Deck 2: Research Methods

Question 1

The scientific method:

A) involves a non-systematic approach to investigation.
B) is used in investigation but not the evaluation of research results.
C) is used by scientists in communication with each other about research findings.
D) all of the above

Answer 1

is used by scientists in communication with each other about research findings.

Question 2

A theory is a:

A) broad set of statements describing the relationship between a phenomenon and the factors assumed to affect it.
B) predicted relationship between a phenomenon and a factor believed to affect it that is supported by a good deal of scientific evidence.
C) predicted relationship between a phenomenon and a factor believed to affect it that is not yet supported by a great deal of scientific evidence.
D) system of rules that directs how scientists conduct research.

Answer 2

broad set of statements describing the relationship between a phenomenon and the factors assumed to affect it.

Question 3

The primary difference between a law and a hypothesis is that a law:

A) is embedded in a theory while a hypothesis is not.
B) is supported by a good deal of data while a hypothesis is not.
C) involves a predicted relationship while a hypothesis does not.
D) can be stated in mathematical terms while a hypothesis cannot.

Answer 3

is supported by a good deal of data while a hypothesis is not.

Question 4

The _______ of reinforcement is well supported by research.

A) theory
B) hypothesis
C) principle
D) fallacy

Question 5

A hypothesis is a predicted relationship between a phenomenon and a factor assumed to affect it that is:

A) supported by a great deal of scientific evidence.
B) usually formulated to test a researcher's notions about factors that may be related to one another.
C) agreed upon by everyone.
D) not tested in experimental investigations.

Question 6

The two important roles of theories are to:

A) organize research findings and guide new research.
B) provide predictions to be tested in experiments and to organize research findings.
C) guide new research and guide the formulation of new research designs.
D) provide predictions to be tested in experiments and guide the formulation of new research designs.

Question 7

Freud's model of human development is an example of a:

A) hypothesis.
B) principle.
C) law.
D) theory.

Question 8

Isabella is raising her child by choosing not to spank her, but by being nurturing and supportive, yet firm in her discipline. This is an example of following:

A) theory
B) fallacy
C) hypothesis
D) principle

Question 9

A specific statement about a phenomenon that is well supported by research evidence is a:

A) theory.
B) principle.
C) hypothesis.
D) postulate.

Question 10

Dr. X, a developmental psychologist and researcher, wants to study what technical aids are needed by children with special needs in order to facilitate their learning. What is needed to conduct this research?

A) subjective behaviours observation checklists
B) quantifiable factors
C) both of these alternatives are correct
D) none of the above alternatives are correct

Question 11

According to the scientific research principle of __________, the procedures and subject matter of investigations should be formulated so that they could be investigated in the same manner by everyone.

A) measurement
B) objectivity
C) empiricism
D) hypothesis-testing

Question 12

In order for the study of child development to be objective it must:

A) involve experimentation.
B) focus on measurable, observable, quantifiable behaviours.
C) arise from a theoretical formulation.
D) eventually involve a biological explanation.

Question 13

An important characteristic of scientific objectivity is that:

A) the events or behaviours studied must be measurable.
B) behaviours are not only described, but explained.
C) the meaning of the data can be determined without resorting to a theory.
D) the data are derived from true experimentation.

Question 14

Another important characteristic of scientific objectivity is that:

A) the meaning of the data can be determined without resorting to a theory.
B) behaviours are not only described, but explained.
C) everything in the research study must be quantifiable.
D) the data are derived from true experimentation.

Question 15

An important characteristic of scientific objectivity is that:

A) behaviours are not only described, but explained.
B) the focus should be on observable behaviour.
C) the meaning of the data can be determined without resorting to a theory.
D) the data are derived from true experimentation.

Question 16

Which of the following does NOT need to be emphasized in order to achieve objectivity in research?

A) The focus should be on observable behaviour.
B) The behaviour must be measurable.
C) The factors in the study must be quantifiable.
D) The behaviour should be covert.

Question 17

Researchers can determine which behaviours a particular baby shows through:

A) natural-setting observations.
B) laboratory-setting observations.
C) interviews of those knowledgeable about the baby's behaviour.
D) all of the above

Question 18

Amy is being subjected to The Strange Situation (attachment-based situation where she is observed through a glass mirror and is separated from her mother to then be reunited with her again). It is based on behaviours that are observed through:

A) natural-setting observations.
B) laboratory-setting observations.
C) interviews of those knowledgeable about the baby's behaviour.
D) all of the above

Question 19

Research in psychology generally falls into one of three categories. Which of the following is NOT one of these categories?

A) descriptive
B) correlational
C) experimental
D) laboratory-based

Question 20

A researcher wants to examine the incidence of violent behaviours as the outside temperature rises by obtaining the number of criminal arrests through the local police department for the days that are hotter than 95 degrees outside. Which category would this research fall into?

A) descriptive
B) correlational
C) experimental
D) laboratory-based

Question 21

An observational study in which the researchers make no effort to determine systematic relationships among variables is called a(n):

A) correlational study.
B) descriptive study.
C) interview study.
D) survey.

Question 22

Gesell's systematic investigations of normal child development are an example of which category of research?

A) experimental
B) correlational
C) idiographic
D) descriptive

Question 23

The baby biography is an example of __________ research.

A) idiographic
B) descriptive
C) correlational
D) experimental

Question 24

Although many people enjoy watching children develop, what separates naturalistic observation from more casual observation is an emphasis on:

A) objectivity.
B) the observations being done in natural settings.
C) the observations are meant to answer certain research questions about children.
D) all of the above

Question 25

Because expectations can influence what scientists observe and record, researchers who use observational methods _____________.

A) carefully define what counts of an instance of the behaviour they wish to study
B) structure the observation to control what occurs
C) randomly assign the participants
D) none of the above

Question 26

A(n) _____________ identifies and carefully defines what counts of an instance of behaviours under study.

A) microanalysis
B) observational protocol
C) structured observation
D) microgenetic design

Question 27

Which of the following is a drawback of naturalistic observation?

A) it is difficult to carefully define what counts of an instance of the behaviour
B) correlation coefficients cannot be used
C) observer influences
D) it does not use experimental methods

Question 28

Observer influences are best minimized by:

A) using an observational protocol.
B) ensuring that raters agree on what counts of an instance of a behaviour.
C) randomly assigning the participants.
D) making the observers as inconspicuous as possible.

Question 29

When behaviours that researchers wish to observe naturalistically do not occur frequently or consistently, they can:

A) use a structured observation.
B) use an observational protocol.
C) randomly assign the participants.
D) make the observers as inconspicuous as possible.

Question 30

Structured observations:

A) are used when researchers wish to naturalistically observe behaviours that do not occur frequently or consistently.
B) are used to make it easier to compare one child's behaviour to that of another.
C) can take place in a laboratory setting.
D) all of the above

Question 31

Catherine wants to study social skills development in children. In her research, she asks each participant the same questions, in the same order. What type of research is she most likely conducting?

A) observational method
B) interview method
C) clinical method
D) none of the above alternatives are correct

Question 32

The Strange Situation, which assesses mother-infant interaction using a standardized setting and script of behaviours, is an example of _______________.

A) a correlational design
B) a structured observation
C) an experimental design
D) a microgenetic design

Question 33

Interview methods are a type of:

A) case study.
B) naturalistic observation.
C) descriptive method.
D) correlational design.

Question 34

A(n) ______________ interview involves children responding freely and in a conservational way on a given topic.

A) open-ended
B) structured
C) quantitative
D) unconstrained

Question 35

One drawback of interview methods is that they may not:

A) be used with children, parents and teachers.
B) be used to compare one child's behaviour to that of another.
C) be used in a laboratory setting.
D) always accurately reflect actual behaviour.

Question 36

Case studies are often used:

A) instead of psychophysiological methods.
B) to make it easier to compare one child's behaviour to that of another.
C) when a child displays a rare disorder.
D) in a laboratory setting.

Question 37

"Genie" was kept isolated by her parents and never spoken to until she was 13 years old. A problem with generalizing from her experiences to draw conclusions about the language skills of children in general is that:

A) her situation was more of a correlational than experimental design.
B) researchers only discovered Genie when she was 13, well after her language skills should have developed.
C) it is difficult to create an observational protocol that would suit her case.
D) she was not only deprived of language, but also experienced an extremely harsh and unusual childhood.

Question 38

Jake has the symptoms characteristic of paranoid-type schizophrenia, but claims that he does not respond to any of the conventional treatments. Dr. What spent approximately 10 hours a week with Jake for the past 6 months and concluded that Jake is better off on a new form of medication used to treat severe depression than he was on any antipsychotic medications he had typically been prescribed. Thanks to Dr. What's __________ of Jake, Jake is now taking a medication that works for him.

A) microgenetic study
B) case study
C) comparative research
D) cross-sectional study

Question 39

Which of the following statements regarding correlation coefficients is FALSE?

A) A correlation of .75 indicates a stronger association than a correlation of .50.
B) A correlation of -.75 indicates a stronger association than a correlation of .50.
C) A correlation of -.75 indicates a stronger association than a correlation of -.50.
D) A correlation of .75 indicates a stronger association than a correlation of -.75.

Question 40

A news bulletin reports that there is more cancer in women who live in the most northern parts of the country. Which of the following correlation coefficients best explains this relationship?

A) A correlation of -.28
B) A correlation of .28
C) A correlation of -.75
D) A correlation of .75

Question 41

A __________ is any factor that can take on different values along a dimension.

A) variable
B) correlation
C) hypothesis
D) coefficient

Question 42

How does correlational research differ from descriptive research?

A) Descriptive research takes place in non-laboratory settings whereas correlational research is laboratory based.
B) Descriptive research always involves observation whereas correlational research always involves questionnaires or surveys.
C) In correlational research, an attempt is made to describe relationships between variables while no such attempt is made in descriptive research.
D) Correlational research involves random assignment to different conditions while descriptive research involves only one group.

Question 43

A researcher is interested in the impact of sugar consumption on activity level. She records the amount of sugar consumed by a group of fifth graders and relates it to teacher ratings of the children's activity level. This study is BEST described as:

A) experimental.
B) correlational.
C) comparative.
D) cross-sequential.

Question 44

A researcher interested in children's moral development is curious about whether children who come from large, extended families are more compassionate than children with only one sibling. Which research method would be most effective in assessing the relationship between children's empathy and family size?

A) correlational research
B) experimental research
C) descriptive research
D) ethological research

Question 45

Studies suggest that the greater the amount of alcohol consumed during pregnancy the greater the risk of birth defects. The relationship between alcohol consumption and birth defects is BEST described as:

A) a zero correlation.
B) a negative correlation.
C) a positive correlation.
D) an impossible event.

Question 46

Recent evidence suggests that children with younger fathers are at increased risk for developing at least one form of Alzheimer's disease. If the chance of having Alzheimer's increases as the age of the father decreases, the relationship between age of father and likelihood of having Alzheimer's disease is described as:

A) a positive correlation.
B) a negative correlation.
C) cause-effect.
D) transactional.

Question 47

If a researcher discovers that parental use of physical punishment is positively correlated with children's aggression, we would conclude that:

A) parents who use greater amounts of physical punishment tend to have aggressive children.
B) use of physical punishment causes increases in aggression among children.
C) parents who employ physical punishment tend to have less aggressive children.
D) children who do not experience physical punishment tend to show higher amounts of aggression.

Question 48

A researcher interested in the effects of daycare on development discovers that the number of hours spent in group day care settings prior to entering school and academic performance in first grade have a correlation coefficient of 0.08. The conclusion we could draw from this finding is that:

A) children who spend a great deal of time in daycare before age 5 do worse in school than children who spend less time in daycare.
B) children who spend a great deal of time in daycare before age 5 tend to do better in school than those with less daycare experience.
C) daycare experience tends to give children a head start in managing the social demands of school.
D) there is no important relationship between time spent in day care as a young child and academic performance in first grade.

Question 49

Imagine a researcher discovers a -0.98 correlation between the number of hours children play computer games per week and their popularity as rated by classmates. This statistic would allow us to make which of the following conclusions?

A) Popular children tend to play a lot of computer games.
B) Children who play a lot of computer games do not develop the social skills necessary to make friends.
C) There is no relationship between the amount of time a child spends playing computer games and children's popularity.
D) Children who play a lot of computer games tend to be unpopular.

Question 50

If you conducted a study and found a positive correlation between amount of oat bran in the diet and cholesterol level, you could conclude that:

A) eating oat bran lowers cholesterol.
B) having low cholesterol causes people to eat oat bran.
C) amount of oat bran in the diet and cholesterol level are related to each other.
D) eating oat bran has nothing to do with cholesterol level.

Question 51

A graphic illustration of a correlation between two variables is known as a:

A) correlation coefficient.
B) dot plot.
C) histogram.
D) scatter diagram.

Question 52

Imagine that a study of the effects of Sesame Street on children's cognitive development reveals a correlation coefficient of +0.78 between the number of hours of Sesame Street viewed each week and children's reading level. Based on this evidence, which of the following conclusions may be true?

A) Viewing Sesame Street leads to better reading skills.
B) Children with better reading skills find Sesame Street to be more interesting so they watch it more often.
C) Better educated parents encourage their children both to watch Sesame Street and to read for pleasure.
D) All of the above

Question 53

The only way to determine whether two variables are causally related is to conduct a(n):

A) correlational study.
B) descriptive study.
C) experiment.
D) laboratory study.

Question 54

What is one difference between correlational and experimental research?

A) Correlational research rarely involves observational methods.
B) In an experiment, the researcher systematically manipulates one variable and measures the impact on another.
C) Correlational research allows the researcher to draw conclusions about cause-effect relationships.
D) Statistics are used to indicate correlations but are not used to measure differences found among experimental conditions.

Question 55

What is one difference between correlational and experimental research?

A) Correlational research rarely involves observational methods.
B) Correlational research cannot be used to determine causality.
C) Correlational research allows the researcher to draw conclusions about cause-effect relationships.
D) Statistics are used to indicate correlations but are not used to measure differences found among experimental conditions.

Question 56

The variable that is systematically manipulated in an experiment is known as the:

A) dependent variable.
B) experimental variable.
C) independent variable.
D) correlation coefficient.

Question 57

An aspect of behaviour on which an experimental manipulation is predicted to have an effect is known as the:

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

Question 58

In order to examine whether infants respond differently to attractive and unattractive faces, Judith Langlois and her colleagues measured the social responses of 12-month-old infants interacting with a stranger wearing either an attractive or an unattractive mask. What is the dependent variable in this study?

A) the attractive or unattractive masks
B) the social responses
C) the infants
D) only the unattractive masks

Question 59

In an effort to assess the impact of collaboration on learning, a researcher assigns one group of seventh-graders to work with a partner in designing and conducting a science experiment and another group to do the same assignment alone. The researcher then evaluates the quality of the experiments and interviews the children about the scientific concepts they were asked to test. What was the independent variable in this study?

A) the answers the students gave during the interview
B) whether the children worked alone or with a partner
C) the quality of the experiment
D) grade level of the children

Question 60

In an effort to determine infant visual preferences, Robert Fantz presented infants with different patterns such as a bull's eye, stripes, and a face. He then measured how long babies of different ages looked at each pattern. What is the dependent variable in this study?

A) the ages of the infants
B) the different patterned stimuli
C) the length of time the babies looked at each pattern
D) the face stimuli

Question 61

MacFarlane (1975) tested how well newborns could smell by placing a breast pad from each baby's mother next to its cheek and the breast pad of another baby's mother next to the baby's other cheek. MacFarlane then measured which direction the babies turned most frequently. What was the independent variable in this study?

A) whether the breast pad belonged to the baby's mother or another baby's mother
B) the direction the baby turned
C) the infants' ages
D) whether the infants could smell

Question 62

Researchers interested in the effects of Sesame Street on children's reading level randomly assign a number of children to one of four groups: one group is required to watch 2 hours of Sesame Street each week, a second group watches 4 hours, a third group watches 8 hours, and a fourth group watches 10 hours. After 6 months, the researchers re-administer a reading test to all children and compare the scores of the children in the different groups. What is the independent variable in this study?

A) the children
B) the amount of Sesame Street the children viewed
C) children's performance on the reading test
D) the level of attention the children paid to Sesame Street while they watched it

Question 63

Researchers interested in the effects of Sesame Street on children's reading level randomly assign a number of children to one of four groups: one group is required to watch 2 hours of Sesame Street each week, a second group watches 4 hours, a third group watches 8 hours, and a fourth group watches 10 hours. After 6 months, the researchers re-administered a reading test to all children and compare the scores of the children in the different groups. What is the dependent variable in this study?

A) the children
B) the amount of Sesame Street the children viewed
C) children's performance on the reading test
D) the level of attention the children paid to Sesame Street while they watched it

Question 64

Madeleine notices that her young infant Frank seems especially alert when allowed to face the Inuit rug hanging on the wall. Madeleine speculates that Frank likes the black and white geometric patterns of the rug and decides to test her hypothesis using a reversal-replication design. In the first phase, Madeleine sits with Frank such that he faces a blank white wall and observes that Frank seems more interested in his fingers than anything else. She then moves where Frank can face the polar bearskin rug and notices that Frank starts to wiggle, make cooing sounds, and widen his eyes as he looks toward it. Should Madeleine conclude that the changes in Frank's behaviour were really caused by the Inuit rug?

A) Not yet. Madeleine should repeat the procedure to reduce the likelihood that the change in Frank's behaviour was merely coincidental.
B) Yes. There is clearly a cause-effect relationship between Frank's behaviour and what he is looking at.
C) No. It is inappropriate to infer a causal relationship with a sample size of one baby.
D) No. It is inappropriate to infer a causal relationship from a correlational study.

Question 65

Experimental research can be conducted in:

A) a laboratory
B) a child's home
C) a playground
D) all of the above

Question 66

To have confidence that an experiment is scientifically sound, many procedural factors must be considered. Which is NOT one of these factors?

A) how participants are selected and assigned to groups
B) under what conditions the data are gathered
C) ensuring that the experiment takes place in a laboratory, rather than a field, setting
D) the statistical tests that are conducted

Question 67

In experimental research:

A) there can be two dependent variables and no independent variables.
B) there can be multiple dependent and independent variables.
C) there can only ever be one dependent variable and one independent variable.
D) only one hypothesis can be tested at a time.

Question 68

The major caution with respect to experiments is:

A) their limited generalizability.
B) they do not render possible any valid causal conclusions.
C) that they can only take place in laboratory settings.
D) that they can only be used to examine a limited range of problems.

Question 69

A major difference between an experimental design and a quasi-experimental design is that:

A) the results of a true experiment are more generalizable.
B) true experiments occur in a laboratory setting.
C) quasi-experimental studies are a form of descriptive research.
D) in quasi-experimental studies, the comparison groups are decided on the basis of an existing characteristic.

Question 70

A major difference between an experimental design and a quasi-experimental design is that

A) the results of a true experiment are more generalizable.
B) true experiments occur in a laboratory setting.
C) quasi-experimental studies do not allow for cause-effect conclusions.
D) in quasi-experimental studies, only some of the participants are randomly assigned.

Question 71

__________ involves repeatedly studying the same participants over time.

A) Longitudinal research
B) Cross-sectional research
C) Cohort research
D) Correlational research

Question 72

The longitudinal approach is best suited for investigations that explore:

A) naturally-occurring behaviour.
B) the effects of early life experiences.
C) relationships among variables.
D) attrition.

Question 73

The longitudinal approach is best suited for investigations that explore:

A) naturally-occurring behaviour.
B) the stability of behaviour over time.
C) relationships among variables.
D) attrition.

Question 74

The advantages of longitudinal studies include which of the following?

A) Studies are inexpensive.
B) Participants become increasingly practiced at the assessments used.
C) It is possible to disentangle age and cohort effect.
D) It allows the researcher to measure both change and stability over time.

Question 75

The longitudinal approach is particularly well-suited to answer which of the following research questions?

A) Do shy children remain shy throughout life?
B) Do boys take longer naps than girls?
C) How do the conversations children have with their friends differ from the conversations they have with their teachers?
D) To what extent is intelligence a general skill versus a collection of many different skills?

Question 76

Longitudinal research:

A) can be experimental.
B) can be correlational.
C) may study the effects of early experiences on later behaviour.
D) all of the above

Question 77

The __________ design is most appropriate to use when assessing whether children diagnosed with a hyperactivity disorder remain unusually active into adolescence and adulthood.

A) cross-sectional
B) cross-sequential
C) longitudinal
D) case study

Question 78

A psychologist might examine census records to discover how many people moved away from a community in the previous two decades prior to beginning a longitudinal study. The psychologist is worried about the possibility of

A) heavy expenses while conducting the study.
B) obsolescence of test instruments.
C) participant attrition.
D) a practice effect.

Question 79

The research method in which participants of different ages are studied, simultaneously and at one point in time, to examine the effects of age on some aspect of behaviour is known as:

A) cross-cultural research.
B) cross-sequential design.
C) cross-sectional design.
D) cross-age design.

Question 80

Dr. George offers the participants of his study monetary incentives as they continue to participate in his research. He also draws one trip to Disneyland per year. What is he worried about?

A) the instruments are outdated
B) practice effect
C) attrition
D) none of the above alternatives is correct