Question 1

For which of the following would an independent samples t-test be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A)   examining the performance difference between participants who took a SAT preparation class and participants who did not
B)   investigating psychological adjustment following the loss of a loved one
C)   a cognitive study examining the difference in three different types of memory aids
D)   examining whether one's astrological sign predicts well-being A

Question 2

The experiment tested in this chapter, which examined the effect of ignoring text messages on participants' levels of distraction, was a:

Accepted Answer

A)   one-group design.
B)   two-group design.
C)   three-group design.
D)   four-group design. B

Question 3

An independent samples t-test that fails to reach statistical significance indicates that:

Accepted Answer

A)   the hypothesis has been proven true.
B)   the hypothesis has been proven false.
C)   there is not enough evidence to prove that the groups are significantly different.
D)   the opposite of the hypothesis has been proven true. C

Question 4

When would using an independent samples t-test be inappropriate?

Accepted Answer

A)   when the experimenter has more than two levels of the dependent variable
B)   when the experimenter has more than two levels of the independent variable
C)   when the experimenter is able to prove covariation
D)   when the experimenter is uses a control condition

Question 5

For which of the following would using experimental research NOT be appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A)   the influence of weight lifting on aggression
B)   the impact of snacking on weight gain
C)   the relationship between eye color and IQ
D)   the impact of alcohol consumption on behavioral inhibition

Question 6

Imagine that you are studying the effect of sour tastes on the human salivation response. In designing this study, what are you likely to ask participants in your experimental condition to do?

Accepted Answer

A)   taste something sweet
B)   taste something sour
C)   salivate
D)   not salivate

Question 7

If Dr. Ryan, a social psychologist, was investigating the relationship between temperature and participants' moods, an example of an extraneous variable would be:

Accepted Answer

A)   how hot it is in the study room.
B)   how cold it is in the study room.
C)   self-reports of how happy or sad one feels.
D)   the time of day the study takes place.

Question 8

Gustave is testing whether participants are more likely to comply with a request from an individual wearing a uniform than from someone in more casual clothes. Which of the following questions would be an appropriate manipulation check for his study?

Accepted Answer

A)   Did someone ask you for a request?
B)   What did the requester ask you to do?
C)   How did you feel in response to the request?
D)   What was the requester wearing?

Question 9

Charles works at a newspaper as a fact-checker. His job is to verify claims to ensure that any conclusions made by the reporters are, in fact, correct. Charles is the metaphorical _____ of the newspaper.

Accepted Answer

A)   manipulation check
B)   measure of effect size
C)   internal validity
D)   check of mundane realism

Question 10

Suppose an experimenter were examining the relationship between texting and driving and found that there was no difference between the experimental and control groups in typical cell phone use, previous texting experience, or driving history. This would serve to:

Accepted Answer

A)   identify weaknesses of the current study that must be reexamined through replication.
B)   rule out possible alternative explanations.
C)   show that the manipulation of the independent variable did not affect the dependent variable.
D)   reveal extraneous variables that can explain the obtained research findings.

Question 11

Temporal precedence is established by showing that changes in the suspected cause occur _____ changes in the outcome.

Accepted Answer

A)   before
B)   at the same time as
C)   after
D)   regardless of

Question 12

How would you operationalize the variables in an experiment examining the impact of sleep deprivation on sense of humor?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would you operationalize the variables in...

Question 13

Define covariation and then list three examples of covariation that occur in your own life.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define covariation and then list three examples...

Question 14

In an experiment examining whether pet ownership leads to greater life satisfaction, pets would be considered the _____ variable, whereas life satisfaction would be considered the _____ variable.

Accepted Answer

A)   independent; dependent
B)   dependent; independent
C)   dependent; control
D)   control; independent

Question 15

Compared with participants in the control condition, participants in the experimental condition should be:

Accepted Answer

A)   older.
B)   wealthier.
C)   smarter.
D)   essentially the same.

Question 16

Perhaps the most important information recorded in the researcher notes are the:

Accepted Answer

A)   date of experiment and researcher's name.
B)   condition assignment and date of experiment.
C)   participant ID and condition assignment.
D)   researcher's name and participant ID.

Question 17

Marcus is interested in examining whether attending preschool makes children more extraverted. In designing a study to examine this relationship, which of the following would NOT be a potential extraneous variables?

Accepted Answer

A)   the personalities of participants' classmates
B)   the age at which one starts school
C)   the personalities of participants' parents
D)   whether the participant attends preschool

Question 18

_____ is the extent to which the research setting influences the participant's behavior.

Accepted Answer

A)   Temporal precedence
B)   Covariation
C)   Internal validity
D)   Experimental realism

Question 19

In an experiment, researchers assign participants to either the experimental or control condition by using:

Accepted Answer

A)   convenience assignment.
B)   convenience sampling.
C)   random sampling.
D)   random assignment.

Question 20

Madison is interested in knowing whether there is a statistically significant difference between participants' scores in the control and experimental conditions. She should look at the _____ in order to determine if the difference is greater than what would be expected based on chance alone.

Accepted Answer

A)   t score
B)   degrees of freedom
C)   p value
D)   effect size d

Exam 8: Two-Group Design: Texting: I Cant Get You Out of My Mind