Deck 2: Psychology as a Science

Question 1

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

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Compare and contrast psychology with other natural sciences,such as biology,chemistry,and physics,and with pseudosciences,such as astrology.

Answer 2

-Psychology shares with every science the primary goals of describing,explaining,predicting,and controlling the objects of study.The goals of psychology differ from those of other sciences because the search for elements of mental processes and behaviour is complicated by constantly shifting human factors.
-Psychology also shares more similarity with the fields of religion and philosophy than many sciences do because psychological findings are more often associated with values,morality,and personal preference.
-Psychology is different from pseudopsychology.Although the latter also attempts to answer fundamental questions about human nature and behaviour,it has no basis in the scientific method.

Question 3

The closer in value a correlation coefficient is to zero,the stronger the relationship.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Psychology,like biology and physics and chemistry,relies on the scientific method.

Question 5

Tell what ethical steps psychologists take to protect the rights of human research participants.

Question 6

List two core beliefs of science,and describe the steps in the scientific method.

Question 7

The four goals of society are controlling,predicting,explaining,and monitoring

Question 8

If individuals carefully observe the events in the world around them,they are often able to discover the laws that govern those events.

Question 9

Psychology differs from other sciences in that not all psychological phenomenon can be directly observed.

Question 10

To maintain the validity of the study,researchers must actively avoid exposure to sources of biases that may influence their data collection.

Question 11

"I predict that females will demonstrate 35% more empathic acts after reading a sad story than will males." This statement is an example of a theory.

Question 12

Tell what information is conveyed by statistics,including correlation coefficients,means,and standard deviations,and explain how psychologists draw conclusions about cause and effect.

Question 13

Descriptive research methods allow psychologists to determine the causal relationship between variables.

Question 14

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

Question 15

"Smoky is a cat.All cats are mammals.Therefore,Smoky is a mammal." This line of argument is an example of inductive reasoning.

Question 16

More time spent outdoors is associated with greater mental health.In this instance time spent outdoors is the dependent variable.

Question 17

List steps in the research process and key characteristics of descriptive and experimental psychological research methods.

Question 18

Dr.,Yee researches the treatment outcomes experienced by her patients.She focuses on one patient at a time in her research.This type of research is called a case study.

Question 19

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

Question 20

Researcher bias is NOT an issue when naturalistic observation is used.

Question 21

Your text states that,"By carefully observing what happens … we can figure out the laws governing those events.In turn,we can use these laws to make predictions about what might happen,and we can then experiment to see whether those predictions come true." Which of these sequences reflects the order in which the goals of psychology are mentioned in this passage?

A) explanation - description - prediction
B) explanation - prediction - description
C) description - prediction - explanation
D) description - prediction - control

Question 22

"Psychology is not a science," Adam argues.Which of the following is the BEST argument opposing this claim?

A) Psychology is a science because it uses sophisticated technology in its research.
B) Psychology is a science because some of its early contributors were physiologists.
C) Psychology is a science because of the methods it uses.
D) Psychology is a science because it studies the brain and the rest of the nervous system.

Question 23

Experimental research must be conducted if researchers intend to claim cause and effect..

Question 24

Which of the following adjectives would a scientist use most readily in describing the universe?

A) mysterious
B) lawful
C) simple
D) chaotic

Question 25

Which of the following is a core belief of psychology and all sciences?

A) The universe provides clues to what we can learn about.
B) The laws of nature are mysterious and untestable.
C) The universe operates according to certain natural laws.
D) Reliance on natural observation is a necessary first step.

Question 26

Astrid believes that drinking red wine gives her migraines.As such,when she's at a dinner party and the only beverages available are red wine and water,she sticks with water.What type of reasoning is Astrid using?

A) deductive
B) inductive
C) hypothetico-deductive
D) It is impossible to determine from the information given.

Question 27

Daphne is writing a paper about the core beliefs of science.Which of the following would NOT be included in her paper?

A) a reliance on the scientific method
B) the idea that some events in nature are untestable
C) the belief that events in nature follow certain laws
D) the assumption that natural laws are testable

Question 28

A given field of study is defined as a science by its

A) methods.
B) equipment.
C) subject matter.
D) findings.

Question 29

Julia,a biology researcher,is trying to isolate a gene that may be responsible for autism.David,a psychology researcher,is investigating the influence of various social factors on outcomes for children with autism.These examples emphasize the difference between psychology and physical sciences in their goal of

A) prediction.
B) description.
C) explaining.
D) controlling.

Question 30

Nine-year-old Bryson brought a troll doll with him to his last exam and he aced it.He forgot the troll doll the exam before that and he failed it.Based on this,Bryson predicts that he will do better on his next exam if he brings the troll doll with him.What type of reasoning is Bryson using?

A) deductive
B) inductive
C) hypothetico-deductive
D) It is impossible to determine from the information given.

Question 31

Which approach to psychology advocated focus on observable behaviours only?

A) hypothetico-deductive
B) inductive reasoning
C) pseudopsychology
D) behaviourism

Question 32

Prior to the nineteenth century,which field contributed most to the rise of psychology?

A) philosophy
B) chemistry
C) biology
D) physics

Question 33

Barney pulled an all-nighter to study before his last exam and he failed it.With the exam before that,he got a good sleep and he passed.Based on this,Barney predicts that he will do better on his next exam if he gets a good sleep the night before.What type of reasoning is Barney using?

A) deductive
B) inductive
C) hypothetico-deductive
D) It is impossible to determine from the information given.

Question 34

The term "effect size" refers to a way to discuss the extent to which groups differ.

Question 35

All sciences,including psychology,are built on the core belief that

A) the natural laws of the universe are discoverable and testable.
B) the universe provides clues to what we can learn about.
C) reliance on natural observation is a necessary first step.
D) the laws of nature are mysterious and untestable.

Question 36

A mean is a statistical measure of how much scores vary within a group.

Question 37

Dr.Arceneaux is a meteorologist.Dr.Bianchini is a psychologist.With which of the following statements would they most likely agree?

A) Like the weather, human behaviour is inherently unpredictable.
B) The weather is predictable. Human behaviour is not.
C) While the weather is unpredictable, human behaviour is predictable.
D) Both the weather and human behaviour are ultimately predictable.

Question 38

Most of Francine's friends who have been married are now divorced.Francine never wants to get married because she knows that most marriages end in divorce.Francine's thinking on this matter is an example of

A) empirical reasoning.
B) deductive reasoning.
C) inductive reasoning.
D) logical reasoning.

Question 39

One reason an ethics board would not ethically approve aa research proposal is that that might believe that the risks to participants outweigh any benefits.

Question 40

During the process of informed consent researchers explain the risks of the experiment to the participant.

Question 41

Why does contemporary psychology no longer rely solely on inductive reasoning?

A) Inductive reasoning is too susceptible to the biases of the individual psychologist.
B) Inductive reasoning is not based on objective observation.
C) There are so many factors influencing human behaviour that pure induction could never identify them all.
D) Inductive reasoning never proved a successful way of gaining knowledge.

Question 42

Today,when psychologists conduct research,they examine the findings of other researchers first to look at broader topic,then narrow it down to design their own studies based on specific predictions.This is an example of

A) deductive reasoning.
B) inductive reasoning.
C) hypothetico-deductive reasoning.
D) empirical reasoning.

Question 43

Why might one argue that inductive reasoning is less susceptible to bias than deductive reasoning is?

A) Inductive reasoning begins with a general theory rather than specific observations.
B) In inductive reasoning, the observations that would refute the theory are specified in advance.
C) Inductive reasoning begins with objective observations rather than a theory in the reasoner's mind.
D) Inductive reasoning is essentially the opposite of the sort of deductive reasoning that philosophers used.

Question 44

Dr.Emmerson is using the scientific method to investigate the effects of social media on empathy.He predicts that people who spend more time on social media will score lower on a test of empathy than people who spend less time on social media.What is the next thing that Dr.Emmerson should do?

A) Observe people in their daily lives after they go on social media.
B) Develop a hypothesis about what social media time will do to empathy.
C) Test his hypothesis in a controlled environment.
D) Come up with a theory about the effects of social media on empathy.

Question 45

Which of the following is the correct sequence of events for deductive reasoning?

A) observation/experiment > predictions > theory
B) theory > predictions > observation/experiment
C) hypothesis > observation/experiment > theory
D) hypothesis > theory > predictions

Question 46

Which of the following is the correct sequence of events for inductive reasoning?

A) observation/experiment > predictions > theory
B) theory > predictions > observation/experiment
C) hypothesis > observation/experiment > theory
D) hypothesis > theory > predictions

Question 47

What British philosopher argued against the use of deductive reasoning because he believed it was too susceptible to thinkers' biases?

A) Skinner
B) Popper
C) Kant
D) Bacon

Question 48

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

A) Bacon believed that deductive reasoning was prone to biases. He suggested hypothetico-deductive reasoning as an alternative.
B) Bacon believed that deductive reasoning was prone to biases. He suggested inductive reasoning as an alternative.
C) Bacon believed that deductive reasoning often failed to result in general theories. He suggested hypothetico-deductive reasoning as an alternative.
D) Bacon believed that deductive reasoning often failed to result in general theories. He suggested inductive reasoning as an alternative.

Question 49

Cecilia is using the formula F = M*A to solve a physics problem.Cecilia is using ___ reasoning.

A) hypothetico-deductive
B) empirical
C) inductive
D) deductive

Question 50

You are at the annual conference of the Association for Psychological Science,listening to researcher's present papers on social development in later adulthood.In her presentation,Dr.Dryer notes,"Social disengagement theory predicts that older adults will attend social events less often than will middle-aged adults." The next presenter,Dr.Ebrahimi,reports that in the diaries participants kept as part of his study,older adults reported attending just as many parties,dinners,or other informal gatherings as did middle-aged adults,casting doubt on social disengagement theory.Dr.Dryer's statement reflects the ___ component of hypothetico-deductive reasoning,whereas Dr.Ebrahimi's illustrates ___.

A) inductive; the inductive component also
B) inductive; the deductive component
C) deductive; the inductive component
D) deductive; the deductive component also

Question 51

What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?

A) Inductive reasoning is based on logic, deductive reasoning is based on observations.
B) Inductive reasoning goes from specific to general, deductive reasoning goes from general to specific.
C) Inductive reasoning ends with an observation, deductive reasoning begins with an observation.
D) Inductive reasoning involves hypotheses, deductive reasoning involves theories.

Question 52

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

A) empirical reasoning.
B) deductive reasoning.
C) inductive reasoning.
D) hypothetico-deductive reasoning.

Question 53

The frustration-aggression hypothesis predicts that aggressive behaviour follows the failure to attain a goal.The hypothesis is supported when an individual hits and curses at a vending machine that fails to deliver a cold drink after money has been inserted.This scenario illustrates the ___ reasoning process.

A) reductive
B) deductive
C) inductive
D) hypothetico-deductive

Question 54

If a hypothesis was disproved,all the following could happen EXCEPT

A) the hypothesis would be thrown out.
B) the hypothesis would be modified.
C) the theory would be reconsidered.
D) the research topic would be abandoned.

Question 55

Dr.Ellis is using the scientific method to investigate the effects of sugar consumption on the attention span of 8-year old children.He predicts that children who drink a pop prior to participating in a boring task will give up sooner than children who drink a glass of milk before doing the boring task.What is the next thing that Dr.Ellis should do?

A) Observe children in their daily lives after they consume sugary and non-sugary foods.
B) Develop a hypothesis about what consuming sugar will do to children.
C) Test his hypothesis in a controlled environment.
D) Come up with a theory about the effects of sugar on attention.

Question 56

Which statement below is MOST consistent with the hypothetico-deductive approach to reasoning?

A) Hypotheses are deduced from theories.
B) Hypotheses are induced from theories.
C) Theories are deduced from hypotheses.
D) Theories are induced from observations.

Question 57

The main difference between deductive and inductive reasoning is that deductive reasoning ___,whereas inductive reasoning ___.

A) goes from general to specific; goes from specific to general
B) is based on observations; is based on logic
C) begins with an observation; ends with an observation
D) involves theories; involves hypotheses

Question 58

One difference between a hypothesis and a theory is that a hypothesis is ___,whereas a theory is ___.

A) a specific prediction; the result of many observations
B) a general statement; a specific statement
C) an observation; a prediction
D) not falsifiable; falsifiable

Question 59

What is the difference between a theory and a hypothesis?

A) A theory is a specific statement, a hypothesis is a general statement.
B) A theory is a prediction, a hypothesis is an observation.
C) A theory is the result of many observations, a hypothesis is a specific prediction.
D) A theory is falsifiable, a hypothesis is not.

Question 60

What is a theory?

A) an idea about the laws that govern phenomena
B) a testable statement about the way variables are related
C) a reasoning process that proceeds from specific to general
D) a belief based on a researcher's objective sense of reality

Question 61

What is a hypothesis?

A) an idea about the laws that govern phenomena
B) a testable statement about the way variables are related
C) a reasoning process that proceeds from specific to general
D) a belief based on a researcher's objective sense of reality

Question 62

Most likely,___ was the driving force behind the shift in the focus of psychology from philosophy to being more scientific.

A) advances in the field of biology and Darwin's theory of evolution
B) Darwin's theory of evolution and eugenics
C) eugenics and pseudopsychology
D) pseudopsychology and the scientific method

Question 63

Observations of behaviours or any other events must be objectively testable.Which of the following does NOT meet this criterion?

A) dollars spent in a department store
B) number of students in a school
C) frequency of reported car accidents
D) number of caring people in the world

Question 64

In which century did psychology move from a field based on philosophy and religion to one based on science?

A) the 17th century
B) the 18th century
C) the 19th century
D) the 20th century

Question 65

In using a scientific approach,what step would follow developing a hypothesis?

A) building a theory
B) testing the hypothesis
C) reporting the findings
D) making observations

Question 66

What problem do psychologists have in attempting to isolate fundamental elements of behaviour and mental processes?

A) We don't have the technology required to isolate something as small as a neuron.
B) Behaviour is determined by many factors that may change over time.
C) We must rely on observable behaviour.
D) Some research projects face ethical dilemmas.

Question 67

Dr.Farnum is using the scientific method to investigate how the content of dreams affects memory for personal events.Specifically,she predicts that any dream about a personal event will increase the individual's memory for that event.What is the biggest problem that Dr.Farnum overlooking with her research?

A) Her hypothesis isn't falsifiable.
B) Her prediction is biased.
C) She isn't following the steps of the scientific method.
D) She is studying a topic that is out-dated.

Question 68

A statement of the objective relationship between two variables is termed a(n)___.

A) axiom
B) law
C) theory
D) hypothesis

Question 69

Dr.Tse wants to use the scientific method to test whether vitamin C consumption improves resistance to stress.What is the first thing that she should do?

A) Observe people in stressful situations who have and who have not consumed vitamin C.
B) Develop hypotheses about vitamin C consumption and resistance to stress.
C) Randomly give half of the participants vitamin C and the other half a placebo and then test their resistance to stress.
D) Build a theory about vitamin C's effect on the stress response.

Question 70

Recall your text's discussion of the behaviourist perspective in Chapter 1.According to your text,"Skinner argued [that] empirical - observable - information should be gathered first,and then theories … could be formulated from that." Skinner is endorsing ___ reasoning,promoted early on by ___.

A) inductive; Bacon
B) inductive; Descartes
C) deductive; Bacon
D) deductive; Descartes

Question 71

Jonathon conducted a research study that examined the influence of family history on juvenile delinquency.Based on the findings of his study,he concludes that adolescents whose parents have a criminal record are more likely to become juvenile delinquents than those whose parents do not have a criminal record.Jonathon's study

A) has isolated family history as a crucial factor in juvenile delinquency.
B) is flawed because family history cannot be directly observed.
C) is flawed because it doesn't consider that family history might come together with other factors that may also contribute to juvenile delinquency.
D) is valid because, like a physical science, it describes the contribution of one small factor on juvenile delinquency.

Question 72

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?

A) hypothesis
B) theory
C) inductive reasoning
D) deductive reasoning

Question 73

Dr.Fernelli is using the scientific method to investigate Freud's concepts about the unconscious as a strong determiner of behaviour.Specifically,he predicts that people who have more unconscious aggressive urges will act more aggressively than people with fewer unconscious aggressive urges.What is the biggest problem that Dr.Fernelli is overlooking in his research?

A) His hypothesis isn't falsifiable.
B) His prediction is biased.
C) He isn't following the steps of the scientific method.
D) He is studying a topic that is out-dated.

Question 74

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

A) deductive reasoning: observation - prediction - explanation
B) hypothetico-deductive reasoning: prediction - observation - explanation
C) hypothetico-deductive reasoning: observation - prediction - explanation
D) inductive reasoning: explanation - prediction -observation

Question 75

What was the impetus for the shift in the focus of psychology from a philosophy toward becoming a science?

A) Darwin's theory of evolution and advances in the field of biology
B) advances in the field of biology and eugenics
C) eugenics and pseudopsychology
D) pseudopsychology and the scientific method

Question 76

For a hypothesis to be considered acceptable,it must

A) be confirmed.
B) be falsifiable.
C) lead to a new or revised theory.
D) disprove an existing theory.

Question 77

In trying to isolate the fundamental elements of behaviour and mental processes,psychologists face some problems that other sciences do not.Which of these is one of these problems?

A) We don't have the technology required to isolate something as small as a neuron.
B) Many of the processes that form the focus of psychology cannot be directly observed.
C) We must rely on observable behaviour.
D) Some research projects face ethical dilemmas.

Question 78

Prior to the 19?? century,the field of psychology was based mainly on philosophy.What field is responsible for shifting psychology toward a science?

A) religion
B) pseudopsychology
C) biological science
D) eugenics

Question 79

Dr.Crandall wants to use the scientific method to test whether caffeine improves cardiovascular endurance in male athletes.What is the first thing that he should do?

A) Observe male athletes doing cardiovascular workouts after having consumed caffeine or not.
B) Develop hypotheses about caffeine consumption and cardiovascular endurance.
C) Randomly give half of the male athlete's caffeine and the other half no caffeine and then test their cardiovascular endurance.
D) Build a theory about caffeine's effect on the cardiovascular system.

Question 80

Which field is given credit for shifting the field of psychology away from philosophy toward becoming a science?

A) religion
B) pseudopsychology
C) biological science
D) eugenics