Question 1

Hypotheses are best described as

Accepted Answer

A)  assumptions. 
B)  replications. 
C)  explanations. 
D)  predictions.

Question 2

If a difference between two samples is NOT statistically significant, which of the following can be concluded?

Accepted Answer

A)  The difference is probably not a true one. 
B)  The difference is probably not reliable. 
C)  The difference could be due to sampling variation. 
D)  All of these conclusions can be reached.

Question 3

A scatterplot graphically depicts the

Accepted Answer

A)  standard deviation of a distribution of scores. 
B)  arithmetic average of a distribution of scores. 
C)  total population from which samples may be drawn. 
D)  degree of relationship between two variables.

Question 4

A majority of respondents in a national survey agreed that "classroom prayer should not be allowed in public schools." Only 33 percent of respondents in a similar survey agreed that "classroom prayer in public schools should be banned." These differing findings best illustrate the importance of

Accepted Answer

A)  hindsight bias. 
B)  the placebo effect. 
C)  random assignment. 
D)  wording effects.

Question 5

The most commonly reported measure of central tendency is the

Accepted Answer

A)  mode. 
B)  mean. 
C)  median. 
D)  standard deviation.

Question 6

The King James Version of the Bible was completed when William Shakespeare was 46 years old. In Psalm 46 of this translation, the forty-sixth word is "shake," and the forty-sixth word from the end is "spear." Before concluding that the biblical translators were trying to be humorous with these specific word placements, you would be best advised to recognize the danger of

Accepted Answer

A)  randomly sampling biblical passages. 
B)  generalizing from extreme examples. 
C)  assuming that most people share your opinions. 
D)  perceiving order in coincidental events.

Question 7

What is the mode of the following distribution of scores: 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 14?

Accepted Answer

A)  2 
B)  4 
C)  5 
D)  6

Question 8

University of Texas students were fitted with belt-worn tape recorders for up to four days so that researchers could sample their daily activities. The researchers employed a scientific method known as

Accepted Answer

A)  naturalistic observation. 
B)  the double-blind procedure. 
C)  the standard deviation. 
D)  the case study.

Question 9

Three key attitudes of scientific inquiry are

Accepted Answer

A)  pride, enthusiasm, and ingenuity. 
B)  ingenuity, practicality, and certainty. 
C)  certainty, creativity, and curiosity. 
D)  curiosity, skepticism, and humility.

Question 10

As scientists, psychologists adopt an attitude of skepticism because they believe that

Accepted Answer

A)  people are unlikely to reveal what they are really thinking. 
B)  most commonsense ideas about human behavior are wrong. 
C)  claims about human behavior need to be supported with evidence. 
D)  events never occur randomly.

Question 11

For which of the following distributions of scores would the median most clearly be a more appropriate measure of central tendency than the mean?

Accepted Answer

A)  10, 22, 8, 9, 6 
B)  12, 6, 8, 5, 4 
C)  12, 15, 12, 9, 12 
D)  23, 7, 3, 27, 16

Question 12

Faustin, a member of his school's golf team, has an opportunity to play against a nationally acclaimed professional golfer. How many holes of golf should Faustin choose to play with the professional in order to maximize his own slim chances of winning?

Accepted Answer

A)  9 
B)  18 
C)  27 
D)  36

Exam 1: Tiinking Critically With Psychological Science