Deck 2: The Research Enterprise in Psychology

Question 1

A tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables is a(n)

A) variable.
B) hypothesis.
C) theory.
D) operational definition.

Answer 1

hypothesis.

Question 2

While theories are most closely associated with the scientific goal of ____,hypotheses are most closely associated with the goal of ____.

A) application; description
B) description; application
C) understanding; prediction
D) prediction; understanding

Answer 2

understanding; prediction

Question 3

The scientific approach assumes that

A) events are governed by some lawful order.
B) each event is completely unique.
C) there are no general laws or principles that apply to human behavior.
D) the search for absolute truth is the ultimate goal.

Answer 3

events are governed by some lawful order.

Question 4

Which is NOT among the goals of scientific psychology?

A) the development of measurement techniques for describing behavior precisely and accurately
B) understanding why certain behaviors occur
C) applications of research findings to solve everyday problems
D) searching for absolute truths about behavior

Question 5

If a psychologist hopes that his research will help to solve some practical problem,his hope reflects which goal of science?

A) application and control
B) construction and revision
C) understanding and prediction
D) measurement and description

Question 6

Scientific theories are most directly associated with which goal of science?

A) application and control
B) construction and revision
C) measurement and description
D) understanding and prediction

Question 7

Dr.Marqueta believes that "misery loves company." Based on this belief,Dr.Marqueta predicts that people who have received bad news will seek out other people.Dr.Marqueta's belief is an example of ____,and her prediction is an example of ____.

A) a hypothesis; a theory
B) a theory; a hypothesis
C) a variable; an application
D) a hypothesis; a variable

Question 8

A scientific theory has to be

A) true.
B) accepted by others.
C) testable.
D) well established and not disputed.

Question 9

The use of reinforcement principles to modify a child's unruly behavior reflects the goal of science that deals with

A) understanding and prediction.
B) measurement and description.
C) deterministic and teleological.
D) application and control.

Question 10

Theories permit researchers to move from

A) understanding to application.
B) concept to description.
C) application to control.
D) description to understanding.

Question 11

The ____ approach assumes that events are governed by some lawful order.

A) philosophical
B) mechanical
C) scientific
D) cognitive

Question 12

Answering the question of "why" something happens is most closely associated with which goal of science?

A) the search for truth
B) application and control
C) measurement and description
D) understanding and prediction

Question 13

Mrs.Smith,an elementary school teacher,believes that girls are smarter than boys.She predicts that the girls in her class will learn more than the boys during the school year.Her prediction is a(n)

A) hypothesis.
B) opinion.
C) fact.
D) theory.

Question 14

IQ score,age,weight,grade point average,and income are all examples of

A) constants.
B) variables.
C) correlations.
D) statistics.

Question 15

Any measurable conditions,events,characteristics,or behaviors that are controlled or observed in a study are called

A) hypotheses.
B) correlations.
C) variables.
D) confounds.

Question 16

A theory is

A) an objective description of behavior.
B) a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations.
C) the application of research to practical problems.
D) a statement about the relationship between two or more variables.

Question 17

Hypotheses are typically expressed as

A) theories.
B) variables.
C) predictions.
D) statistics.

Question 18

Theory construction is

A) a gradual iterative process that is always subject to revision.
B) a standard step-like process that quickly moves toward the truth.
C) a circular process that typically leads nowhere.
D) a process that results in concrete findings that are accepted by other scientists.

Question 19

A clinical psychologist notes that an unusually large number of obese people are depressed or anxious,and she offers an explanation that excess weight causes emotional disorders.Her explanation is a(n)

A) hypothesis.
B) theory.
C) opinion.
D) fact.

Question 20

Answering the question of "how" something works is most closely associated with which goal of science?

A) the search for truth
B) application and control
C) measurement and description
D) understanding and prediction

Question 21

A researcher is interested in examining whether relaxation techniques help decrease the perception of anxiety in subjects.The second step in this scientific investigation would be

A) to design the study and select the research method.
B) to analyze the data.
C) to formulate a testable hypothesis.
D) to collect the data.

Question 22

A researcher is measuring the heart rate of subjects as an index of anxiety.In this study,heart rate is

A) a confounded variable.
B) negatively correlated with anxiety.
C) an independent variable.
D) an operational definition of anxiety.

Question 23

The FINAL step in a scientific investigation is to

A) conduct the study.
B) analyze the data.
C) decide whether or not the hypothesis was supported.
D) report the findings.

Question 24

The scientific approach requires that people specify exactly what they are talking about when they formulate hypotheses.Which advantage of scientific investigation does this illustrate?

A) precision
B) acceptance of a degree of error
C) skepticism
D) operational definitions

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT true regarding common sense analyses of behavior?

A) they tend to be vague and ambiguous
B) they often tolerate contradictory generalizations
C) they usually involve little effort to verify ideas or detect errors
D) they are typically based on precise definitions and hypotheses

Question 26

Dr.Dobbins wants to study attachment patterns in single-parent families.The first step in her scientific investigation would be to

A) design the study and select the research method.
B) analyze the data.
C) formulate a testable hypothesis.
D) collect the data.

Question 27

Statistical procedures are used during which step in conducting a scientific investigation?

A) collect the data
B) select a research method and design the study
C) report the findings
D) analyze the data and draw conclusions

Question 28

A psychologist measures blood alcohol level to determine intoxication.In this example,blood alcohol level is the ____ definition of intoxication.

A) operational
B) dictionary
C) objective
D) precise

Question 29

Jackson is working with a company to help them develop more effective training programs for their employees.He has spent a great deal of time reviewing all the documentation the company has about previous training opportunities they have provided for their employees.Up to this point in time,Jackson has been engaged in

A) psychological testing.
B) archival research.
C) direct observation.
D) meta-analysis.

Question 30

Publication of research findings is extremely important to the scientific method because

A) it allows for critique and self-correction.
B) it brings recognition to the research worker.
C) it forces the writer to be clear.
D) the royalties help the researcher pay for the research.

Question 31

Dr.Malm predicts that if teachers ignore students who act up in class,fewer students will act up in class.Dr.Malm's prediction is an example of

A) an operational definition.
B) a theory.
C) inferential statistics.
D) a hypothesis.

Question 32

A scientific journal refers to

A) a personal diary kept by a scientist.
B) a periodical that publishes technical and scholarly articles.
C) a detailed record of the daily procedures followed in conducting a study.
D) a collection of biographies of famous scientists.

Question 33

Laura answered a series of written questions that asked about her attitudes and opinions on a number of current issues.The method of data collection that was being used in this case was

A) a standardized psychological test.
B) archival research.
C) direct observation.
D) a questionnaire.

Question 34

In scientific investigations a researcher must clearly define the variables under study by precisely describing how they will be measured or controlled.These definitions are referred to as

A) objective definitions.
B) precise definitions.
C) operational definitions.
D) dictionary definitions.

Question 35

Dr.Licciardi predicts that if people are observed while they perform a complex task they will make more errors.Dr.Licciardi's prediction is an example of

A) a hypothesis.
B) an operational definition.
C) a theory.
D) inferential statistics.

Question 36

Psychologists use a variety of data collection techniques; which of the following is best suited for studying attitudes?

A) questionnaires
B) direct observations
C) psychological tests
D) physiological recordings

Question 37

A psychologist monitors changes in the subject's heart rate as the subject watches a violent movie.The data collection technique being used is

A) direct observation.
B) psychological testing.
C) physiological recording.
D) archival records.

Question 38

Dr.Critell is studying aggression in children and plans to define aggression as the number of times one child pushes or strikes another child.Defining aggression in this way would

A) be an example of a hypothesis.
B) violate ethical guidelines for psychological research.
C) represent an operational definition.
D) require a double-blind research design.

Question 39

Most typically,researchers report their findings

A) by holding a press conference.
B) in a book.
C) in a scientific magazine.
D) in a journal.

Question 40

A standardized measure used to obtain a sample of a person's behavior is called

A) a psychological test.
B) a case study.
C) an experiment.
D) a survey.

Question 41

An industrial designer wants to determine if the new design for a piece of office equipment will result in fewer errors.The designer sets up a machine with the old design in one room,and a machine with the new design in a second room.He counts how many errors are made using each of the two machines.In this study,the number of errors that are made would be

A) a control variable.
B) the dependent variable.
C) the independent variable.
D) an extraneous variable.

Question 42

In an experiment designed to test memory processes,one group was given special instructions and asked to group the items on a list into categories while they tried to memorize them.A second group of participants was given the same list,but they did not receive any special instructions.In this study,the experimental group is

A) the group in which the participants remember the least items from the list.
B) the group who did not receive any special instructions.
C) the group who received the special instructions.
D) the group in which the participants remember the most items from the list.

Question 43

A group of researchers wanted to determine if people will eat more food in a room with red paint and red decorations than in a room that is decorated blue.Half the participants in this study ate in a red room and half ate in a blue room.The researchers then measured how much food was consumed in each of the two rooms.In this study,the independent variable was

A) the type of food that was available during the study.
B) the amount of food that was consumed.
C) the color of the decorations in the room.
D) how hungry the participants were at the end of the study.

Question 44

A researcher wants to see if a protein-enriched diet will enhance the maze-running performance of rats.One group of rats is fed the high-protein diet for the duration of the study; the other group continues to receive ordinary rat chow.In this experiment,the rats' maze-running performance is the

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

Question 45

A group of researchers wants to determine if people are more likely to follow directions if the person giving the directions is in a uniform.Half the participants are directed to a parking spot by a uniformed security guard,the other half are directed to a parking spot by an individual wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt.In this study,the dependent variable would be

A) the number of participants who park in the spot they are directed to.
B) the type of clothing worn by the person giving the directions.
C) the gender of the person driving into the parking lot.
D) the distance between the parking spot and the entrance.

Question 46

In an experiment,the variable that is controlled or manipulated by the researcher is called the

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

Question 47

The experimental group

A) consists of the subjects who receive some special treatment with regard to the independent variable.
B) consists of the subjects who receive some special treatment with regard to the dependent variable.
C) consists of the subjects who do not receive the special treatment.
D) must be chosen so as to be as different from the control group as possible.

Question 48

If we view an experiment as an attempt to establish a cause-effect relationship,the ____ variable would be the cause,and the ____ variable would be the effect.

A) dependent; independent
B) independent; dependent
C) control; experimental
D) independent; confounded

Question 49

Manipulating a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observing the changes in a second variable defines

A) the testing approach.
B) the survey approach.
C) the experimental approach.
D) naturalistic observation.

Question 50

An independent variable in an experiment refers to

A) the variable that is held constant across experimental conditions.
B) the variable deliberately manipulated by the experimenter.
C) the variable that the experimenter believes will change in value because of systematic correlations that exist in the experiment.
D) the variable that provides an alternative explanation for the results of the experiment.

Question 51

The different general strategies for conducting scientific investigation are referred to as

A) data collection techniques.
B) operational definitions.
C) research methods.
D) hypotheses.

Question 52

In a study designed to test the effects of a new drug developed to treat Alzheimer's disease,half the patients were given the actual drug while the other half of the patients were given a placebo (sugar pill).In this study,the experimental group is

A) the patients who show evidence of an improvement in their memory.
B) the group who received the actual drug.
C) the group who received the placebo.
D) the patients who were not included in the study.

Question 53

A dependent variable in an experiment refers to the variable

A) held constant across the experimental conditions.
B) deliberately manipulated by the experimenter.
C) that changes value because of the systematic manipulation in the experiment.
D) that the experimenter is depending on to cause something to happen in the experiment.

Question 54

David and Alexandra both take part in a research study that is investigating the effects of sleep deprivation on reaction time.David is kept awake for 24 hours straight,while Alexandra follows her normal sleep routine.In this study,David is part of the

A) hypothesis group.
B) experimental group.
C) control group.
D) dependent variable group.

Question 55

The purpose of the control group is to

A) make the experiment more complex.
B) isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable.
C) make statistical significance more likely.
D) isolate the effect of the dependent variable on the independent variable.

Question 56

Operational definitions are most closely associated with which major advantage of the scientific approach?

A) commonsense approach
B) clarity and precision
C) intolerance of error
D) tolerance of error

Question 57

Researchers studying the effects of sleep deprivation tested the physical coordination skills of 25-year-old males who had been sleep deprived for either 24,36,or 48 hours.In this study,the dependent variable would be

A) the age of the research participants.
B) the physical coordination skills of the men in the study.
C) the length of time the participants had been sleep deprived.
D) the type of physical coordination task the researchers use.

Question 58

The two main types of research methods used in psychology are the

A) experimental and descriptive/correlational research methods
B) experimental and case study research methods
C) descriptive and correlational research methods
D) descriptive/correlational and case study research methods

Question 59

Researchers who were studying plant growth raised plants in two separate rooms.One room had taped conversations playing 24 hours a day; the other room was silent.The researchers found that the plants grew better in the room which had the conversations playing.In this study,the type of room (conversation or silence)would be

A) the dependent variable.
B) an extraneous variable.
C) a placebo.
D) the independent variable.

Question 60

A researcher found that clients who were randomly assigned to same-sex groups participated more in group therapy sessions than clients who were randomly assigned to coed groups.In this experiment,the dependent variable was

A) the amount of participation in the group therapy sessions.
B) whether or not the group was coed.
C) the clients' attitudes toward group therapy.
D) how much the clients' mental health improved.

Question 61

A variable,other than the independent variable,that appears to have influenced the dependent variable in a study is referred to as

A) a covariate.
B) an extraneous variable.
C) a redundant variable.
D) an inverse bias.

Question 62

In experimental research,the researcher manipulates the ____ variable in order to measures its effect on the ____ variable.

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

Question 63

Bill received a poor performance evaluation in his job last year.Since then Bill has started working through his lunch hour,has taken on four special projects,and has enrolled in night classes to upgrade his computer skills.If Bill receives a better evaluation at his next performance it will be hard for him to figure out why because

A) he failed to use a double-blind procedure to test his hypothesis.
B) he didn't formulate a research hypothesis before implementing the changes.
C) none of the actions he took are likely to be related to his overall job performance.
D) the three actions he took are confounded with each other.

Question 64

In experimental research,the variable that the researcher measures because it is thought to be affected by the manipulation of another variable is the

A) extraneous variable.
B) dependent variable.
C) independent variable.
D) controlled variable.

Question 65

When two variables are linked and their individual effects cannot be separated out,we speak of the variables as being

A) independent variables.
B) dependent variables.
C) confounded variables.
D) codependent variables.

Question 66

In experiments,placing subjects in experimental groups such that each subject has an equal probability of ending up in any experimental group is referred to as

A) random selection.
B) random sampling.
C) random forecasting.
D) random assignment.

Question 67

If a researcher varies the loudness of music in a factory to observe its effect on the rate of productivity of the employees,the dependent variable is the

A) factory setting.
B) rate of productivity.
C) style of music being used.
D) loudness of music being used.

Question 68

Diaz conducts a decision-making experiment to determine if people reason more logically when they have more time to decide.All the participants who are under 40 are allowed 15 minutes to reach a decision about a problem; all the participants who are over 40 are allowed 20 minutes to reach a decision about the same problem.Diaz has a problem with his experimental design because

A) there are two control groups and no experimental group.
B) the time allowed for the decision is confounded with the independent variable.
C) there is no dependent variable in the experiment.
D) the age of the participants is confounded with the independent variable.

Question 69

Dr.Prutherow believes that people who are under stress will develop more colds than people who are not under stress.When he randomly selects 10 participants and exposes them to high levels of stress,he finds that 9 of the participants develop colds.Based on these results he concludes that stress causes an increase in colds.Dr.Prutherow's reasoning may be flawed because in this study

A) there was no dependent variable in his study.
B) there was no control group for comparison.
C) he didn't formulate a hypothesis before he collected his data.
D) he didn't measure the independent variable when the study ended.

Question 70

Subjects in the control group should be ____ subjects in the experimental groups in all respects except for the treatment they receive in regards to the ____.

A) very different from; independent variable
B) very different from; dependent variable
C) very similar to; independent variable
D) very similar to; dependent variable

Question 71

One of the disadvantages of the experimental method is

A) the inability to generate cause-and-effect conclusions.
B) the length of time necessary to complete the study.
C) the fact that only one variable can be studied at a time.
D) the fact that experiments often can't be done for practical or ethical reasons.

Question 72

In experimental research,subjects that receive some special treatment in regard to the independent variable are the

A) experimental group.
B) control group.
C) observational group.
D) correlational group.

Question 73

The research method in which the investigator manipulates a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observes whether any changes occur in a second variable as a result is the

A) scientific method.
B) correlational method.
C) descriptive method.
D) experimental method.

Question 74

A group of researchers wanted to determine whether children would behave more aggressively after watching violent television programming.Half the children in the study watched a violent television show; the other children watched a non-violent television program.In this study,the control group is the children who

A) behave the most aggressively at the end of the study.
B) watch the non-violent program.
C) watch the violent show.
D) behave the least aggressively at the end of the study.

Question 75

Derrick designed an experiment in which participants listened to a persuasive speech delivered either by a person who was very tall or a person who was average in height.In addition,the speeches were delivered either by individuals wearing business clothes or by people wearing casual clothes.In this example,Derrick

A) has two dependent variables, and will be able to determine if persuasion interacts with any other factors.
B) has two independent variables, and will be able to determine if height and style of clothing interact.
C) does not have a control group, which should reduce the impact of self-reporting bias in his study.
D) is using a double-blind procedure, which should reduce experimenter bias.

Question 76

A researcher tries to make sure that subjects in the experimental and control groups are very similar to each other in order to reduce the effects of

A) extraneous variables.
B) random variables.
C) dependent variables.
D) independent variables.

Question 77

The main advantage associated with the experimental method is

A) its precise control.
B) its ability to duplicate real life in the laboratory.
C) that it can be used to explore just about everything.
D) participants usually enjoy taking part in the study.

Question 78

Dr.Kalmagura plans on introducing a new exam review procedure in his chemistry classes.To check the effectiveness of the new procedure he is going to have half his students try the new technique for one semester,while the remaining students review in the way they have always done in the past.He asks each student to decide which of the techniques they would like to use,the new technique or the standard technique.In this example,Dr.Kalmagura's procedure illustrates

A) the use of non-random assignment.
B) a correlational research design.
C) a double-blind research design.
D) what is meant by informed consent in research.

Question 79

Conclusions concerning cause and effect relationships are only possible when the ____ method is used.

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

Question 80

In experimental research,while subjects in the ____ group received some special treatment in regard to the independent variable,subjects in the ____ group did not.

A) control; experimental
B) experimental; control
C) primary; secondary
D) secondary; primary