Deck 2: Research Methods in Psychology

Question 1

Psychological theories should

A) be simple.
B) be complex.
C) avoid making claims about causal forces.
D) generate new ideas and hypotheses.

Answer 1

generate new ideas and hypotheses.

Question 2

There is a joke among scientists about a researcher who tells others that he belongs to a secret scientific society, where no one but the researcher will ever know about the studies members are doing. This joke is humorous because it violates the principle of

A) determinism.
B) control groups.
C) open-mindedness.
D) public verifiability.

Answer 2

public verifiability.

Question 3

A researcher believes that boys are more aggressive than girls. He goes to a playground to watch children play and finds support for his viewpoint. This researcher's data collection may be subject to

A) observer bias.
B) standardization.
C) dependent variables.
D) independent variables.

Answer 3

observer bias.

Question 4

In the research study described by your authors where married couples were asked how sure they were about the future of their relationship, what was demonstrated?

A) Outside observers were able to determine accurately how certain each partner was based on the amount of eye contact that they made during their conversation.
B) Men were more "certain" of the future of their relationship if both partners rated their sexual interactions favorably.
C) Women were more dominating of conversations that included emotional questions.
D) A person's assessment of their partner's behavior was influenced by the level of certainty they felt about their relationship.

Question 5

Imagine a situation in which a researcher is hired by a pharmaceutical company to test a new cancer drug. The researcher finds the drug to be effective, but other scientists cannot replicate the original findings. One possible explanation for the original results that should be considered is

A) debriefing.
B) determinism.
C) observer bias.
D) public verifiability.

Question 6

When carrying out an experiment, the factor that the researcher manipulates is known as the ________ variable; the researcher measures the ________ variable.

A) dependent; dependent
B) dependent; independent
C) independent; dependent
D) independent; independent

Question 7

Suppose you wanted to test the hypothesis that viewing pornographic material increases aggressive behavior. The dependent variable would be

A) aggressive behavior.
B) the age of the participants.
C) viewing pornographic material.
D) whether men or women served as participants.

Question 8

Which statement best captures the basic idea underlying the experimental method?

A) Sample participants carefully observe their behavior and report the results.
B) One should describe and measure behavior under a wide variety of uncontrolled conditions.
C) It is important to manipulate an independent variable to look for an effect on a dependent variable.
D) A researcher manipulates a dependent variable to look for an effect on an independent variable.

Question 9

The results of a research study would be confounded if

A) the experimenter's interpretation of the data has been supported.
B) participants do not respond in the way the experimenter has expected.
C) a participant's behavior has resulted solely because of the independent variable.
D) a variable other than the independent variable has influenced a participant's behavior.

Question 10

Imagine that you have been hired to assist in an experiment investigating the verbal abilities of boys and girls. In preparing for the experiment, you read a research study that found higher verbal abilities in girls than boys. If this information about gender leads you somehow to communicate to the girls in the experiment that they should do better than the boys, we say that the ________ effect is operating.

A) placebo
B) expectancy
C) double-blind
D) between-subjects

Question 11

In Robert Rosenthal's study of the effects of expectations, some students were led to believe that the rats they were training were maze-bright and other students were told their rats were maze-dull, although the rats were actually all the same. What did Rosenthal find in the study?

A) The rats labeled bright were found to be much better learners.
B) The students immediately became suspicious of how the rats were labeled.
C) Surprisingly, the rats labeled dull were found to be much better learners.
D) There was no relationship between the way the rats were labeled and whether students found their rats to be good or bad learners.

Question 12

A psychologist is doing research for a pharmaceutical company. The drugs he is testing are numbered so that he does not know what they are, nor does he know which participants are receiving which drugs. Participants are also unaware of differences in treatments. The control that is being used in this study is called a

A) within-subjects control.
B) correlational method.
C) double-blind control.
D) random assignment by chance procedure.

Question 13

Research designs often include a control condition

A) to increase the number of participants in the experiment.
B) to serve as a baseline against which the experimental effect is evaluated.
C) to function as a backup to the experimental condition if something goes wrong.
D) so that if some participants refuse to continue, they can be replaced by members of the control group.

Question 14

To save time, you assign the first fifty people who sign up to participate in your study to the experimental condition and the next fifty to the control condition. The interpretations you could draw from the study will be severely limited because

A) you needed to carry out a within-subjects design.
B) you failed to use random assignment to conditions.
C) you did not have enough participants to conduct your study.
D) you need to include another control condition to draw accurate conclusions.

Question 15

Random assignment of participants to the experimental and control groups increases the likelihood that

A) the two groups will be similar.
B) the two groups will be different.
C) the independent variable will not have a strong effect.
D) if outcome differences are found, we can be confident they were caused by preexisting differences.

Question 16

Since we normally cannot have access to the full population of interest, researchers are faced with taking a representative sample of the population. Which of the following is NOT true of a representative sample?

A) One can only generalize from the sample to the population it adequately represents.
B) The representative sample has to closely match the overall characteristics of the population of interest.
C) A representative sample must include members of different racial groups, even when the target population is of one race.
D) A representative sample is a way by which one can generalize to the population of interest without having access to the full population.

Question 17

A classmate has missed class again and is copying your notes. Unfortunately, she can't figure out which research design uses each participant as his or her own control. Which should you tell her?

A) double-blind
B) within-subjects
C) between-subjects
D) randomly assigned

Question 18

Imagine that you have volunteered to participate in an experiment. First, you are asked to rate how angry a person appears in a photograph. Then you are asked to think of angry thoughts and to rate the same photograph again. Because you are serving as your own control, psychologists would refer to this as a ________ design.

A) control
B) no-subjects
C) within-subjects
D) between-subjects

Question 19

Imagine that your instructor asks you to determine whether there is a relationship between musical ability and mathematical ability. The type of design best suited to this task would be a(n)

A) between-subjects experiment.
B) case study.
C) correlational study.
D) naturalistic observation.

Question 20

Given the following correlation coefficients, select the weakest correlation.

A) +0.10
B) -0.06
C) -0.10
D) -0.60

Question 21

After you present your excuse for missing class, your instructor tells you that she has found that the more classes students miss, the lower their test grades tend to be. This relationship illustrates a(n)

A) expectancy effect.
B) positive correlation.
C) negative correlation.
D) correlation coefficient.

Question 22

One of the most important functions of correlational methods is that their use allows researchers to

A) be certain about the causes of behavior.
B) draw conclusions based on exceptionally weak data.
C) observe humans' behavior as it takes place in the natural environment.
D) make predictions about one variable based on information from another variable.

Question 23

In the research study described by your authors, which of the following factors was shown to be associated with an increase in sleep-related problems in children?

A) one extra hour of nighttime media usage by children
B) regularly watching violent media after dinner time
C) watching media with a siblings present but no parents in the room
D) watching adult news broadcasts instead of children's programming

Question 24

After collecting data, a researcher determines that states that have instituted a death penalty have shown a decrease in murders. Assuming that the data are accurate, what can you safely conclude?

A) The relationship has been brought about by another variable.
B) States that do not have a death penalty should institute one as a deterrent to violent crime.
C) There are fewer murders in states that have a death penalty.
D) It is likely that violent criminals have moved to states that do not yet have a death penalty.

Question 25

A researcher who is trying to develop a test of musical aptitude is overheard to say, "I want to make sure that the test that I am developing gives similar results time after time." In the language of psychological measurement, this researcher is determined to develop a test that has high

A) validity.
B) reliability.
C) applicability.
D) standardization.

Question 26

You are about to take your first test in an introductory psychology class. Much to your surprise, the instructor hands you a test that contains ten analytical geometry problems. You would probably be able to argue that the test is not

A) valid.
B) reliable.
C) accurate.
D) reliable or valid.

Question 27

The concept of reliability applies not only to tests but also to experiments. Therefore, if the results of an experiment are reliable, this means that

A) the experiment measured what it was intended to measure.
B) it has been certified as valid by the scientific community.
C) if the experiment is repeated, you will get the same results.
D) the results of the experiment can be generalized to other situations.

Question 28

Imagine that you are being taught how to conduct an interview. You are reminded that a good interviewer must try to create a positive social relationship with the respondent in order to facilitate trust and open communication. In other words, you are being trained to establish

A) rapport.
B) empathy.
C) confidence.
D) a common language.

Question 29

With respect to psychological measurement, when measures yield data that are consistent or dependable they are referred to as ________, whereas the term ________ means that measures accurately reflects the variable or quality that they are intended to measure.

A) valid; reliable
B) reliable; valid
C) consistent; reliable
D) reliable or valid; consistent

Question 30

Researchers who use self-report measures need to be aware of the limits to the usefulness of such measures. Typically cited concerns include all of the following EXCEPT that

A) participants may misunderstand the questions.
B) people may not be completely honest in their responses.
C) respondents may be unaware of the questionnaire's or interview's purpose.
D) people may give misleading answers in order to create a favorable impression of themselves.

Question 31

Suppose you were interested in the kinds of movies your friends like to watch. You develop a simple questionnaire that asks them about their attitudes toward different film genres and then record which films they actually attend. This measurement technique is best described as a

A) self-report measure.
B) behavioral observation.
C) naturalistic observation.
D) combination of self-report and behavioral observations.

Question 32

You walk into a classroom and see the words "process," "products," "direct," and "naturalistic" written on the blackboard. It is most likely that the previous class was discussing the topic of

A) interviews.
B) self-reports.
C) observations.
D) questionnaires and surveys.

Question 33

A professor is trying to determine whether the number of questions students ask in class is related to their class performance. She keeps track of the number of questions students ask and then compares this to performance on their next test. Technically, the number of questions would be classified as the ________ of behavior, and the test performance as the ________ of behavior.

A) product; process
B) process; product
C) process; process
D) product; product

Question 34

A researcher is using the observational technique to study the relationship between student classroom behavior and academic performance. In this context, a good measure of a behavioral process would be ________ and a good measure of a behavioral product would be ________.

A) student quiz grades; student test grades
B) whether the teacher seems organized; whether the teacher speaks forcefully
C) whether students take classroom notes; whether students seem distracted in class
D) whether students look at the teacher when she is speaking; student test grades

Question 35

A classmate informs you that, while conducting a naturalistic observation study of children's play behavior, she had to ask the children to limit their play activity to only one area in the playground in order to make more accurate observations. Being familiar with observational methods, you should tell her that her study did not involve naturalistic observation because

A) her study took place in a public setting.
B) the play behavior was not naturally occurring.
C) only one observation was made of the children's play behavior.
D) naturalistic observational studies cannot be conducted with humans.

Question 36

A researcher would be most likely to use naturalistic observation to determine whether males or females are more likely to

A) take baths.
B) take sleeping pills.
C) have dreams with sexual content.
D) show courtesy when approaching a busy intersection in a car.

Question 37

A naturalistic observational approach is especially useful in the earlier stages of scientific investigation for all of the following reasons EXCEPT that it

A) helps researchers discover the extent of a phenomenon.
B) helps researchers formulate hypotheses for further research.
C) suggests what the important variables and relationships might be.
D) determines cause-effect relationships between naturalistic variables.

Question 38

A clinical psychologist is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to develop an understanding of serial killers. She decides to focus her attention and measurements on a particularly brutal murderer who is serving a life sentence. Her approach is referred to as a

A) case study.
B) representative sample.
C) within-subjects design.
D) naturalistic observation.

Question 39

A student who is a philosophy major is very interested in ethical issues. One day she asks you how psychologists deal with ethical issues when they are designing research studies. What should you tell her?

A) As professionals, psychologists have no need to be concerned with ethical issues.
B) The American Psychological Association has established ethical standards for researchers.
C) Prior to conducting research, all psychologists must consult with a philosopher concerning ethics.
D) Only clinical psychologists are subject to ethical standards; research psychologists may use their own judgment.

Question 40

Are researchers obligated to respect the basic rights of research participants? If so, how is this ensured?

A) Yes, special committees oversee every research proposal.
B) Yes, researchers are on their honor to do ethical research.
C) Yes, the legal system and courts hold hearings on all research proposals.
D) No, as scientists, researchers are not obligated to show concern for the rights of participants.

Question 41

Imagine that you have agreed to participate in psychological research. Prior to the study, you will be given information about what you can expect and other details of the research, and asked to sign a form indicating your willingness to participate. This process is known as

A) debriefing.
B) informed consent.
C) risk/gain assessment.
D) intentional deception.

Question 42

The ethical guidelines that all psychological researchers must follow include all of the following EXCEPT that

A) all records of subject behavior must be kept confidential.
B) experimenters must explain the reasons for any deceptions.
C) humans must be paid for their research participation.
D) participants have the right to withdraw their data if they feel they have been misused or their rights abused.

Question 43

A researcher is designing a study that includes a procedure that may be upsetting or psychologically disturbing to his participants. What special actions do the guidelines for ethical standards of the American Psychological Association require him to follow?

A) He must have a personal liability statement from his insurance company.
B) Although not required, he should consult with an institutional review board prior to beginning the research.
C) He must minimize risks, inform participants of potential risks, and be prepared to deal with participant reactions.
D) He must have available, on-call in the laboratory, a medical doctor and a psychiatrist to deal with potential problems.

Question 44

Which of the following is NOT included as one of the criteria of the American Psychological Association for allowing deception in research?

A) The deception must be explained to the participants by the end of the research.
B) The research must be part of a series of studies that have used deception in the past.
C) The research must have sufficient scientific and educational importance to warrant deception.
D) The researchers must demonstrate that no other equally effective procedures excluding deception are available.

Question 45

Suppose you have signed up to participate in a psychological research study. Is there any chance that you will be deceived?

A) No, because the use of deception is illegal in most states.
B) No, because the code of ethics psychologists adhere to prohibits the use of deception.
C) Yes, because most psychological research involves deception.
D) Yes, because sometimes informing participants may bias the results.

Question 46

Should animals be used in psychological and medical research? If you were going to be consistent with your text author's points, you would answer "yes" because

A) animals are less expensive to care for and to monitor.
B) animal research has led to important breakthroughs in several areas of science.
C) historically, the psychological and medical sciences have relied on animals as research participants.
D) although animal research does not benefit animals directly, the animals benefit indirectly by being cared for.

Question 47

To become a more sophisticated and critical thinker one should

A) remember that correlation is the same as causation.
B) accept obvious explanations rather than seeking alternatives.
C) avoid being concerned with operational definitions of concepts.
D) consider first how to disprove a theory before seeking confirming evidence.

Question 48

Having good numerical skills is

A) important because you are less likely to be influenced by how statistics are presented.
B) important because you will recognize the numerical difference between "10% out of 100" and "10 out of 100"
C) not important because as a psychologist you will not often use statistics.
D) not important because as a psychology major you will not have to learn statistics.

Question 49

When research is potentially upsetting for participants, the American Psychological Association guidelines require that risks must be minimized, participants must be informed of the risks, and suitable precautions must be taken to deal with strong reactions.

Question 50

The American Psychological Association's ethical guidelines require that research participants be informed of any deception that will take place, prior to their giving informed consent.

Question 51

According to the ethical guidelines proposed by the American Psychological Association, if deception is used in research it must be explained to the participants by the conclusion of the research and the participants must have the opportunity to withdraw their data.