Deck 2: The Measure of Mind Methods of Psychology

Question 1

One important difference between science and everyday observations is that science relies on

A) objectivity.
B) introspection.
C) perspective.
D) subjectivity.

Answer 1

objectivity.

Question 2

Steve and Joe are debating about the best places to live after college. Steve states that the Southwest offers a healthier lifestyle than the Northwest and insists that he is basing his conclusion on facts, without any influence of personal emotion or bias. In other words, Steve believes that he is showing

A) subjectivity.
B) neutrality.
C) objectivity.
D) perspective.

Answer 2

objectivity.

Question 3

The ability to think clearly, rationally, and independently is called

A) naturalistic observation.
B) authoritative reasoning.
C) free thinking.
D) critical thinking.

Answer 3

critical thinking.

Question 4

An important difference between science and everyday observations is the use of systematic as opposed to _____ observation.

A) designed
B) manipulated
C) controlled
D) hit-or-miss

Question 5

Researchers found that "the widespread and highly publicized stereotype about female talkativeness is unfounded." For this conclusion to be considered as science, it would need to rely primarily on

A) strongly held beliefs.
B) subjective evidence.
C) observable, repeatable evidence.
D) laboratory experiments.

Question 6

The news headline "Recession Spurs Young in U.S. to Forgo or Delay Marriage" describes

A) a study that found a causal link between the U.S. recession and the decisions of young adults to marry.
B) census data that indicated poverty was a primary cause of decreased marriage rates.
C) data that could have been explained by the trend for Americans to marry at later ages.
D) a study of historical data on marriage rates.

Question 7

A set of facts and relationships between facts that can explain and predict related phenomena is called a(n)

A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) descriptive method.
D) experiment.

Question 8

Jadea, a medical school student, is assisting a psychology professor with a research study on the physiological and psychological reactions to violence in blockbuster films. After a participant views a film clip, she administers some basic tests. Which of the following is the most subjective result?

A) The participant's blood pressure is 140/90.
B) The participant describes the level of film violence as 8 on a scale of 0 to 10.
C) The participant's heart rate is 75.
D) The participant has perspiration on her brow and her pupils are dilated.

Question 9

According to your text, if you hold a belief you are likely to notice and remember instances that support your belief more than instances that contradict it. This difference in attention and memory is termed

A) critical thinking.
B) confirmation bias.
C) observational engagement.
D) progressive observation.

Question 10

Blair and Devin support different presidential candidates and frequently debate the claims that each candidate makes against the other on various issues. Devin persists in heatedly arguing that the candidate who wears nice clothes is better because fashion sense equates to political sense. Blair insists that they both look up evidence that supports both candidates' positions using independent sources. Blair's ground rules for the debate show good principles of

A) critical thinking.
B) debate.
C) psychology.
D) social control.

Question 11

Critical thinking is

A) a skill people learn.
B) set by one's teenage years.
C) genetically determined.
D) based on cultural norms.

Question 12

A proposed explanation for a situation, usually taking the form "if A happens then B will be the result" is called a(n)

A) theory.
B) research proposal.
C) experiment.
D) hypothesis.

Question 13

When a hypothesis is demonstrated to be false using appropriate research methods, what must be done?

A) Another researcher must replicate the research.
B) The hypothesis must be modified or discarded.
C) Different statistical analyses should be conducted to find support for the hypothesis.
D) Research should be repeated with the opposite hypothesis.

Question 14

What did Sir Isaac Newton mean when he noted that scholars stand on the shoulders of giants?

A) Previous scholars had biased opinions.
B) All scholars tend to find what they are looking for.
C) Scholars build on previous theory and discoveries.
D) Current scholars have narrow points of view.

Question 15

Which of the following questions demonstrates critical thinking?

A) What is your immediate reaction to this information?
B) What political party is expressing this point of view?
C) What evidence supports this position?
D) What did the professor give as the answer?

Question 16

The best scientific theories not only explain and organize known facts but also

A) use historical perspectives.
B) generate new predictions.
C) establish new facts.
D) discredit other theories.

Question 17

When we make conclusions based on observations of our immediate circle of acquaintances, friends, and loved ones, we are engaging in

A) systematic observations.
B) repeated observations.
C) interpreted observations.
D) hit-or-miss observations.

Question 18

Science comes from the Latin scientia , which means "knowledge." According to your text, which of the following best describes "science" today?

A) A study of the physical world through objective and subjective observations
B) A method of assessment that uses all of a researcher's senses
C) A special way of learning about reality through systematic observation and experimentation
D) A process of investigation through thoughtful and personal reflection

Question 19

Scientific hypotheses are best described as

A) educated guesses.
B) the first step to proving a fact is true.
C) theories.
D) research methods.

Question 20

Emily grew up in Boston and is now attending college there. While walking to class, she often notices clusters of people smoking outside of office buildings. Which of the following sources would provide the most reliable information regarding the prevalence of smoking in Boston?

A) A detailed personal study of the history of her extended family
B) Interviews with her classmates and professors
C) A review of her professor's behavioral statistics study drawn from census data
D) Observations of campus fraternity and sorority life

Question 21

Jeanine, a research psychologist, has developed a hypothesis. Her next step is to

A) interpret the data necessary to evaluate it.
B) conduct the statistical analysis.
C) undergo peer review of her hypothesis.
D) collect the data necessary to evaluate it.

Question 22

Dr. Crane is studying patients who are in the residual phase of schizophrenia. His colleague, Dr. Mellus, takes detailed notes during a series of interviews and interactions that Dr. Crane has with one such patient for later analysis. What research method are these doctors employing?

A) Experimental study
B) Case study
C) Correlational study
D) Experiential study

Question 23

Which of the following is an advantage of using naturalistic observation over the case study method?

A) Looking at a much larger group supports application of the results to the general population.
B) Observing individuals in their natural setting without their knowledge is the most accepted form of research.
C) Observing individuals outside of their everyday circumstances encourages candor.
D) Looking at a much larger group supports hypothesis testing as well as hypothesis generation.

Question 24

Dr. Snape was skeptical after reading a study concluding that chocolate truffles reduced the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. Therefore, he initiated a similar study to determine whether similar results could be achieved. Dr. Snapeʼs study would be termed a

A) statistical sampling.
B) validity test.
C) regressive analysis.
D) replication.

Question 25

A survey is a descriptive method in which the participants are all asked

A) open-ended questions.
B) to journal their own thoughts.
C) the same questions.
D) to converse with other survey members.

Question 26

Arthur has developed a hypothesis and now is designing a study to test it. Which of the following can provide the best guidance regarding his choice of measures, types of data to be collected, and methods for interpreting the data?

A) The people who are readily available to study
B) The scientific literature in the area of interest
C) The method that can be replicated by others
D) Personal observations during the development phase

Question 27

Professor Scott conducts research on teenage risk-taking behavior. He would like to develop a hypothesis on the parental influence on teenage risk-taking at the extreme end of the spectrum, with a focus on teenagers who sail around the world alone. Would a case study be an appropriate first step, and why or why not?

A) Yes, because Professor Scott already knows that parents are the driving influence behind teenage circumnavigation.
B) No, because it will not generate a sufficient amount of data to be tested statistically.
C) Yes, because teenagers who sail around the world alone are rare and the data will help generate new, or possibly falsify existing hypotheses.
D) No, because case studies are too idiosyncratic and lack scientific rigor.

Question 28

Research methods that include surveys, case studies, and observations are called

A) correlational methods.
B) inferential methods.
C) experimental methods.
D) descriptive methods.

Question 29

You decide to study the effects of peer pressure on binge drinking for a sociology term paper. To do this, you frequent a bar near campus on weekend nights for several weeks. What method of research are you employing?

A) Case study
B) Naturalistic observation
C) Survey
D) Experiential observation

Question 30

Professor Frankel is an editor for a psychology journal. She is considering which submissions to send out for peer review. Which of the following submissions is likely to receive the strongest consideration based on its research methods?

A) A professor from Utah who submitted research that is important, accurate, and explained thoroughly
B) A researcher from California who developed novel methods to study new technology
C) A professor from Illinois who employed rarely used methods but makes dramatic new findings
D) A postdoctoral fellow from Texas who used a controversial method and has already gained media attention for making sensational claims

Question 31

Which of the following lends itself to the use of a descriptive method?

A) Daniel seeks to test his hypothesis that stress in early childhood is positively related to heart disease in adulthood.
B) Bina would like to find whether there is a correlation between stress in early childhood and learning difficulties in school.
C) Jonathan would like to develop a hypothesis regarding the role of parental expression of affection in reducing toxic stress in early childhood.
D) Heather is conducting data analysis regarding health disparities and depression among children from different socioeconomic and racial groups.

Question 32

Keith feels that the results of his research study in autism spectrum disorder among the elderly is finally ready for submission to a journal. For the journal editor to recommend his article for publication, what must the peer reviewers conclude?

A) His research is important, accurate, and explained thoroughly.
B) His methods are novel and could contribute to the field.
C) No other article on this topic has been published in the journal recently.
D) His findings are the first of their kind.

Question 33

How frequently can scientists prove that their hypotheses are true?

A) Never
B) Always
C) Sometimes
D) Often

Question 34

During the peer review process, whose work is most likely to be accepted rapidly into the body of scientific knowledge?

A) Dr. Gupta's, whose research led to unexpected and unique results
B) Dr. Koch's, whose results fit with existing knowledge in the field
C) Dr. Anton's, who used novel research methods and produced unconventional findings
D) Dr. Dunn's, whose results are unreplicated in previous reports in the field

Question 35

The process of having other scientists who are experts examine research prior to its publication is called

A) quality assurance.
B) jury evaluation.
C) peer review.
D) validation.

Question 36

Naturalistic observation is best suited for

A) testing hypotheses.
B) determining a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables.
C) developing hypotheses.
D) establishing whether the relationship between two concepts is positive or negative.

Question 37

Which of the following is an advantage of survey research?

A) Survey participants are easy to recruit since the typical sample is small.
B) Survey participants are more likely to be truthful than participants of other research methods.
C) Surveys provide insight into real-world behaviors in their natural setting.
D) Surveys provide large amounts of data quickly, usually without great expense.

Question 38

A subset of a population being studied is called a

A) sample.
B) cohort.
C) demographic.
D) cluster.

Question 39

Mary Jane, a psychologist, would like to conduct research in the form of naturalistic observation of marijuana sales and use among teenagers in her city's poorest neighborhood without their knowledge. What problem does this approach raise?

A) The research may be illegal.
B) People often behave differently when they know they are being observed.
C) The sample is insufficiently representative for naturalistic observation.
D) Study participants tend to want to appear socially appropriate.

Question 40

Science is best described as a _____ enterprise.

A) socialist
B) collaborative
C) hierarchical
D) solitary

Question 41

A research method that tests hypotheses and allows researchers to make conclusions about causality is called a(n)

A) case study.
B) experiment.
C) descriptive method.
D) correlational study.

Question 42

Random assignment is the procedure in which each participant's chance of being assigned to a group in an experiment is

A) dependent on their relevant personal qualities.
B) hypothetical.
C) equal.
D) dependent on the size of the control group.

Question 43

Which of the following is the most appropriate research method for studying the effects of moderate to heavy parental smoking on infants from birth to 1 year of age?

A) Experimental study
B) Naturalistic observation
C) Correlational study
D) Case study

Question 44

The text described a survey that asked a representative sample of middle-school students to respond to 17 motives for playing violent video games on a four-point scale. Surprisingly, about 20% of boys indicated that they liked to play these games in order to

A) compete and win.
B) help get their anger out.
C) reduce boredom.
D) make friends and teach others.

Question 45

In their research, Cam and Jackie use several _____, factors that have a range of values.

A) subjects
B) variables
C) hypotheses
D) measures

Question 46

Consider the observation that people who eat an apple each day have fewer visits to a doctor. Which of the following would represent the third variable that explains the negative correlation in this statement?

A) The high levels of vitamins in apples
B) The overall more nutritious diets of people who regularly consume apples
C) The ages of the apple eaters
D) The types of apples consumed

Question 47

Consider the following pairs of variables. Which pair is most likely to have a weak correlation?

A) Hair color and intelligence
B) Height and weight
C) Salary and educational level
D) Age and verbal ability up to age 20

Question 48

A group that experiences all experimental procedures with the exception of exposure to the independent variable is called a

A) control group.
B) random group.
C) variable group.
D) dynamic group.

Question 49

A newspaper headline reads, "Are intellectual pursuits the key to preventing Alzheimer's disease?" The researchers scanned the brains of healthy seniors with no memory loss and asked the seniors to recall how much reading, writing, and game-playing they did in childhood. Those who reported doing daily brain activities from a young age had low levels of amyloid plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following best describes this study's findings?

A) Intellectual pursuits and presence of amyloid plaque are positively correlated.
B) Amyloid plaques are the main cause of Alzheimer's disease.
C) Intellectual pursuits prevent Alzheimer's disease.
D) A negative correlation is found between intellectual pursuits and the presence of amyloid plaques.

Question 50

An experimental study is conducted examining the relationship between drinking caffeine and reaction time. Participants are given caffeine by the experimenters in different amounts, and then are assessed on various tests of reaction time. In this study, the amount of caffeine that a participant drinks is the

A) random variable.
B) independent variable.
C) dependent variable.
D) control variable.

Question 51

In their study, Anderson and Dill found that the physical aggression score was positively correlated with the amount of recently recorded video gameplaying time. Based on these results, we know that

A) having an aggressive personality leads to spending more time playing violent video games.
B) a third variable contributes to both physical aggression and continued violent video game play.
C) playing violent video games leads to more physical aggression.
D) both relationships are possible: An aggressive personality may lead to more video game time or playing violent video games may lead to more aggression.

Question 52

In a study of American cities, Professor Smith finds a strong positive correlation between the number of preschools and the number of bars. What is the most likely explanation of this relationship?

A) Parents of small children need to take an occasional break.
B) The relationship is likely due to a third variable, population size.
C) Confounding variables explain the relationship.
D) People who regularly frequent bars often meet their life partner and procreate.

Question 53

Within a research study, Reese is exposed to the independent variable, which means that Reese is part of the

A) control group.
B) experimental group.
C) random group.
D) nonexperimental group.

Question 54

A newspaper headline states, "Autism spectrum disorder correlation to wealth affirmed." Researchers found that affluent youngsters were almost twice as likely as the poorest children in the study to have autism spectrum disorder. This indicates

A) a positive correlation.
B) reciprocal correlation.
C) a negative correlation.
D) zero correlation.

Question 55

Survey results can be influenced by people's natural tendency to want to appear socially appropriate because surveys rely on

A) later publication.
B) public funding.
C) peer review.
D) self-reporting.

Question 56

A correlational study found that wealthy children were almost twice as likely as the poorest children in the study to have autism spectrum disorder. What is the likely reason?

A) Autism and the traits of high achievers lie on the same continuum.
B) The reason is impossible to determine from this correlation.
C) Wealthier parents tend to put off child-bearing until they're older, which increases the risk of autism.
D) Poorer children have less access to diagnosis and services for autism.

Question 57

An experimental study focuses on the effects that the amount of exercise has on the number of calories consumed per day. The number of calories that a participant consumes is the

A) independent variable.
B) confounding variable.
C) continuous variable.
D) dependent variable.

Question 58

A measure is a method for describing a variable's

A) quantity.
B) reliability.
C) fluctuation.
D) deviation.

Question 59

The measure of the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables is called

A) statistical power.
B) its distribution.
C) standard deviation.
D) a correlation.

Question 60

Participants in the following surveys are guaranteed that their answers will remain confidential and anonymous. In which case are survey respondents least likely to shade the truth?

A) A survey regarding personal displays of racial prejudice
B) A survey regarding sexual infidelity
C) A survey regarding preferences as to online news sources
D) A survey regarding the purchase, sale, or use of illegal drugs

Question 61

All of the following represent a significant drawback of conducting a longitudinal study EXCEPT

A) participants may drop out of the study for a variety of reasons.
B) participants may come to no longer comprise a representative sample of a population.
C) it can take a long time and cost a lot of money.
D) it is highly susceptible to the cohort effect.

Question 62

Dr. Livingston is conducting a study on the effectiveness of a new time-release antidepressant medication. Once a week, participants receive a small white pill from Dr. Stanley, which they take immediately without knowing whether the pill is the new medicine or a placebo. Dr. Livingston then observes the participants, without knowing which participants received the placebo. This type of study uses the

A) blind procedure.
B) blind procedure with placebo.
C) naturalistic observation approach.
D) double-blind procedure.

Question 63

Dr. Segal is testing the hypothesis that television watching in children under the age of 2 enhances the development of language skills. In this study, the use of random assignment

A) ensures that the dependent variable reflects the personal qualities of the participants.
B) addresses situational confounding variables, such as the time of day or weather conditions.
C) ensures that the independent variable reflects the outcomes of the dependent variables.
D) tends to cancel out individual differences among participants in the experimental group and the control group.

Question 64

An experimental design for assessing age-related changes in which data are obtained from the same individuals at intervals over a long period is called a

A) cross-sectional study.
B) longitudinal study.
C) correlational study.
D) mixed longitudinal study.

Question 65

Which term describes a research design in which neither the participant nor the experimenter observing the participant knows which participants were given an active substance and which were given a placebo?

A) Clinical trial
B) Open trial
C) Double-blind procedure
D) Prospective cohort study

Question 66

A quality of a measure that leads to meaningful conclusions (i.e., the measure measures the concept it was designed to measure) is called

A) reliability.
B) variability.
C) statistical significance.
D) validity.

Question 67

Conducting a meta-analysis often provides a

A) clearer picture of a phenomenon than single experiments observed in isolation.
B) more narrow view of a phenomenon.
C) random sampling of a phenomenon.
D) less discrete picture of a phenomenon than that of single experiments.

Question 68

Participants in an experiment on stress management are given stress reduction techniques and then measured for the effect. What is the role of the control group in this experiment?

A) They receive no stress management techniques, and they are not measured.
B) They receive a random stress management technique.
C) They receive no stress management techniques, but they are measured.
D) They receive the same stress management techniques as the experimental group, but they are not measured.

Question 69

A group of researchers is using an experimental design that obtains data simultaneously from people of differing ages for assessing age-related changes. They are conducting a

A) longitudinal study.
B) mixed longitudinal study.
C) cross-sectional study.
D) correlational study.

Question 70

A particular challenge that meta-analyses face is

A) confirmation of study results replication.
B) a singularity of perspective.
C) minimization of the studies on which they are based.
D) publication bias.

Question 71

Dr. Segal is studying the effects of television watching on the language development of children under the age of 2. Because of room scheduling issues, the children in the experimental group underwent testing in the morning and the children in the control group underwent testing in the afternoon. This is an example of

A) random assignment.
B) a situational confounding factor.
C) a confounding factor due to individual differences.
D) randomization error.

Question 72

A method for assessing age-related changes that combines the cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches by observing a cross-section of participants over a relatively limited period of time is called a

A) mixed longitudinal study.
B) longitudinal study.
C) cohort study.
D) limited longitudinal study.

Question 73

In Dr. Segal's study of the effects of television watching on the language development of children under the age of 2, which of the following would you recommend to operationalize the dependent variable?

A) The cumulative amount of time spent watching television during the study
B) A count of the number of words each child knows at the end of the study
C) The amount of time per session spent watching television
D) A count of the number of words each child knows at the beginning and end of the study

Question 74

The cross-sectional method is subject to the generational effects of having been born at a particular point in history, which is called

A) a generational correlation.
B) the cohort effect.
C) historical bias.
D) age-related differences.

Question 75

A statistical analysis of many previous experiments on a single topic is called a

A) meta-analysis.
B) modal analysis.
C) deviation analysis.
D) regression analysis.

Question 76

Defining variables in measurable terms is called

A) regression.
B) validity.
C) operationalization.
D) variability.

Question 77

Which of the following is a drawback of longitudinal studies?

A) They are subject to cohort effects.
B) They cannot be used to discuss causality.
C) Participants may drop out of the study over time.
D) They have limited generalizability.

Question 78

A variable that is irrelevant to the hypothesis being tested and can alter a researcher's conclusions is called a(n)

A) confounding variable.
B) independent variable.
C) dependent variable.
D) third variable.

Question 79

A limitation of the experimental method is that

A) participants know that they are in a research study and may vary their behavior accordingly.
B) causation cannot be established.
C) the results are rarely accepted by scientific peers.
D) experiments involving fear, panic, and stress may be so realistic that participants are harmed.

Question 80

An inactive substance or treatment that cannot be distinguished from a real, active substance or treatment is called a

A) false positive.
B) placebo.
C) remedy.
D) sample.