Deck 2: Exstintion: How Psychologists Do Research

Question 1

An operational definition is:

A)a statement that attempts to predict a set of phenomena,and specifies relationships among variables that can be empirically tested.
B)an organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships.
C)the precise meaning of a term which specifies the operations for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being investigated.
D)the principle that a scientific theory must make predications that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.

Answer 1

the precise meaning of a term which specifies the operations for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being investigated.

Question 2

The principle of falsifiability is defined as:

A)a statement that attempts to predict a set of phenomena,and specifies relationships among variables that can be empirically tested.
B)an organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships.
C)the precise meaning of a term which specifies the principles for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being investigated.
D)the principle that a scientific theory must make predications that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.

Answer 2

the principle that a scientific theory must make predications that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.

Question 3

When the authors refer to psychologists as scientists,they mean that:

A)psychologists work with complicated computers and laboratory equipment.
B)psychologists rely upon sophisticated brain-imaging machines.
C)psychologists base their work on scientific attitudes and procedures.
D)psychologists wear white coats when they conduct animal research.

Answer 3

psychologists base their work on scientific attitudes and procedures.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons why research methods matter so much to psychologists?

A)These methods allow psychologists to separate truth from unfounded belief.
B)These methods allow psychologists to gain respect from the "hard" sciences.
C)These methods allow psychologists to sort out conflicting views.
D)These methods allow psychologists to correct false ideas that might cause people harm.

Question 5

Theory is defined as:

A)a statement that attempts to predict a set of phenomena,and specifies relationships among variables that can be empirically tested.
B)an organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships.
C)the precise meaning of a term which specifies the operations for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being investigated.
D)the principle that a scientific theory must make predications that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.

Question 6

Marcy is trying to define "anxiety" in a way that can be empirically tested.She is attempting to find an appropriate:

A)hypothesis.
B)operational definition.
C)double-blind study.
D)theory.

Question 7

Which of the following is an operational definition of depression?

A)a feeling of extreme sadness
B)a sense of futility and hopelessness
C)a score on the Beck Depression Inventory
D)the opposite of euphoria

Question 8

Research methods are important for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

A)they allow researchers to separate reliable information from unfounded claims.
B)they can help a person make a wiser decision between alternatives.
C)they provide the means for false claims to be verified.
D)they are the basic foundation for psychology and other sciences.

Question 9

A statement that attempts to predict or to account for a set of phenomena is called a/an:

A)hypothesis.
B)operational definition.
C)double-blind study.
D)theory.

Question 10

When psychologists learned that hopeful parents of autistic children were being drawn to a program of "facilitated communication":

A)they carefully analyzed the testimonials about the therapy before accepting it.
B)they conducted experiments involving autistic children and their facilitators.
C)they conducted a survey of all the facilitators working with autistic children.
D)they argued that it was not ethical to use this technique with children.

Question 11

An organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships is called a/an:

A)hypothesis.
B)operational definition.
C)double-blind study.
D)theory.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A)A hypothesis is a specific prediction derived from a theory.
B)A hypothesis is a statement that attempts to explain a specific behavior.
C)A hypothesis is a statement about a relationship between variables that may be empirically tested.
D)A hypothesis is a prediction about future events based on guesswork.

Question 13

A theory is:

A)an opinion or idea about the causes of some phenomenon.
B)an organized system of assumptions and principles that attempts to explain some phenomenon.
C)a group of interrelated statements about cause and effect.
D)a hunch about the causes of related phenomena.

Question 14

Hannah has always been drawn to the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," and she decides that this saying will be incorporated into her research project.Hannah is trying to define "absence" in a way that can be empirically tested.She is attempting to find an appropriate:

A)hypothesis.
B)operational definition.
C)double-blind study.
D)theory.

Question 15

An operational definition:

A)tells how something is to be observed and measured.
B)tells the meaning of a term in scientific language.
C)tells the meaning of a term in lay language.
D)tells what is expected to result from manipulation of a variable.

Question 16

A hypothesis is defined as:

A)a statement that attempts to predict a set of phenomena,and specifies relationships among variables that can be empirically tested.
B)an organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships.
C)the precise meaning of a term which specifies the operations for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being investigated.
D)the principle that a scientific theory must make predications that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a possible operational definition of intelligence?

A)a person's score on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test
B)a person's ability to reason and solve problems
C)a student's cumulative GPA
D)the length of time a person takes to solve a complex maze

Question 18

A scientific theory could be thought of as:

A)a personal opinion.
B)an established truth.
C)an organized system of assumptions.
D)a measure of strength between two variables.

Question 19

A precise meaning of a term which species the operations for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being investigated is called a/an:

A)hypothesis.
B)operational definition.
C)double-blind study.
D)theory.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of scientists?

A)precision
B)skepticism
C)openness
D)humanism

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT one of the key characteristics of the ideal scientist?

A)precision
B)skepticism
C)openness in regard to ideas and research
D)avoidance of risky predictions

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT a descriptive method?

A)case studies
B)tests
C)correlation
D)surveys

Question 23

Research methods that depict behavior,but are not necessarily causal explanations are called:

A)experimental methods.
B)single-blind studies.
C)significance tests.
D)descriptive methods.

Question 24

Which of the following is an advantage of case studies?

A)case studies produce a more detailed picture of an individual than other methods do
B)information is often missing or hard to interpret
C)an individual case may not be representative of others
D)the observer may have biases that influence which facts are observed and which are ignored

Question 25

Which of the following statements is true?

A)Scientists should keep their research secret so others will not steal their ideas.
B)It is a waste of time and money to replicate a study that has already been done.
C)Disclosure of the details of a study is important to allow for replication by others.
D)Research procedures,once patented,should be shared openly.

Question 26

The tendency to look for information that supports one's own belief is called the:

A)principle of falsifiability.
B)confirmation bias.
C)criterion validity.
D)volunteer bias.

Question 27

Scientists are expected to submit their results to professional journals,which send the findings to experts for evaluation before publication.This process is called:

A)reliability.
B)criterion validity.
C)peer review.
D)content validity.

Question 28

One purpose of peer review is to:

A)make sure that the researchers did not deceive their subjects in any way.
B)choose which,among competing interpretations of a finding,is best.
C)scrutinize the evidence before any announcement to the public.
D)make sure that the research does not involve animals as subjects.

Question 29

Which of the following is most characteristic of scientists?

A)creativity in developing new ideas to test
B)reliance on empirical evidence
C)intense conviction that a hypothesis is true
D)reliance on scientific authority

Question 30

The case of Genie illustrated that:

A)autistic children often have cold,rejecting mothers.
B)language acquisition is possible even if it is delayed until adolescence.
C)early severe deprivation can be overcome with later therapy.
D)there is an early critical period for language development.

Question 31

In the 1990s,some police officers argued that murderous satanic cults were widespread,but the FBI was never able to substantiate this claim.The police officers continued to believe in the existence of the cults,saying that the FBI was part of the conspiracy.Our textbook points out that this is a violation of _______________ in everyday life.

A)the coefficient of correlation
B)the volunteer bias
C)the principle of falsifiability
D)replication

Question 32

What was wrong with Norman Cousins's claim that humor and vitamins could cure life-threatening diseases?

A)it was not falsifiable
B)it was not based on empirical evidence
C)its variables were not operationally defined
D)it resulted from confirmation bias

Question 33

Which of the following would be considered a good example of a representative sample of college students in the United States:

A)a survey given to several rural classrooms in your state
B)a questionnaire mailed to several zip codes
C)a survey given to a diverse population in both urban and rural classrooms in several states
D)volunteers who found your survey on the internet

Question 34

Confirmation bias is:

A)a tendency to look for evidence that supports our theory and ignore evidence that contradicts it.
B)a tendency to believe theories that have been confirmed by empirical data.
C)a tendency to accept replicated studies but not accept studies that have not been replicated.
D)a belief that bias exists in many studies that prevents them from being confirmed.

Question 35

In order to be taken seriously,a hypothesis must be:

A)plausible given the current theories.
B)backed by empirical evidence.
C)imaginative and appealing.
D)suggested by a credible authority.

Question 36

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A)It is important to balance skepticism with openness to new ideas.
B)Skepticism in science is an unwillingness to accept an idea without empirical evidence.
C)Even though skepticism about new ideas is important,a scientist should accept older ideas that have been endorsed by authorities in the field.
D)Skepticism and caution go hand in hand.

Question 37

Researchers prefer to select participants that accurately represent the larger population that the researcher is interested in.This type of group is called a(n):

A)experimental sample
B)single-blind sample
C)significance tests
D)representative sample

Question 38

A detailed description of a particular individual being studied or treated is called:

A)a representative sample.
B)a case study.
C)a single-blind study.
D)a naturalistic observation.

Question 39

The principle of falsifiability means that:

A)scientists must be careful not to falsify their results.
B)scientists,as well as people in general,tend to accept false information when it is endorsed by an authority.
C)a scientist must state an idea in such a way that it can be refuted or disproved by counterevidence.
D)theories that have not been proven are considered falsified.

Question 40

According to the principle of falsifiability:

A)a scientific theory must make predictions that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.
B)false conclusions are reached in a scientific study when researchers make risky predictions.
C)researchers must conduct naturalistic observations in order to reach a causal rationale about a particular behavior.
D)hypotheses should be considered false until scientific research proves,without a doubt,that they are true.

Question 41

Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about case studies?

A)the person studied may have inaccurate memories of the event
B)these studies have serious drawbacks
C)information from case studies cannot be used to develop hypothesis
D)information from case studies is often unreliable

Question 42

Professor Steegel wants to know how infants of different ages respond when left with a stranger.The most efficient approach to explore this topic would be to conduct a:

A)series of case studies.
B)double-blind experiment.
C)laboratory observation.
D)naturalistic observation.

Question 43

For his adult development class,Barry is systematically recording behaviors at an assisted-care facility,making sure that he doesn't interfere with the behaviors.Barry is engaged in:

A)observational research.
B)standardized testing.
C)experimental research.
D)statistically-significant research.

Question 44

Dr.Olson wants to know whether or not the first three years of life are critical for acquiring language.She decides to study children who have been deprived of human language.The appropriate method to use to explore this issue would be a/an:

A)observational study.
B)experiment.
C)survey.
D)case study.

Question 45

Dr.Nicod is conducting research in France in order to determine the ways that mothers and their toddlers interact throughout the day.It is most likely that she is engaged in:

A)naturalistic observation.
B)psychological testing.
C)survey research.
D)meta-analysis research.

Question 46

Psychologists sometimes prefer to make observations in a laboratory setting rather than a naturalistic setting because:

A)it is too time consuming to have to drive from place to place to observe subjects.
B)subjects take their participation seriously in a professional environment.
C)a lab allows the researchers to have more control over the situation.
D)laboratory observation results generalize to everyday life.

Question 47

Professor Hardin wants to know if people consume greater quantities of alcohol during "Happy Hour" specials.It is most likely that she will use the _______________ method to explore this topic.

A)case study
B)double-blind
C)naturalistic observation
D)experimental

Question 48

An advantage of observational studies is that:

A)they can provide accurate descriptions of behavior.
B)the presence of observers can alter the behavior being observed.
C)they can answer questions about cause and effect.
D)they do not provide hypotheses to be tested.

Question 49

Professor Gaggos wants to determine whether the needs for personal space are different in Greece than they are in the United States.His results will be used to train business executives in maintaining appropriate conversational distances.The research method appropriate to his purpose would be:

A)naturalistic observation.
B)an objective inventory.
C)a case study.
D)laboratory observation.

Question 50

Tess agrees to sleep in a laboratory for three nights so that researchers can obtain information about her brain and muscle activity during sleep.She is taking part in a _______________ study.

A)single-blind
B)double-blind
C)naturalistic observation
D)laboratory observation

Question 51

In the 1970s,a 13-year-old girl was found locked up in a room,strapped to a potty chair.Since she had grown up in a world without human speech,researchers studied "Genie's" ability to acquire words,grammar,and pronunciation.This type of research is called:

A)a case study.
B)a representative sample.
C)a single-blind study.
D)a naturalistic observation.

Question 52

_______________ are usually sources of hypotheses,rather than tests of hypotheses.

A)Double-blind studies
B)Case studies
C)Single-blind studies
D)Field research studies

Question 53

An academic researcher would use the case study method in all of the following situations EXCEPT:

A)when first beginning to study a research topic.
B)when practical considerations prevent other methods of gathering information.
C)when ethical considerations prevent other methods of gathering information.
D)when the purpose of the research is to track down a cause.

Question 54

When researchers visited 32 pubs in one city,they ordered beers and recorded observations on napkins and pieces of newspaper.The reason they kept records in this way was:

A)to conduct a double-blind study in each of the pubs.
B)to make sure the study had test-retest reliability
C)to be able to determine experimenter effects at a later point in time.
D)to make sure that their intentions were not obvious to those they were observing.

Question 55

Dr.Littman-Smith is conducting research in Kenya in order to determine the ways that mothers and their toddlers interact throughout the day.It is most likely that she is engaged in:

A)naturalistic observation.
B)laboratory observation.
C)case study research.
D)experimental research.

Question 56

Ethologists,such as Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey used the _______________ method to study apes and other animals in the wild.

A)case study
B)objective inventory
C)naturalistic observation
D)experimental

Question 57

In _______________ the researcher carefully and systematically watches and records behavior,without interfering with the behavior.

A)observational research
B)survey research
C)experimental research
D)double-blind research

Question 58

Professor Kribs wants to know how infants of different ages respond when left with a stranger.The most efficient approach to explore this topic would be to conduct a:

A)single-blind experiment.
B)double-blind experiment.
C)laboratory observation.
D)survey.

Question 59

In the 1970s,Genie's difficulty acquiring words,grammar,and pronunciation led researchers to conclude that:

A)a critical period exists for language development.
B)Genie had suffered brain damage in the birth process.
C)Genie's linguistic deficits can be generalized to other abused children.
D)language depends on nurture rather than nature.

Question 60

Dawn is systematically recording behaviors at a nursery school,making sure that she doesn't interfere with the behaviors.Dawn is engaged in:

A)observational research.
B)survey research.
C)experimental research.
D)double-blind research.

Question 61

Tessa agrees to an evaluation designed to tap her unconscious feelings and motives.Tessa will be given a/an:

A)objective test.
B)projective test.
C)inventory.
D)alternate form exam.

Question 62

A researcher decides that a psychological test is the most efficient means of testing his hypothesis.A test would NOT be appropriate if the researcher wanted to

A)make a conclusion regarding cause and effect.
B)clarify the reactions of the same person at different stages of life.
C)draw generalizations about human behavior.
D)promote self-understanding among his participants.

Question 63

Assessment instruments that are designed to tap unconscious feelings or motives are called:

A)objective tests.
B)projective tests.
C)inventories.
D)alternate forms.

Question 64

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good test?

A)it is standardized
B)it is reliable
C)it is believable
D)it is valid

Question 65

One shortcoming of laboratory observation is that:

A)the presence of researchers and special equipment may cause subjects to act differently than they would in their natural surroundings.
B)the results often are inaccurate because many people have a distorted view of their own abilities and traits.
C)some subjects are given detailed instructions about how to behave whereas others receive only vague instructions.
D)teachers and parents do not usually question the results from a laboratory observation since the results are summarized in a single,precise-sounding number.

Question 66

If a test measures what it is supposed to measure it is:

A)reliable.
B)valid.
C)criterion referenced.
D)standardized.

Question 67

Hoshi asked if the test she is taking used established standards of performance.Hoshi's question was about the test's:

A)criterion validity.
B)norms.
C)content validity.
D)test-retest reliability.

Question 68

Hadley is told that the achievement test that he is taking is a standardized test.This means that:

A)the score he receives is likely to be similar to the score he would receive at a later test session.
B)the test will be measuring what is it intended to measure.
C)similar scores occur when the test is given in a standard laboratory setting or in a naturalistic setting.
D)uniform procedures exist for giving and scoring the test.

Question 69

Procedures used to measure and evaluate personality traits,emotional states,aptitudes,and values are called:

A)laboratory observations.
B)psychological tests.
C)control conditions.
D)field research.

Question 70

An established standard of performance defines:

A)a norm.
B)a standard score.
C)content validity.
D)reliability.

Question 71

When Dana takes a personality test she is told that the test has been judged to have criterion validity,that is:

A)it measures what it is designed to measure.
B)its results are compared to established standards of performance.
C)it produces the same results from one time to the next.
D)it predicts other criteria of the personality trait in question.

Question 72

When Becky takes a personality test she is told that the test has been judged to have content validity,that is:

A)it measures what it is designed to measure.
B)its results are compared to established standards of performance.
C)it produces the same results from one time to the next.
D)it predicts other criteria of the personality trait in question.

Question 73

Reliability in tests means that:

A)the test actually measures what it is supposed to measure.
B)the test is fair.
C)the test is unbiased.
D)the test produces the same results from one time and place to the next.

Question 74

Harvey is being assessed in order to measure his beliefs and feelings regarding the next election.It is most likely that the assessment instrument will be a/an:

A)inferential statistic.
B)projective test.
C)objective test.
D)norm.

Question 75

In order to be useful,a test must be reliable,that is,it must:

A)measure what it is designed to measure.
B)compare results against established standards of performance.
C)produce the same results from one time to the next.
D)predict other criteria of the trait in question.

Question 76

When Joyce takes a personality test she is told that the test is reliable,that is,it:

A)measures what it is designed to measure.
B)compares its results against established standards of performance.
C)produces the same results from one time to the next.
D)predicts other criteria of the personality trait in question.

Question 77

Two types of validity are:

A)content validity and standardization.
B)validity with norms and validity without norms.
C)standardization and reliability.
D)content validity and criterion validity.

Question 78

Assessment instruments that are designed to measure beliefs,feelings,or behaviors of which an individual is aware are called:

A)inferential statistics.
B)projective tests.
C)objective tests.
D)norms.

Question 79

One test of a good test is whether it is standardized,that is,whether:

A)the test specifies the operations for observing and measuring the process being tested.
B)the test specifies relationships between events or variables and yields an empirical evaluation.
C)the test yields consistent scores from one time and place to another time and place.
D)uniform procedures exist for giving and scoring the test.

Question 80

When Haylee takes a personality test,the researcher gives her detailed instructions and plenty of time to complete it.But Tyler takes the same test and is given only vague instructions and a limited amount of time.This procedural difference shows a problem in regard to:

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