Deck 1: Scientific Understanding of Behavior

Question 1

Which of the following is a characteristic of scientific inquiry as described by Goodstein's evolved theory of science?

A)Science is a way of thinking in which ideas do battle with other ideas in order to move ever closer to truth.
B)Scientists must have strong ethical principles and be committed to treating those who participate in research investigations with respect and dignity.
C)Scientists often tend to become authorities when they express their ideas and report their observations to other scientists and the public.
D)Scientific research is subject to the temporal order of events in which the cause precedes the effect.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true of the scientific approach to acquiring knowledge?

A)Scientists accept the pronouncements of anyone on faith.
B)Scientists do not rely on intuition and assertions of authorities for ideas for research.
C)A person can accept on faith the statements of any authority.
D)Both intuition and authority can be sources of ideas about behavior.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Scientists often rely on intuition and assertions of authorities to:

A)generate ideas for research.
B)draw conclusions about behavior.
C)set rules for evaluating and reporting information.
D)ensure that flawed research does not become part of scientific literature.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The fundamental characteristic of the scientific approach is:

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

Question 5

Isaac has decided to purchase several copies of a new children's book because he has a feeling that the availability of this book will be scarce in the future. Which of the following best explains Isaac's behavior?

A)Authority
B)Skepticism
C)Intuition
D)Empirical evidence

Question 6

Identify the first thing to be asked to a person who claims to be a scientist before accepting what he or she has to say.

A)Credentials of the individual
B)Researcher's funding source
C)Reputation of the institution represented by the individual
D)Methods of study used by the researcher

Question 7

Which characteristic of scientific inquiry emphasizes that if an idea is falsified when it is tested, science is thereby advanced because this result will spur the development of new and better ideas?

A)Data play a central role.
B)Scientists are not alone.
C)Science is adversarial.
D)Scientific evidence is peer reviewed.

Question 8

Identify the primary role of reviewers involved in peer review.

A)Recommending whether a study should be published or not
B)Providing an objective set of rules for reporting information
C)Providing an objective set of rules for gathering and evaluating information
D)Making scientific evidence obtainable

Question 9

Good scientific ideas are testable. They can be supported or they can be disproved by data, which is called _____.

A)skepticism
B)empiricism
C)covariation
D)falsifiability

Question 10

Which of the following is most likely to be a problem associated with intuition?

A)Unquestioningly accepting one's own personal judgment
B)Finding an explanation for one's own behavior or the behaviors of others
C)Explaining the intriguing events that one may observe
D)Drawing erroneous conclusions based on cognitive or motivational biases

Question 11

Accepting the information in a professor's lecture without considering the credibility of the information exemplifies a belief in _____.

A)intuition
B)authority
C)scientific evidence
D)skepticism

Question 12

_____ is the process by which scientists with expertise in a particular field assess a study before it is published in a top-quality scientific journal.

A)Applied research
B)Peer review
C)Program evaluation
D)Temporal precedence

Question 13

Which of the following is an advantage of the scientific approach over other ways of knowing about the world?

A)Eliminating the need for evidence before drawing scientific conclusions
B)Ruling out intuition and authority as sources of ideas about behavior
C)Providing an objective set of rules for gathering, evaluating, and reporting information
D)Rejecting the idea that numerous cognitive and motivational biases affect our perceptions

Question 14

An empirical approach to science requires that:

A)scientific observations be accurately reported to other scientists and the public.
B)scientists accept on faith the pronouncements of anyone.
C)knowledge be based on observations.
D)ideas be evaluated on the basis of intuitions.

Question 15

_____ is the idea that knowledge is based on observations.

A)Fanaticism
B)Didacticism
C)Empiricism
D)Skepticism

Question 16

_____ is a cognitive bias that occurs when a person focuses on two events that stand out and occur together.

A)Skepticism
B)Falsifiability
C)Illusory correlation
D)Temporal precedence

Question 17

Many people readily accept anything they learn from religious figures or government officials because of their belief in _____.

A)skepticism
B)authority
C)pseudoscience
D)empiricism

Question 18

When a person accepts unquestioningly what his or her own personal judgment tells about the world, he or she is relying on _____.

A)skepticism
B)authority
C)intuition
D)science

Question 19

Scientific _____ means that ideas must be evaluated on the basis of careful logic and results from scientific investigations.

A)fanaticism
B)didacticism
C)radicalism
D)skepticism

Question 20

Which of the following has influenced U.S. Supreme Court decisions related to juvenile crime?

A)Behavioral research on human development
B)Statistical research on judicial decisions
C)Research undertaken by mental health professionals
D)Research undertaken by educators in various fields

Question 21

Which of the following goals of science is the most important for changing behavior?

A)Description
B)Prediction
C)Determination of cause
D)Explanation

Question 22

The statement, "The different eating habits of obese and non-obese persons are caused by physiological factors" is an example of _____ behavior.

A)predicting
B)describing
C)explaining
D)evaluating

Question 23

Of the four goals of behavioral science, description of behavior involves:

A)careful observation of things that are observable such as eye gaze and running speed.
B)regular observation of a specific behavior to ensure that two events are systematically related to one another.
C)explaining the events that have been previously described.
D)understanding the reason behind the occurrence of certain types of behavior.

Question 24

Prediction of behavior involves:

A)providing an objective set of rules for gathering, evaluating, and reporting information on behavior.
B)regular observation of a specific behavior to ensure that two events are systematically related to one another.
C)explaining the events that have been previously described.
D)understanding the reason behind the occurrence of certain types of behavior.

Question 25

The statement, "Participants in quiet environments score consistently higher on math achievement tests than participants in noisy environments" is an example of _____ behavior.

A)explaining
B)predicting
C)describing
D)understanding

Question 26

The statement, "High school seniors with higher SAT scores will have higher GPAs in college" is an example of _____ behavior.

A)predicting
B)describing
C)explaining
D)understanding

Question 27

Which of the following is the final goal of behavioral science?

A)Determining the causes of behavior
B)Predicting behavior
C)Explaining behavior
D)Describing behavior

Question 28

Which of the following characterizes pseudoscience?

A)It answers fundamental questions about the nature of behavior.
B)It reflects the basic processes of behavior rather than immediate practical implications.
C)It expresses claims using seemingly scientific terms and demonstrations.
D)It assesses the social reforms and innovations that occur in mental health institutions.

Question 29

You have just read an article in a popular magazine that stated, "People who jog live longer than people who don't jog." As a scientist, you would probably:

A)make plans to accommodate jogging in your weekly schedule.
B)accept the statement as true.
C)want to see the study that led to this conclusion.
D)reject the idea straightaway.

Question 30

When Dr. Smith attempts to determine the reasons for female defendants being rated more leniently than male defendants, he is attempting to _____ behavior.

A)describe
B)predict
C)assess
D)explain

Question 31

The four goals of scientific research on behavior are to:

A)describe, prescribe, eliminate, and undermine behavior.
B)describe, predict, explain, and determine the causes of behavior.
C)describe, analyze, eliminate, and determine the effects of behavior.
D)describe, understand, explain, and modify behavior.

Question 32

_____ is "fake" science in which seemingly scientific terms and demonstrations are used to substantiate claims that have no basis in scientific research.

A)Omniscience
B)Antiscience
C)Prescience
D)Pseudoscience

Question 33

According to Goodstein, which characteristic of scientific enquiry emphasizes that scientists make observations that are accurately reported to other scientists who will follow up on the findings by conducting research that replicates and extends these observations.

A)Data play a central role.
B)Scientists are not alone.
C)Science is adversarial.
D)Scientific evidence is peer reviewed.

Question 34

Which of the following is an example of pseudoscience?

A)Facilitated communication
B)Program evaluation
C)Basic research
D)Heuristic evaluation

Question 35

According to Goodstein, which characteristic of scientific enquiry states that for scientists, knowledge is primarily based on observations and that scientists enthusiastically search for observations that will verify or reject their ideas about the world.

A)Data play a central role.
B)Scientists are not alone.
C)Science is adversarial.
D)Scientific evidence is peer reviewed.

Question 36

A claim without a scientific base that a product or procedure will enhance a person's memory, relieve depression, or treat autism or post-traumatic stress disorder, is an example of _____.

A)omniscience
B)antiscience
C)prescience
D)pseudoscience

Question 37

Which of the following is the first goal of behavioral science?

A)Understanding behavior
B)Predicting behavior
C)Determining the causes of behavior
D)Describing behavior

Question 38

A general rule to help detect pseudoscience is to:

A)be highly skeptical of scientific assertions that rely on vague evidence.
B)draw conclusions based on cognitive and motivational biases that affect perceptions.
C)not waste time doing an Internet search for supportive evidence.
D)rely unquestioningly on one's own personal judgment.

Question 39

The statement, "The average IQ score of children in the Central School District is 108" helps _____ behavior.

A)explain
B)describe
C)determine
D)predict

Question 40

Of the four goals of behavioral science, determining the cause of behavior involves:

A)careful observation of things like running speed, eye gaze, or loudness of laughter.
B)regular observation of a specific behavior to ensure that two events are systematically related to one another.
C)concluding causation based on temporal precedence, covariation of cause and effect, and alternative explanations.
D)explaining and understanding the events that have been described as causing a particular behavior.

Question 41

A researcher finds that people who own more than two cars have bigger homes, more garage space, and make more money than people who own only one or two cars. Therefore, the researcher concludes that having more than two cars causes people to have homes with bigger garages. According to Cook and Campbell's types of evidence, the researcher failed to eliminate:

A)falsifiability.
B)alternate forms reliability.
C)alternative explanations.
D)temporal precedence.

Question 42

In determining the cause of behavior, which principle considers the order when two events occur together?

A)Temporal precedence
B)Covariation of cause and effect
C)Elimination of alternative explanations
D)Observational analysis

Question 43

Which of the following journal-article titles is an example of basic research?

A)"Teaching youths with autism to offer assistance"
B)"Encouraging recycling: An evaluation of a media campaign"
C)"Effect of situational factors on assessment of blame: A test of attribution theory"
D)"Will they stay or will they go? The role of job embeddedness in predicting turnover in individualistic and collectivistic cultures."

Question 44

In the case of knowing that watching television violence is a predictor of actual aggression, which of the following evidence accentuates the need to know that aggression followed after television viewing occurred?

A)Temporal precedence
B)Covariation of cause and effect
C)Elimination of alternative explanations
D)Observational analysis

Question 45

Which of the following journal article titles represents an example of a basic research study?

A)"The effect of self-awareness on a cognitive reasoning task"
B)"Buying behavior: The influence of item shelf placement in retail grocery stores"
C)"Increasing knowledge of dangers in the home: A tri-state phone survey"
D)"A peer tutoring program as a method to increase cultural sensitivity"

Question 46

Kenneth knows that when Jeremy drinks alcohol, he becomes very talkative. This identification of a cause of behavior exemplifies:

A)temporal precedence.
B)covariation of cause and effect.
C)elimination of alternative explanations.
D)observational analysis.

Question 47

Which of the following is true of applied research?

A)It is considered more valuable than basic research.
B)It is often guided by the findings of basic research.
C)It is designed to answer fundamental questions about the nature of behavior.
D)It is of value only if the results are published.

Question 48

In the context of the goals of behavioral research, the statement "People eat more when they are alone than when they are with friends" exemplifies _____ behavior.

A)describing
B)predicting
C)explaining
D)understanding

Question 49

The distinction between basic research and applied research is that basic research:

A)relies on the fundamental sciences such as chemistry or biology, whereas applied research relies on the social sciences such as psychology or sociology.
B)relies on the social sciences such as psychology or sociology, whereas applied research relies on the fundamental sciences such as chemistry or biology.
C)focuses on fundamental questions, often of a theoretical nature, whereas applied research focuses on identifying and resolving practical problems.
D)focuses on identifying and resolving practical problems, whereas applied research focuses on fundamental questions, often of a theoretical nature.

Question 50

Which of the following is an important consideration that people in all organizations too often fail to remember when new ideas are implemented?

A)Social scientists should evaluate each program to determine if it is having its intended effect and if it is not, alternative programs should be tried.
B)Scientists should have strong ethical principles and be committed to treating those who participate in research investigations with respect and dignity.
C)Legislators who control the budgets of research-granting agencies of the government have demanded that research be directly relevant to specific social issues.
D)Both basic and applied research are important, and neither can be considered superior to the other.

Question 51

According to Cook and Campbell, what are the three types of evidence used to identify the cause of a behavior?

A)Temporal precedence, covariation of cause and effect, and alternative explanations
B)Alternative explanations, positive linear relationship, and construct validity
C)Internal consistency reliability, item-total correlation, and covariation of cause and effect
D)Facilitated communication, alternate forms reliability, and falsifiability

Question 52

Determining the cause of behavior is an important goal of behavioral science because:

A)behavior cannot be altered unless the cause is known.
B)predicting behavior necessitates a need to know the exact cause of the behavior.
C)without knowing the cause of a specific behavior, there is always the risk of generating an erroneous description.
D)it adds to the credibility of the scientist involved in behavioral research.

Question 53

Sharon wishes to identify the food items that are purchased most frequently in the student cafeteria, and, for the purpose, she observes the students' purchasing patterns. This scenario exemplifies the goal of science to:

A)describe behavior
B)predict behavior
C)determine the cause of behavior
D)explain behavior

Question 54

Identify a true statement about basic and applied research.

A)Applied research tries to answer fundamental questions about the nature of behavior, whereas basic research is conducted to address issues in which there are practical problems and potential solutions.
B)The distinction between basic and applied research is a convenient typology but is probably more accurately viewed as a continuum.
C)Both basic and applied research are important, but applied research is considered to be superior than basic research.
D)All basic researches are guided by the theories and findings of applied research investigations.

Question 55

In order to conclude that watching television violence gives rise to aggressive behavior in children, researchers need to show that children who watch television violence behave aggressively and that children who do not watch television violence do not behave aggressively. This is called elimination of _____.

A)temporal precedence
B)covariation of cause and effect
C)alternative explanations
D)illusory correlations

Question 56

Which of the following journal-article titles most likely represents an applied research study?

A)"Measurement of reaction times to different colored lights"
B)"The influence of a food reward on maze running behavior in kittens"
C)"Cognitive factors influencing logical reasoning"
D)"Increasing recycling of styrofoam containers: A test at an amusement park"

Question 57

A major area of applied research that assesses the social reforms and innovations that occur in government, industry, and mental health settings is called _____.

A)a panel study
B)a field experiment
C)program evaluation
D)meta-analysis

Question 58

Administrators at the county's juvenile hall have implemented a reward program to decrease disruptive behavior during meal times. The scientific approach would primarily dictate that the program:

A)covers theoretical issues concerning social behavior.
B)be thoroughly assessed to measure the intended result.
C)integrates theoretical concepts to eliminate ambiguity.
D)discusses the immediate practical implications and poses new questions.

Question 59

Dr. Roussel conducts research to determine whether or not an after-school program improves school performance in fifth-grade children. Dr. Roussel is most likely engaged in _____.

A)basic research
B)theoretical research
C)performance appraisal
D)program evaluation

Question 60

Professor Gordon finds that students who read newspapers daily display more knowledge of current events than students who do not read newspapers daily. What type of evidence does this identification of a cause of behavior exemplify?

A)Cognitive awareness
B)Temporal precedence of cause
C)Covariation of cause and effect
D)Elimination of alternative explanations