Deck 1: Explanation in Scientific Psychology

Question 1

Choosing to believe some material in this course because your instructor told you that it is correct information most likely represents which system for the fixation of beliefs?

A) tenacity
B) authority
C) a priori
D) scientific method

Answer 1

authority

Question 2

Gathering data within a guiding theoretical framework describes

A) induction.
B) deduction.
C) parsimony.
D) falsifiability.

Answer 2

deduction.

Question 3

When we say that a good theory is falsifiable, we mean

A) that it is based on a false assumption.
B) that it makes predictions which can be disproved through empirical observation.
C) that hypotheses derived from the theory cannot be proven.
D) that it contradicts a priori beliefs about a phenomenon.

Answer 3

that it makes predictions which can be disproved through empirical observation.

Question 4

According to the diffusion of responsibility theory, _________ could eliminate social loafing.

A) measuring group performance
B) measuring individual performance in group situations
C) rewarding positive behavior
D) insisting that workers follow authority figures

Question 5

Theory in psychology serves to both organize data and to

A) Generate prediction for untested situations.
B) allow psychology to be termed a natural science.
C) validate psychological findings.
D) ensure the reliability of data.

Question 6

A theory whose predictions are misinterpreted from one researcher to the next is said to

A) be testable.
B) be parsimonious.
C) lack precision.
D) be provable.

Question 7

The scientific method

A) relies upon empirical observation.
B) has no mechanism for discarding outdated theories.
C) emphasizes the importance of theory over data.
D) emphasizes the role of data over theory.

Question 8

The statement that science is self correcting refers to

A) the precision with which data must be collected.
B) the ability of observation to establish the superiority of one belief over another.
C) the fact that theories may be proven by empirical methods.
D) the influence of deductive scientists.

Question 9

A student wants to know whether people who believe in an afterlife cope better with stressful life events than those who do not. Which of the following methods of answering this question does NOT
Rely on empirical data about this relationship?

A) asking a member of the clergy whether people who believe in an afterlife cope better with stressful life events.
B) interviewing several people about their beliefs about an afterlife and their reactions to stressful events in their lives.
C) administering a questionnaire to several people that measures their coping skills and their beliefs about an afterlife.
D) comparing the reactions to a stressful situation of people who do and do not believe in an afterlife.

Question 10

A theory that explains a wide variety of occurrences with very few explanatory concepts is said to

A) be correct.
B) have high heuristic value.
C) be parsimonious.
D) be precise.

Question 11

Intervening variables are abstract concepts that link _________ to _________.

A) control variables; dependent variables
B) independent variables; control variables
C) independent variables; dependent variables
D) basic research; applied research

Question 12

One advantage of supporting basic research in science is that

A) it often leads to immediate applications that are beneficial to society.
B) it guarantees that processes uncovered in the laboratory are the same as those in the real world.
C) it is easier to do than applied research.
D) research done in controlled, laboratory settings can demonstrate phenomena that would be difficult to observe outside the laboratory.

Question 13

When a person's word is believed to be true without examination, a belief has been formed via the method of

A) science.
B) tenacity.
C) authority.
D) a priori.

Question 14

If two theories can explain the same data, then

A) the simpler theory is the better theory.
B) the theory that is unfalsifiable is the better theory.
C) the more complex theory is the better theory.
D) the least parsimonious theory is the better theory.

Question 15

The philosophical belief that the truth of all knowledge is questionable is known as

A) cynicism.
B) pessimism.
C) skepticism.
D) tenacity.

Question 16

In a laboratory setting, the psychologist is more concerned that the ______ are the same and less concerned that the physical situation is the same.

A) experimenters
B) underlying processes
C) participants
D) independent variables

Question 17

The inductive scientist

A) believes that explanation will become obvious once enough data are collected.
B) uses theory to guide research.
C) is concerned with testing between conflicting predictions made by different theories.
D) does not collect data.

Question 18

Early in life, our beliefs are fixed primarily through

A) tenacity.
B) empiricism.
C) intuition.
D) authority.

Question 19

If the diffusion of responsibility hypothesis is correct, then

A) compared to working alone, individuals working in unmonitored groups will get less work done.
B) compared to working alone, individuals working in unmonitored groups will get more work done.
C) compared to working alone, individuals working in unmonitored groups will get the same amount of work done.
D) worker productivity will decrease if workers are paid less.

Question 20

Scientific knowledge is based on

A) authority.
B) tenacity.
C) empirical evidence.
D) a priori beliefs.

Question 21

The Cartesian model of science takes the view that

A) the goal of science is to benefit society.
B) the goal of science is to understand nature.
C) the goal of science should be to develop socially useful products.
D) the goal of science should be to foster economic development through discovery of new products and technology.

Question 22

Applied research is likely to have practical applications.

Question 23

Hypothetical concepts known as intervening variables link independent variables to dependent variables.

Question 24

A good theory is incapable of being disproved.

Question 25

Establishing identical behaviors in two different individuals does not ensure that the same underlying processes are occurring in both people.

Question 26

To understand a process, the physical situations in the real world and the laboratory need to be the same for any firm conclusions to be drawn.

Question 27

In the method of deduction, general explanations are generated from a theory that can be tested against data.

Question 28

In contrast to other sciences, the verbal theories developed in psychology tend to be more precise than the mathematical theories.

Question 29

Researchers have found that, once learned, negative stereotypes are very resistant to change. According to Peirce, this is an example of belief fixed through

A) empirical observation.
B) deduction.
C) authority.
D) tenacity.

Question 30

Which of the following is an example of applied research in psychology?

A) Participants are asked whether or not they know the answers to a series of questions; the results show that they respond more quickly when the answer is 'no' than when the answer is 'yes.'
B) Two testing methods are compared to see which one is better at selecting applicants who will be successful in a job training program.
C) A researcher finds that people can recall more words from a list when they are asked to create an image to go with each word.
D) A researcher finds that people react more quickly to a signal that is expected than to one that is unexpected.

Question 31

The results of studies on the social loafing phenomena are explained well by the diffusion of responsibility hypothesis.

Question 32

Mathematical theories are generally without value in psychology.

Question 33

Scientists are trained to use the a priori method of obtaining knowledge.

Question 34

Scientific beliefs are generally formed by the method of tenacity.

Question 35

The self-correcting nature of science is revealed when a particular finding fails to
replicate.

Question 36

According to naturalism, hypothesis testing is the best methodology.

Question 37

The scientific method involves rejecting contradictory evidence of a current belief.

Question 38

A generalization is a relatively broad statement lacking specifics that cannot be tested directly.

Question 39

A parsimonious theory is one that

A) does not generate testable hypotheses.
B) is expressed in precise, mathematical terms.
C) can account for the available data in the fewest possible terms.
D) is falsifiable.

Question 40

To many scientists, the distinction between basic and applied research is an artificial one; this is because

A) all research is difficult to do.
B) both types of research have advantages and disadvantages.
C) very few researchers do research that has no immediate, practical applications.
D) all scientific research is conducted with the goal of obtaining knowledge.

Question 41

In general, basic researchers assume that the same mental processes cannot occur in different physical situations.

Question 42

Science is not self-correcting.

Question 43

Induction and deduction are complementary processes in the scientific process.

Question 44

What are intervening variables? How are they related to the concept of parsimony?

Question 45

The scientific method is useful when attempting to disprove a particular theory.

Question 46

Describe two advantages of the scientific method. In what way are they superior to non-scientific methods?

Question 47

Explain the differences between basic and applied research. How would you classify the research on social loafing described in the chapter?

Question 48

Why do you think it is important for scientists to be skeptical?

Question 49

A psychologist hypothesizes that teenagers who play violent video games will become less inhibited about exhibiting aggressive behavior toward others. What is one assumption underlying this hypothesis that might be difficult to test empirically? Why?

Question 50

When two theories can explain some data equally well, the simpler theory is the better theory.

Question 51

Basic research is conducted in an attempt to solve a real-world, practical problem.

Question 52

Why do you think falsifiability is a vital characteristic of a good theory? What else constitutes a good theory?

Question 53

A theory cannot be precise if it is testable.