Question 1

People often over-estimate the annual number of deaths in plane crashes, compared to the much more numerous car-accident deaths. Jackie agrees and says it's because people are more used to seeing reports of plane accidents and thus it is more salient than reports on car accidents. Jackie is referring to

Accepted Answer

A)   The availability heuristic
B)   The anchoring heuristic
C)   The discounting of base-rate heuristic
D)   The belief perseverance bias A

Question 2

Scientific research ought to build on and extend past work.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Preliminary data are generally not publicized in any way. Scientists generally wait until collecting all their data before presenting any of their data either in manuscript or presentation form.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Identify one heuristic and one bias outlined in the textbook and explain how they might hypothetically impact the evaluation of a study.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify one heuristic and one bias outlined...

Question 5

Defend why (or why not) Wakefield's work on vaccinations, despite its ultimate outcome, can be considered as science.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Defend why (or why not) Wakefield's work...

Question 6

What does it mean when the scientific method seeks for objective research?

Accepted Answer

A)   The research must have a clear goal.
B)   The research must be based on the scientists' personal beliefs.
C)   The research must be based on striving for the truth.
D)   The research must have a subjective piece to balance the objective portion.

Question 7

One aspect of the scientific method is that it is consistent. Which one of the following claims is not a result of science being conducted in a consistent manner?

Accepted Answer

A)   The findings can be replicated.
B)   The findings are generalizable.
C)   The findings have the potential to show a convergence of evidence.
D)   The findings are reliable.

Question 8

In many cults, when prophecies do not come true, members do not quit. Instead, they reinterpret the failure of specific predictions to support the teachings of the cult. Which of the following best describes this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

A)   Ingroup bias
B)   Belief perseverance bias
C)   Decision fatigue
D)   Mood effects

Question 9

Cognitive biases can influence your ability to evaluate a research claim.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Findings and studies that are consistent are generally not reliable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The idea of converging evidence is when:

Accepted Answer

A)   the evidence within one study tells a coherent story, addresses the research question clearly and provides a clear conclusion that allows the reader to understand the results.
B)   the evidence across multiple studies tells a coherent story, finds a similar pattern of results, and suggests that they are robust.
C)   contradictory evidence needs to be converged and taken into consideration because scientific progress is often made by resolving these differences.
D)   the combination of results from different studies presents a discovery that was not apparent in any of the individual studies alone.

Question 12

Which of the following options describes an instance of the replication of scientific findings?

Accepted Answer

A)   When multiple media reports cite a particular finding.
B)   When several researchers independently vouch for the validity of a study's conclusions.
C)   When at least one other identical study has found the same results.
D)   When the findings have been cited by at least one other researcher.

Question 13

Cognitive biases are simple procedures that allow individuals to make fast, yet not necessarily perfect, decisions to solve problems.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Present a scientific claim that you recently encountered. Outline the appropriate steps to evaluate this claim based on what you know about research methods.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Present a scientific claim that you recently...

Question 15

In psychological studies, it is not uncommon for researchers to hire assistants to conduct the actual experiment, and for these assistants to be "blinded" to the purpose of the study. When someone is "blinded", it means that they do not know the predicted outcome of the experiment. What aspect of the scientific method does this practice serve?

Accepted Answer

A)   Objectivity
B)   Subjectivity
C)   Tradition
D)   Bias

Question 16

Identify two ways that understanding research methods is valuable to the average person and provide an example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify two ways that understanding research methods...

Question 17

We have discussed many ways of evaluating research or research-based claims. Which one of the following descriptions is the least reasonable approach?

Accepted Answer

A)   One way to approach evaluating research claims is to take it at face value based on a popular press article. This is because findings in the popular press are always critically based on scientific journals and wouldn't be published without a reason.
B)   One way to approach evaluating research claims is to conduct your own research. Most individuals who are posing questions already have knowledge relevant to conducting research, it is often inexpensive, and conducting your own research is the most directly answers the question you are interested in.
C)   One way to approach evaluating research claims is to read empirical articles. Although you may find contradictions, these are findings by experts who are trained in conducting research.
D)   One way to approach evaluating research claims is to look at similar findings related to the original research questions you had in mind, because this often leads to finding replications that suggest that the claims are strong.

Question 18

John would like to find out whether people who spend a lot of time on social media have lower self-esteem. Which of the following best describes a method of evaluating this claim by searching for converging evidence?

Accepted Answer

A)   John talks to his professor about self-esteem research.
B)   John asks his friends for their opinions.
C)   John looks up several articles on self-esteem and social media use.
D)   John reads a book that condemns the extensive use of social media.

Question 19

Julie believes that she has to eat waffles every morning before an exam to score an A. Thus, every morning before an exam she eats waffles, and subsequently always scores an A. Which is the most likely explanation for the link between Julie eating waffles and scoring an A?

Accepted Answer

A)   Stroop effect
B)   Discounting base-rate information
C)   Self-serving bias
D)   Causality bias

Question 20

The Cognitive Miser Model explains how individuals come to making decisions attending to a relatively small amount of information that integrates past experiences.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 1: Introduction to Research Methods

Scientific research ought to build on and extend past work.

Preliminary data are generally not publicized in any way. Scientists generally wait until collecting all their data before presenting any of their data either in manuscript or presentation form.

Identify one heuristic and one bias outlined in the textbook and explain how they might hypothetically impact the evaluation of a study.

Defend why (or why not) Wakefield's work on vaccinations, despite its ultimate outcome, can be considered as science.

What does it mean when the scientific method seeks for objective research?

One aspect of the scientific method is that it is consistent. Which one of the following claims is not a result of science being conducted in a consistent manner?

In many cults, when prophecies do not come true, members do not quit. Instead, they reinterpret the failure of specific predictions to support the teachings of the cult. Which of the following best describes this phenomenon?

Cognitive biases can influence your ability to evaluate a research claim.

Findings and studies that are consistent are generally not reliable.

The idea of converging evidence is when:

Which of the following options describes an instance of the replication of scientific findings?

Cognitive biases are simple procedures that allow individuals to make fast, yet not necessarily perfect, decisions to solve problems.

Present a scientific claim that you recently encountered. Outline the appropriate steps to evaluate this claim based on what you know about research methods.

Identify two ways that understanding research methods is valuable to the average person and provide an example.

We have discussed many ways of evaluating research or research-based claims. Which one of the following descriptions is the least reasonable approach?

John would like to find out whether people who spend a lot of time on social media have lower self-esteem. Which of the following best describes a method of evaluating this claim by searching for converging evidence?

Julie believes that she has to eat waffles every morning before an exam to score an A. Thus, every morning before an exam she eats waffles, and subsequently always scores an A. Which is the most likely explanation for the link between Julie eating waffles and scoring an A?

The Cognitive Miser Model explains how individuals come to making decisions attending to a relatively small amount of information that integrates past experiences.