefs of Americans and their attitudes toward abortion?

A) the survey
B) naturalistic observation
C) the case study
D) experimentation

Question 70

In which type of research is a representative, random sample of people asked to answer questions about their behaviors or attitudes?

A) experimentation
B) the survey
C) the case study
D) naturalistic observation

Question 71

Little Han's extreme fear of horses was observed as part of a(n)

A) experiment.
B) survey.
C) case study.
D) double-blind procedure.

Question 72

Replication of a research study is most likely to be facilitated by

A) random sampling.
B) debriefing.
C) operational definitions.
D) the placebo effect.

Question 73

University of Texas students were fitted with belt-worn tape recorders for up to four days so that researchers could sample their daily activities. The researchers employed a scientific method known as

A) naturalistic observation.
B) the double-blind procedure.
C) the standard deviation.
D) the case study.

Question 74

To understand the unusual behavior of an adult client, a clinical psychologist carefully investigates the client's current life situation and his physical, social-cultural, and educational history. Which research method has the psychologist used?

A) the survey
B) the case study
C) experimentation
D) naturalistic observation

Question 75

People often fail to make accurate generalizations because they are unduly influenced by ________ cases.

A) randomly selected
B) vivid
C) representative
D) operationally defined

Question 76

To compare the pace of life in different countries, investigators measured the speed with which postal clerks completed a simple request. Which research method did this illustrate?

A) the case study
B) naturalistic observation
C) the double-blind procedure
D) the survey

Question 77

The biggest danger of relying on case-study evidence is that it

A) is based on naturalistic observation.
B) may be unrepresentative of what is generally true.
C) overestimates the importance of operational definitions.
D) leads us to underestimate the causal relationships between events.

Question 78

The case study is a research method in which

A) a single individual is studied in great depth.
B) a representative sample of people are questioned regarding their opinions or behaviors.
C) organisms are carefully observed in a laboratory environment.
D) an investigator manipulates one or more variables that might affect behavior.

Question 79

After noting that a majority of professional basketball players are African-American, Ervin concluded that African-Americans are better athletes than members of other racial groups. Ervin's conclusion best illustrates the danger of

A) replication.
B) random assignment.
C) the placebo effect.
D) generalizing from vivid cases.

Question 80

Surveys indicate that people are less likely to support "welfare" than "aid to the needy." These somewhat paradoxical survey results best illustrate the importance of

A) random sampling.
B) wording effects.
C) the placebo effect.
D) naturalistic observation.