Deck 14: Making a Difference With Social Psychology: Attaining a Sustainable Future

Question 1

Based on information from your text, why is it so important to use an experiment to test interventions before implementing them?

A) to be able to compare the intervention with a control group without the intervention
B) to be able to publish the results of the intervention in a scholarly journal
C) to increase awareness of the intervention
D) to make sure the intervention is effective enough to warrant federal funding

Answer 1

to be able to compare the intervention with a control group without the intervention

Question 2

Overpopulation, global warming, and pollution are examples of actions that are beneficial for an individual but will be harmful if all people chose that course of action.

A) cognitive dissonance
B) social dilemma
C) prisoner's dilemma
D) social conflict

Answer 2

social dilemma

Question 3

Dr.Palcon designs a study to test which strategy is best in terms of encouraging residents to recycle on a weekly basis.Dr.Palcon is most likely conducting ________ research.

A) applied
B) basic
C) esoteric
D) his dissertation

Answer 3

applied

Question 4

Humans' rapid consumption of natural resources such as fossil fuels and difficulty finding places to put their garbage are symptoms of the underlying problem of

A) lack of awareness of environmental problems.
B) apathy about the environment.
C) overpopulation.
D) illiteracy and lack of education.

Question 5

Which of the following does not belong?

A) real world
B) applied
C) basic
D) practical

Question 6

Right after a massive fire that killed 10 people, the firefighters were instructed to attend a psychological intervention that lasted for several hours.During this time, they discussed their experiences and responses.This intervention is known as

A) Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.
B) Post-Traumatic Event Counseling.
C) Trauma Reduction Intervention.
D) Critical Trauma Debriefing.

Question 7

A researcher wants to determine which logo is the most effective at inspiring people to take public transportation.According to your text, what type of research design would best answer this question?

A) computer model
B) correlational
C) experiment
D) naturalistic observation

Question 8

The Mobro 4000 was a trash barge that traveled over 6,000 miles to find a place to dump its garbage.It was not successful and eventually returned home.What problem does this case exemplify?

A) global warming
B) anti-American attitudes
C) where to put trash
D) air pollution

Question 9

Kurt Lewin is considered to be the

A) founder of modern personality psychology.
B) greatest applied methodologist of the twentieth century.
C) founder of empirical social psychology.
D) father of professional psychology.

Question 10

A number of years ago, the Chinese government adopted a "One Child" rule, in which parents are only allowed to have one child per couple.Such a policy was aimed at addressing the problem of overpopulation by

A) using authoritarian mandates.
B) curbing population growth.
C) increasing awareness of the problem.
D) adopting a sustainable lifestyle using renewable resources.

Question 11

You are a member of the next generation of social psychologists.If you follow Lewin's advice (1946, as presented in your text), your research questions can best be tested using

A) common sense and intuition.
B) observation.
C) correlational designs.
D) the experimental method.

Question 12

According to your text, which method is best suited for understanding which interventions and solutions to real-world problems work best?

A) correlational studies
B) experiments
C) computer models
D) observational studies

Question 13

Complete the analogy.Basic research: ________ :: applied research: ________.

A)theory; hypothesis
B)theory; real world
C)real world; theory
D)real world; global problems

Question 14

Several automakers have recently come out with hybrid engines which rely partially on gasoline and partially on electricity.Such innovations are examples of solving environmental problems by

A) improving technology.
B) adopting a sustainable lifestyle.
C) raising awareness of the problem.
D) eliminating our reliance on fossil fuels entirely.

Question 15

Kurt Lewin is quoted as saying, "There is nothing so practical as a good theory." This quote is best interpreted as meaning that

A) hypothesis testing is limited to the quality of the underlying theories.
B) to solve difficult social problems, one first needs to understand the underlying theory.
C) basic research is more important than application of the research.
D) social psychologists should focus on solving world problems.

Question 16

Dr.Lovill conducted an experiment to test whether the investment or evolutionary models of romantic relationships are more accurate.Dr.Lovill is most likely conducting ________ research.

A) applied
B) basic
C) esoteric
D) his dissertation

Question 17

Jerry has rigged his television to run from energy that is created when he pedals a stationary bicycle.Jerry is an example of how we can solve environmental problems by

A) developing new technologies.
B) changing people's attitudes.
C) raising awareness.
D) adopting a sustainable lifestyle.

Question 18

Dr.Lewis wants to determine which type of intervention is the most effective at increasing the number of carpoolers in the state.According to your text, what type of research design would best answer this question?

A) computer model
B) correlational
C) experiment
D) naturalistic observation

Question 19

According to your text, the residents of Miami are already being affected by which environmental problem?

A) global warming
B) air pollution
C) nuclear waste leakage
D) overpopulation

Question 20

In order to test the effectiveness of an intervention using an experiment, it is best to have a

A) visible independent variable.
B) randomly assigned control group.
C) representative control group.
D) double-blind study.

Question 21

To determine the effectiveness of CISD in reducing the incident of anxiety disorders, what could you do to see if it was effective?

A) contact individuals two months after the incident and measure their degree of depression and anxiety
B) contact individuals the week after and talk with them more about the event
C) measure individuals' anxiety right after the incident but before the CISD
D) establish support groups to do CISD on a regular basis

Question 22

According to your text, what is the biggest reason why Critical Incident Stress Debriefing was used, even without research evidence that it was effective?

A) Conducting research would have taken too much time.
B) A meta-analysis on hundreds of studies would be needed to determine its effectiveness.
C) Doing the research would have been too expensive.
D) Using CISD made good common sense.

Question 23

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing had been mandatory for certain people who work with trauma; based on the evidence presented in your text, what would you recommend to police and fire departments about requiring CISD for all employees?

A) It should be required of all personnel on a daily basis.
B) It should be required of all personnel after encountering a trauma.
C) It should be required annually.
D) It should be offered as an option or completely banned.

Question 24

Social psychologists are poised to help find solutions to applied psychological problems.What are two reasons why?

A) rich theories of human behavior and a long history of successful interventions
B) a good track record of developing successful interventions and use of the experimental method
C) rich theories of human behavior and knowledge of the experimental method
D) use of many methods to study human behavior and advanced statistical knowledge

Question 25

McNally and his colleagues have conducted controlled experiments to examine the effectiveness of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) on preventing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).The results of the studies show that CISD is

A) a very effective means of reducing PTSD.
B) only effective on police officers.
C) effective if administered within twenty-four hours of the trauma.
D) not an effective means of preventing the onset of PTSD.

Question 26

An experiment would be the best type of research design to determine whether Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) works.Why?

A) Experiments can find positive relationships between variables.
B) Experiments can describe behavior.
C) Experiments can find cause-and-effect relationships.
D) Experiments can control behavior.

Question 27

Joe has just survived a horrible earthquake.After this traumatic event, he is asked if he wants to undergo Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.Based on information from your text, what would you suggest Joe do?

A) Joe should undergo CISD; it has been shown to prevent the onset of psychological disorders.
B) Joe should undergo CISD only if he wasn't physically injured.
C) Joe should not undergo CISD.
D) Joe should only undergo CISD if he experienced the trauma less than twenty-four hours ago.

Question 28

The authors of your text discuss the scientific rigor involved in testing new medications.Analogous to this, if Critical Incident Stress Debriefing were a medication, what does your text suggest that people would be doing now?

A) There would be clamoring for insurance to cover the intervention.
B) People would lobby Congress to make CISD mandatory nationwide.
C) There would be a public outcry and lawsuits against CISD.
D) People would want more empirical evidence before reacting.

Question 29

Michelle and Emile were in a family restaurant when they noticed a couple of elderly ladies frowning at them.Apparently, the ladies did not approve of Michelle and Emile's public displays of affection.Michelle and Emile violated a(n) ________ norm.

A) injunctive
B) disjunctive
C) subjective
D) descriptive

Question 30

To determine the effectiveness of CISD in reducing the incident of anxiety disorders, what would be your experimental group?

A) receive CISD after a traumatic event
B) do not receive CISD after a traumatic event
C) degree of post-traumatic stress
D) amount of time spent in CISD

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT a reason why social psychologists are well qualified to find solutions to applied psychological problems?

A) They have a rich set of theories about human behavior.
B) They have knowledge of the experimental method.
C) They know how to perform rigorous tests of the effectiveness of interventions.
D) They must hold a Ph.D.to perform interventions.

Question 32

A team of researchers is asked to determine the effectiveness of a psychological intervention on the reduction of school violence.What is the best method the researchers could use to test whether the intervention worked?

A) Give a self-report survey to people who received the intervention.
B) Observe the schools that received the intervention.
C) Compare the level of violence at the schools before and after they received the intervention.
D) Design an experiment comparing schools that received the intervention and those that did not based on random assignment.

Question 33

Based on research in your text, burn victims who did not undergo CISD were ________ than those who did.

A) less likely to have anxiety disorders
B) more likely to have anxiety disorders
C) equally likely to have anxiety disorders
D) less likely to develop anxiety disorders if they were women

Question 34

Based on information from your text, if a researcher designed an experiment to determine the effectiveness of CISD in reducing the incident of anxiety disorders, what would be a critical element in the experiment?

A) including good dependent measures of self-esteem
B) using a representative sample
C) using a randomly assigned control group
D) using a double-blind procedure

Question 35

According to the authors of your text, people's perceptions of the behaviors that are approved of or disapproved of by others is the definition of ________ norms.

A) injunctive
B) disjunctive
C) subjective
D) descriptive

Question 36

Complete the following analogy.Injunctive norms: descriptive norms :: __________.

A) description: reality
B) acceptable behavior: actual behavior
C) actual behavior: acceptable behavior
D) laws: natural behavior

Question 37

Evidence presented by your text suggests that using Critical Incident Stress Debriefing is not the best way to prevent the onset of later anxiety disorders.Why is this the case?

A) CISD is just a temporary solution to a long-lasting problem.
B) People experiencing intense negative emotions may not want to focus on the event.
C) CISD is usually not administered by a licensed psychotherapist.
D) Trauma victims are often cognitively loaded.

Question 38

People's perceptions of how others actually do behave are called ________ norms.

A) injunctive
B) disjunctive
C) subjective
D) descriptive

Question 39

Leo was involved in a terrible car accident and was injured quite seriously.However, he did not undergo CISD.Based on the research presented in the text, how might you expect him to feel compared to other victims who did?

A) He will be less likely to have anxiety disorders.
B) He will be more likely to have anxiety disorders.
C) He will be equally likely to have anxiety disorders.
D) He will be less likely to develop anxiety disorders than if he were a woman.

Question 40

Your text discusses the psychological intervention CISD.The Critical Incident Stress Debriefing is supposed to

A) prevent violence.
B) prevent psychiatric problems such as PTSD.
C) reduce the risk of suicide in victims.
D) increase a sense of community and positive emotions.

Question 41

Based on what the text reports, one way to reduce drivers' use of gasoline by monitoring may be to

A) display the current gas mileage on the dash of the vehicle.
B) tell the driver how many miles per gallon the vehicle gets.
C) ask drivers to keep track of have often they fuel up.
D) allow the government to track how many miles each vehicle on the road drives in a week.

Question 42

Amanda is getting ready to go out.Amanda decides to wear slacks even though the invitation says the dress requirement is "Cocktail dresses for ladies." Amanda is violating the ________ norm.

A) injunctive
B) disjunctive
C) subjective
D) descriptive

Question 43

Recall that participants in a field experiment by Reno and his colleagues (1993) were more likely to properly dispose of a handbill left on their windshields when they saw a confederate pick up and dispose of a fast-food bag.Results of this experiment reveal the power of ________ to reduce littering behaviors.

A) descriptive norms
B) self-awareness
C) injunctive norms
D) subjective norms

Question 44

Beth is the new director of the Municipal Water Conservation Board.Because the board has not been very successful in its appeals to encourage residents to stop wasting water, Beth has decided to change how their message is presented.She's decided to change the public service ads sponsored by the Municipal Water Conservation Board.Which of the following television appeals would be most likely to encourage the public to use less water?

A) "If nobody conserves water, the city will have to impose mandatory restrictions."
B) "If you leave the water running when you brush your teeth, in one week, you will have wasted enough water to fill your bathroom."
C) "I know that water conservation devices are expensive, but it is for the good of the community that you install them."
D) "If you do not find a way to reduce your water usage, we will have to take punitive action."

Question 45

Nancy is listening to the radio while she drives.At the same moment she hears a message from the "Keep America Beautiful" campaign, she notices a fast-food bag on the side of the road.The difference between what Nancy hears and sees reflects the difference between ________ norms and ________ norms.

A) descriptive; objective
B) descriptive; injunctive
C) injunctive; descriptive
D) objective; descriptive

Question 46

________ norms address people's perceptions of what other people approve of whereas ________ norms address people's perceptions of what other people actually do.

A) Descriptive; injunctive
B) Proscriptive; descriptive
C) Injunctive; descriptive
D) Proscriptive; injunctive

Question 47

During a drought, Lynne noticed that all of her neighbors had stopped watering their lawns, even though there were no laws against it.Lynne was following a ________ norm when she let her lawn turn brown, too.

A) descriptive
B) proscriptive
C) objective
D) productive

Question 48

Research by Van Vugt and Samuelson (1999), in which water meters were installed in houses in one community, suggests that one way to resolve social dilemmas is to

A) decrease the availability of the resource.
B) increase the cost of the resource.
C) make it easier for people to monitor their own resource use.
D) make it easier for the city to monitor people's resource use.

Question 49

Recall that Cialdini and his colleagues (1990) found that students were least likely to toss handbills to the floor when there was a piece of discarded watermelon rind on the floor, compared to experimental conditions in which the floor was completely free of litter or when handbills were already scattered on the floor.One single piece of watermelon rind significantly reduced littering because it served to remind participants

A) of descriptive norms.
B) of injunctive norms.
C) that a littering is a kind of social dilemma.
D) that litter costs time and money to remove.

Question 50

Amanda and Sybil are getting ready to go out, so they are comparing what they are wearing.Amanda says that she's wearing slacks even though the invitation says the dress requirement is "Cocktail dresses for ladies." Sybil decides she will wear slacks too.Sybil is conforming to the ________ norm.

A) injunctive
B) disjunctive
C) subjective
D) descriptive

Question 51

Under which of the following circumstances would descriptive norms work the best to reduce littering?

A) A sign points to the nearest trash can.
B) Most people in the area are picking up their trash.
C) Everyone is cooperating to clean up after a party.
D) A billboard with a celebrity on it reminds people not to litter.

Question 52

Research (Van Vugt & Samuelson, 1999) in which water meters were installed in houses in one community, suggests that when people can monitor their own use of a scarce common resource, they may use less of that resource because

A) using less helps them save money.
B) they become concerned for the collective good.
C) people become competitive and vie to use less.
D) They won't use less; installing the meters makes everyone want to make sure they "get their fair share," and use goes up.

Question 53

You want to get your roommates' friends to quit throwing their empty cans and cigarette butts onto the ground outside your apartment.Based on what Cialdini and his colleagues (1990) found in their research, you should invoke ________ norms because they are more effective than ________ norms in reducing litter.

A) descriptive; injunctive
B) salient; subtle
C) injunctive; descriptive
D) subtle; salient

Question 54

Why is it, in the study by Cialdini and his colleagues (1990), that a single piece of trash is more effective at reducing litter than a perfectly clean landscape?

A) It signifies the injunctive norm of not littering.
B) It is a huge eyesore that prompts people to pick up after themselves and others.
C) It sticks out in a clean area and reminds others not to be careless.
D) It creates a descriptive norm of some allowable litter.

Question 55

Which of the following anti-litter campaigns relies most on injunctive norms?

A) highway signs that read "Keep America Beautiful"
B) an ad with a picture of a crying Native American looking at a polluted landscape
C) highway signs that read "Don't Mess with Texas!"
D) television ads that show streets filled with garbage

Question 56

Based on research by Cialdini and his colleagues (1990), Lola would be the LEAST likely to toss her lunch bag on the ground in a space that

A) does not contain any litter.
B) contains one piece of litter.
C) contains a light density of litter (fewer than two pieces per ten square feet).
D) contains a heavy density of litter (more than five pieces per ten square feet).

Question 57

Public safety officials want to increase the use of seat belts among drivers and have decided to show a television ad documenting the rising use of seat belts among drivers.This represents the use of ________ norms to change safety behaviors.

A) descriptive
B) injunctive
C) conjunctive
D) proscriptive

Question 58

Cialdini and his colleagues (1990) argue that in general, ________ norms are more effective than ________ norms in reducing litter.

A) descriptive; injunctive
B) salient; subtle
C) injunctive; descriptive
D) subtle; salient

Question 59

Descriptive norms work the best to reduce litter when

A) everyone cooperates.
B) there is cognitive dissonance.
C) people have strong pro-environment attitudes.
D) people are motivated and able to pick up after themselves.

Question 60

Catherine and Gabriel are picnicking in the park.They would be LEAST likely to litter when

A) they notice that the park is completely free of litter.
B) a park official tells them about the fines for littering.
C) they see one piece of garbage on the otherwise clean park grounds.
D) they see other people throw away their garbage.

Question 61

In an effort to encourage students to reduce the amount of water being used at the university gym, administrators put up a sign asking students to take shorter showers.However, water consumption did not decrease sufficiently, and some students even retaliated by taking long showers.Why did the sign fail to reduce water usage?

A) Students didn't see it.
B) Students didn't read it properly.
C) It did not involve any psychological processes that successfully change behavior.
D) It did not create the feeling of a social dilemma.

Question 62

Professor Martinez always throws paper and soft drink cans into the garbage.Based on research related to water conservation (e.g., Dickerson et al., 1992), how might he be encouraged to recycle?

A) Give him information about what can and cannot be recycled.
B) Have him lecture to his students about recycling, and then make him aware of his own behavior.
C) Point out that it is in his own self-interest to recycle.
D) Put signs on recycling bins to make them stand out.

Question 63

Research found that competition between groups increased energy-saving behavior.However, research by Sherif and his colleagues (1961) at the boys' summer camp might caution against overdoing the competition because what could happen?

A) The groups could become hostile with and even prejudiced against one another.
B) The groups could catch on to what the researchers were doing and quit saving energy.
C) The groups could elect a leader to monitor the relationships within the group.
D) The groups could punish the members for not saving enough energy.

Question 64

Researchers introduced an intervention to reduce energy consumption in different units of Dutch factories.Which of the following aspects of their intervention had the greatest (positive) impact on energy use?

A) placing announcements in company magazines
B) providing weekly feedback on a unit's consumption
C) offering cash incentives for energy saving measures
D) providing comparative feedback on other units' consumption

Question 65

Recall that when researchers provided workers in a unit of a Dutch factory with feedback on energy consumption in other units, energy-saving behaviors drastically increased.These results point to ________ as a useful process in encouraging energy-saving behaviors.

A) cognitive dissonance
B) self-perception
C) social comparison
D) a commons dilemma

Question 66

You do not have the time or money to assess the recycling attitudes of residents in a neighborhood, and neither do you have the resources for a media campaign designed to change residents' attitudes toward recycling.Based on research conducted in Fairfax County, Virginia, what should you do to increase recycling in your community?

A) Find "model households" that recycle and reward the residents.
B) Increase utility rates for those who do not recycle.
C) Provide free containers to hold recycled materials.
D) Give those households that recycle a rebate on their utility bills.

Question 67

People's specific plans about where, when, and how they will fulfill a goal represents _______.

A)implementation intentions
B)self-fulfilling prophecies
C)social dilemmas
D)hypocrisy

Question 68

Mr.Bernes owns several factories and is concerned with his employees wasting energy.Based on evidence presented in your text about competition and energy consumption, what should Mr.Bernes do?

A) provide weekly feedback to his employees about how much energy their factory consumes
B) train workers on how to conserve energy
C) provide weekly comparative feedback about energy usage from several plants to employees
D) make energy conservation mandatory-"or else"

Question 69

Imagine you're a property manager and you'd like to get your tenants to cut down on the amount of trash they generate.Based on research by Graham, Koo, and Wilson, what would be the best way to accomplish this?

A) Tell the tenants how much money they are saving in waste disposal fees when they generate less waste.
B) Tell the tenants how much better it is for the environment to generate less waste.
C) Tell the tenants how much better it is for the environment and how much money it saves them when they generate less waste.
D) Tell them that there will be a new fee if they don't cut their waste by 15 percent.

Question 70

Recycling, although good for all of us, can be an inconvenient and effortful activity for individuals.In this sense, recycling represents a kind of

A) injunctive norm.
B) social dilemma.
C) normative conflict.
D) dissonance-arousing activity.

Question 71

Recall that researchers asked some students on the way to a field house shower to sign a petition advocating water conservation, others to report on their water use, and others to do both.Those who both reported their water use and signed the petition took shorter showers than those students in the other two conditions because

A) the intervention took too long and they had to hurry.
B) they were reminded that they were not practicing what they preached.
C) they became more aware of how much water they used.
D) they made a public commitment to conserve water.

Question 72

Aronson and his students used ________ to convince university students to turn off water while soaping up in a shower room.

A) a social dilemma
B) hypocrisy
C) large, obtrusive signs
D) monetary incentives

Question 73

One way to encourage more people to recycle would be to institute curbside recycling.This includes providing free containers for sorting glass, paper, and aluminum, and increasing the number of recycling bins throughout a community.These strategies are likely to work, given Kurt Lewin's early assertion that

A) subjective perceptions are more important than objective reality.
B) big social changes can occur with the removal of small barriers.
C) attitudes are powerful predictors of simple behaviors (like recycling).
D) human beings dislike cognitive inconsistency.

Question 74

The authors of your text report what happened when researchers provided workers in a unit of a Dutch factory with feedback on energy consumption.The results of the study were that workers who received weekly feedback on their own unit ________ reduced the energy they used, and workers who received comparative feedback on energy usage ________.

A) greatly; also greatly reduced the energy they used
B) greatly; slightly reduced the energy they used
C) slightly; reduced the energy they used much more than the other unit
D) slightly; also slightly reduced the energy they used

Question 75

All of the following social psychological "tips and tricks" have been shown to improve people's environmentally damaging behaviors EXCEPT

A) decreasing people's cognitive dissonance over environmentally damaging behavior.
B) making people's resource use public.
C) making it easier for people to monitor their own resource use.
D) making it more convenient to act in an environmentally appropriate manner.

Question 76

Researchers wanted to increase workers recycling of plastic cups.Which of the following groups was most likely to actually recycle?

A)The workers who had visualized the recycling steps and written down a plan for how to do it.
B)The workers who said they would recycle the cups.
C)The male workers.
D)The younger workers.

Question 77

Graham, Koo, and Wilson (2011) asked students to track the number of miles they avoided driving on a Web site.Those who were keeping track drove less

A) than those in a control group.
B) only if they were also told how much money they had saved on gas.
C) only if they were told about the savings in air pollution.
D) especially when given feedback about financial savings and reduction in air pollution.

Question 78

Gonzales, Aronson, and Costanzo (1988) trained home energy auditors to describe uninsulated attics as "naked," and to point out that small cracks lose as much heat as a hole the size of a football in the living room wall.Compared to homeowners exposed to the typical appeal, those exposed to the new appeals were more likely to follow the auditors' recommendations.Why? The new appeals

A) made the problem of energy loss more vivid and noticeable to homeowners.
B) showed homeowners how to change their energy use habits.
C) addressed the self-interest of the homeowners.
D) elicited a public commitment from homeowners to conserve energy.

Question 79

Recall that researchers conducted a field experiment in Fairfax County, Virginia, where recycling efforts were instituted.These researchers found that positive attitudes best predicted recycling when residents

A) had to find their own containers for recycling.
B) had first agreed to recycle newspapers.
C) were provided with free recycling containers.
D) were provided with financial incentives for recycling.

Question 80

A group of five students is sharing a house.Each student likes to take long, hot showers in the morning, but when they do, there is not enough hot water for their housemates.Which of the following will be LEAST successful in getting the students to take shorter showers?

A) Establish open communication between the housemates.
B) Make their behavior as public as possible by posting a list on the refrigerator of how long each person's shower was that day.
C) Have each person sign a pledge to take short showers and think about the times they took long showers.
D) Have each person sign a pledge to take short showers, but not think about the times they took long showers.