Question 1

Which of the following represents a converging operations approach?

Accepted Answer

A)  A scientist who conducts a correlational research design
B)  A scientist who conducts an experiment
C)  A scientist who conducts many different descriptive research projects
D)  A scientist who conducts an experimental, a correlational, and a descriptive research project with the hopes that the findings from each project will show similar results D

Question 2

Freddie likes to be sure that he does not get stuck in the rain.In the morning he listens to the weather on the radio, checks the weather in the newspaper, and also looks out his apartment window.Freddie's actions could be considered a type of

Accepted Answer

A)  observational research design.
B)  correlational research design.
C)  converging operations.
D)  basic research. C

Question 3

Which of the following were observed results of the research of Brendl, Chattopadhyay, Pelham, and Carvallo (2005) on preference for letters of one's own name?

Accepted Answer

A)  Participants preferred teas that included the letters of their own name.
B)  Participants guessed that the study had been rigged.
C)  Participants were aware of the causes of their behavior.
D)  Participants wrote about an aspect of themselves that they would like to change. A

Question 4

A researcher who uses knowledge of a person's intelligence to predict an ability to do well as a lawyer is using which type of research design?

Accepted Answer

A)  Descriptive
B)  Experimental
C)  Correlational
D)  Causational

Question 5

Which one of the following items should NOT be influenced by the values of the scientist?

Accepted Answer

A)  The topic chosen for study
B)  Whether the collected data are objectively analyzed and reported
C)  When and where research is published
D)  The participants chosen for study

Question 6

Which of the following best differentiates basic research from applied research?

Accepted Answer

A)  Basic research represents a broader and more informative study of human behavior than does applied research.
B)  Basic research answers more specific questions about human behavior than does applied research.
C)  Basic research is not useful without applied research.
D)  Basic research concerns the fundamental relationships between variables, whereas applied research addresses specific social or practical problems.

Question 7

Which of the following correlation coefficients is the strongest?

Accepted Answer

A)  r = .42
B)  r = -.48
C)  r = .45
D)  r = -.26

Question 8

It is hypothesized that having lived for a longer time in an integrated neighborhood will be related to having a less racist attitude.Which type of correlation is predicted between length of time living in the neighborhood and racist attitudes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Positive
B)  Negative
C)  Unknown
D)  Reliable

Question 9

A researcher wants to test whether the attachment of a child to a primary caregiver will predict how trusting that child will be in future romantic relationships.She uses a self-report measure of the participant's relationships when they were young and a Likert scale measuring their trust behavior as adults.What kind of research design is this?

Accepted Answer

A)  Experimental
B)  Empirical
C)  Descriptive
D)  Correlational

Question 10

Because the ability to play golf differs from person to person, it can be considered

Accepted Answer

A)  a predictor.
B)  a manipulation.
C)  a variable.
D)  a relationship.

Question 11

The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient is

Accepted Answer

A)  a statistic used to assess the direction and the size of the relationship between two variables.
B)  a statistic used to indicate the central tendency of descriptive data.
C)  a procedure used to create experimental manipulations.
D)  a statistic used to compare groups of individuals in experimental research.

Question 12

Experiments

Accepted Answer

A)  cannot normally be conducted in behavioral research because variables cannot be controlled.
B)  cannot be used to determine the causal relationships among variables.
C)  are the most useful type of research design.
D)  involve the manipulation of a given situation or experience for two or more groups of individuals.

Question 13

Facts are examples of statements that are free from bias or personal emotion.This means that facts are

Accepted Answer

A)  variable.
B)  objective.
C)  empirical.
D)  data.

Question 14

Which of the following describes a correlational research design?

Accepted Answer

A)  Anita investigates the relationship between the amount of time children spend watching television at home and their helping behaviors at school.
B)  Franklin conducts a survey that measures the average number of hours of television watched per day in Japan.
C)  Jamal observes children for one month, taking notes on the number of altruistic behaviors performed.
D)  Sarah assigns groups of children to watch different amounts of television each day.After one month Sarah compares the number of altruistic behaviors of each group.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about human behavior is best tested using a correlational research design?

Accepted Answer

A)  People who drink alcohol more frequently are also less likely to practice safe sex.
B)  A decrease in daily temperature can cause a decrease in mood.
C)  Children frequently talk to themselves even when they are playing with other children.
D)  Good grades are caused by sitting in front of the class.

Question 16

It is hypothesized that people with high self-esteem have a higher grade point average than do those with low self-esteem.What type of correlation is predicted between self-esteem and grade point average?

Accepted Answer

A)  A positive correlation
B)  A negative correlation
C)  A zero correlation
D)  No correlation can be conducted on these variables.

Question 17

Which of the following is true about scientific facts?

Accepted Answer

A)  They can never be shown to be false.
B)  They cannot be used to help people determine their personal values.
C)  They are determined to be accurate on the basis of empirical study.
D)  They are personal beliefs about the domain of scientific inquiry.

Question 18

Which of the following terms describes the systematic collection and analysis of data?

Accepted Answer

A)  experimental
B)  logical
C)  empirical
D)  tautological

Question 19

In which of the following sections of the research report are the values of the scientists most likely to be expressed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Methods and Results
B)  Introduction and Results
C)  Results and Discussion
D)  Introduction and Discussion

Question 20

The scientific method is designed to help produce

Accepted Answer

A)  the accumulation of knowledge.
B)  the exclusion of all values from the scientific process.
C)  a research project that can be easily replicated.
D)  changes in social policy.

Exam 1: Introduction to Research and Research Designs