Deck 2: Research Methods in Psychology

Question 1

When a scientist talks about the need for replication,she is talking about the need for

A) more participants from the sample.
B) different participant populations.
C) repeating the study more than once.
D) conducting the study with humans and animals.

Answer 1

repeating the study more than once.

Question 2

The knowledge that science provides is ______ because theories are ______.

A) tentative;subject to change
B) tentative;permanent
C) permanent;subject to change
D) permanent;permanent

Answer 2

tentative;subject to change

Question 3

A student is interested in studying college student success.His professor asked,'How will you measure it?" The student replies,"with the grade point average at graduation." This instance of specifying how college student success is to be measured is an example of

A) placebo effects.
B) descriptive identification.
C) hypothesis testing.
D) operational definitions.

Answer 3

operational definitions.

Question 4

Which of the following would be an operational definition designed to measure the amount of violence on television?

A) asking people how many TV sets they own in their home
B) counting the number of homicides that occur on a TV show
C) identifying the sponsors and producers of a particular TV show
D) determining if the TV show is translated into other languages

Question 5

When a scientist says that the theory is tentative,the scientist means that the

A) conclusions are fully known.
B) theory is subject to revision.
C) study is confirmed with animals but not with humans.
D) study is confirmed with humans but not with animals.

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of a descriptive method of doing research?

A) test-retest reliability
B) naturalistic observation
C) placebo manipulation
D) quasi experimentation

Question 7

When observing nature,all scientists

A) need to be trained in psychology.
B) follow strict rules.
C) work in the laboratory.
D) travel to the original environment.

Question 8

Which method is based on observation and the adherence to rules of evidence?

A) scientific method
B) philosophical method
C) theoretical method
D) moral method

Question 9

What is the relationship between the scientific method and critical thinking?

A) Science applies to psychology,whereas critical thinking applies to philosophy.
B) Everyone who thinks critically is a scientist.
C) Science is critical thinking in action.
D) There is no relationship between science and critical thinking.

Question 10

A prediction based on a theory is known as a

A) constant.
B) hypothesis.
C) law.
D) variable.

Question 11

Successful replication means that certain conclusions about behavior have been

A) repeated in multiple experiments.
B) verified in animal studies only.
C) sponsored by federal funding.
D) completed during field studies.

Question 12

Theory is to explanation as hypothesis is to

A) prediction.
B) truth.
C) observation.
D) understanding.

Question 13

A psychologist has developed an explanation for why we sleep.In scientific terms,her explanation would be called a(n)

A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) observation.
D) correlation.

Question 14

What is the significance of a hypothesis?

A) It determines scientific truths.
B) It is used to test theories.
C) It determines if a sample is representative.
D) It explains scientific relationships.

Question 15

Early in the history of psychology a memory researcher (Ebbinghaus)used himself as the only research participant in his study.Given this information,what might cause you to be skeptical about his results?

A) The results were not gathered scientifically.
B) The sample was probably not representative.
C) People are smarter than they used to be.
D) Most studies of memory focus on college students.

Question 16

Evidence gathered from publicly observable behavior is known as ______ evidence.

A) empirical
B) psychological
C) rational
D) hypothetical

Question 17

One of the key characteristics of using a sample to learn about a larger group of beings is that the sample needs to be

A) knowledgeable.
B) convenient.
C) representative.
D) affordable.

Question 18

The key component of empirical evidence this that it must be based on _____ behavior.

A) innocently reasoned
B) gently executed
C) publicly observable
D) carefully planned

Question 19

Rather than study the entire population of one group,you decide to focus on a subset of the group.This subset or subgroup is called a(n)

A) hypothesis.
B) sample.
C) presentation.
D) assimilation.

Question 20

Science requires that the subject matter be

A) qualitative.
B) naturalistic.
C) random and indeterminate.
D) orderly and lawful.

Question 21

Which of the following is a potential disadvantage to using the survey method to answer questions of interest?

A) Surveys are almost always representative of the population to be sampled.
B) It is possible to collect large amounts of survey data in a relatively short period of time.
C) Surveys may allow us to begin to understand those behaviors that we know the least about.
D) You cannot be sure that answers are completely honest to questions about sensitive topics.

Question 22

Interviews and questionnaires are techniques that are used in ______ research.

A) placebo
B) survey
C) clinical
D) naturalistic observation

Question 23

Naturalistic observation describes a research technique in which careful observation and recording of behavior occurs

A) in real-life settings.
B) through archival research.
C) in a controlled laboratory.
D) under legal scrutiny.

Question 24

In a research study,participants recorded the number of cigarettes they smoked per day."Number of cigarettes they smoked per day" is referred to as a(n)

A) sample.
B) variable.
C) coefficient.
D) hypothesis.

Question 25

You are recording behaviors as they occur in their natural setting.This type of study is called naturalistic

A) desensitization.
B) experimentation.
C) correlation.
D) observation.

Question 26

If you are considering the potential disadvantage of the lack of completely honest answers,particularly about sensitive topics such as sex and drug use,then you are probably considering using the _____ research method.

A) forced choice
B) quasi experimental
C) naturalistic observation
D) survey

Question 27

The Department of Motor Vehicles recently completed a study that indicated there is a negative correlation between the age of the driver and the number of errors on the written driving test.This result means that

A) The older the driver,the more errors on the driving test.
B) Younger drivers should not be allowed to drive.
C) The older the driver,the fewer errors on the driving test.
D) Older drivers should not be allowed to drive.

Question 28

Going to the shopping mall and watching people's behavior is an example of

A) descriptive research.
B) inferential research.
C) experimental research.
D) variegated research.

Question 29

A recent study reports that there is a positive correlation between the number of hours a student studies each week and the student's grade point average (GPA).This findings means that

A) as studying increases,students tend to become more distracted.
B) as studying increases,GPA tends to increase.
C) GPA and number of hours studying are unrelated.
D) GPA tends to decrease as the number of study hours increases.

Question 30

If you are doing research on how a patient reacts to a treatment in different settings,you are conducting

A) clinical research.
B) observational research.
C) correlational research.
D) descriptive research.

Question 31

Prediction is the goal of which research method?

A) correlational
B) formal experiment
C) descriptive
D) clinical

Question 32

What do the survey technique and naturalistic observation have in common?

A) They are both descriptive research methods.
B) They are both experimental research methods.
C) They both produce predictive regression coefficients.
D) They both contain a control group and a treatment group.

Question 33

One advantage of naturalistic observation is that the researcher can examine behavior

A) in a controlled laboratory setting.
B) under conditions where cause and effect are clear.
C) in a setting where subjects are comfortable and relaxed.
D) in a normal and realistic setting.

Question 34

Dr.Carr needs a lot of information directly from people and has only one week to collect that information.Dr.Carr would probably benefit most by using

A) the clinical method.
B) formal experimentation.
C) the survey method.
D) natural observation.

Question 35

A psychologist who gathers data while watching managers interact with their employees is using

A) a correlational strategy.
B) naturalistic observation.
C) the survey technique.
D) a Gallup poll.

Question 36

A researcher using the correlational method is interesting in determining if there is a ______ relationship between two variables.

A) philosophical
B) physical
C) statistical
D) empirical

Question 37

Which research technique did Sigmund Freud use while he gathered information to develop his theories of abnormal behavior?

A) experimental method
B) clinical method
C) correlational method
D) survey method

Question 38

Which of the following would best describe what a correlational study would accomplish?

A) Compare the amount of violence on TV to the amount of aggressive behavior in children.
B) Survey children to see if they think they would be aggressive after watching too much TV.
C) Going into stores that sell TV sets and watch children's behavior while they watch TV.
D) Asking parents for their best estimate about their child's aggressive behavior.

Question 39

The clinical method is a variation of

A) the survey method.
B) correlational methods.
C) naturalistic observation.
D) the dependent variable.

Question 40

If a psychologist can measure a concept in such a way as to get a numerical value,then that concept is also referred to as a

A) hypothesis.
B) theory.
C) constant.
D) variable.

Question 41

Variable X increases as variable Y increases.Choose the correlation coefficient that best applies.

A) + 8.00
B) + 0.80
C) - 0.80
D) - 10.0

Question 42

A psychology class found a strong correlation between armed robbery and ice cream sales.What could they conclude from their data?

A) Armed robbery causes people to eat ice cream.
B) The incidence of robbery is high near ice cream shops.
C) Perhaps a third factor,such as seasonal temperature,is involved.
D) Eating ice cream causes people to become violent and commit robbery.

Question 43

Which research technique allows fairly confident conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships?

A) case study
B) correlational research
C) descriptive survey
D) formal experiment

Question 44

As a researcher,you believe that anxiety causes poor test performance.From the options below,the best research technique to support or refute your hypothesis is the

A) descriptive method.
B) formal experiment.
C) clinical method.
D) correlational method.

Question 45

When you see a coefficient of correlation while reading a scientific research report,what does it indicate to you?

A) the strength of a relationship between two variables
B) a cause-and-effect relationship between many variables
C) that the research was purely descriptive in nature
D) the degree to which the research was scientific

Question 46

A danger in using the correlational strategy is that

A) one might attribute causation between two events.
B) the strategy may be unethical if used without caution.
C) there may not be sufficient experimental controls.
D) we cannot predict one variable from the other.

Question 47

Which correlation coefficient represents the strongest relationship between variables?

A) + 0.72
B) - 0.72
C) - 0.89
D) 0.00

Question 48

One advantage of formal experiments as compared to correlational studies is that formal experiments

A) tend to be easier to conduct and interpret.
B) can allow conclusions about cause and effect.
C) do not require the use of representative sampling.
D) can be completed without the use of statistics.

Question 49

When making cause and effect conclusions,correlational studies are

A) preferred.
B) used exclusively.
C) not appropriate.
D) appropriate for 2 or fewer variables.

Question 50

The main difference between a correlational study and a formal experiment is that in a correlational study

A) individuals are assigned to conditions randomly.
B) the researcher begins without any hypothesis.
C) the researcher does not intentionally influence either variable.
D) there is an independent variable but no dependent variable.

Question 51

What would you expect the correlation coefficient to look like if high numbers of cigarettes smoked predicted high incidences of lung cancer?

A) + 0.01
B) + 0.75
C) + 9.00
D) - 0.90

Question 52

Research performed in carefully regulated settings where one or more variables are manipulated while others are held constant is called

A) formal experimentation.
B) correlational research.
C) naturalistic observation.
D) a descriptive study.

Question 53

The degree of association between variables is expressed statistically as the

A) standard deviation.
B) correlation coefficient.
C) qualitative mean score.
D) integer of relativity.

Question 54

Several lab groups found a strong positive correlation between number of hours spent on campus and grades.What can you conclude from this information?

A) More time spent on campus causes grades to increase.
B) The correlation coefficient must be zero.
C) There is a numerical relationship between the two variables.
D) To improve your grades,you must spend more time on campus.

Question 55

What does it mean when there is zero (0)correlation between two variables?

A) There was missing data that prevented an accurate calculation.
B) The negative and positive correlations have cancelled each other out.
C) The research study was improperly conducted by the researchers.
D) There is no statistical relationship between the two variables being studied.

Question 56

A researcher wants to study the relationship between lifespan and cigarette smoking.For this study,he cannot ethically manipulate people to smoke cigarettes,so the researcher must rely on a correlational study.Based on the correlational approach,which of the following statements would be an appropriate conclusion?

A) Smoking cigarettes is related to decreases in lifespan.
B) A hard,stressful life causes people to smoke.
C) Shorter lifespan and cigarette smoking cause the other in equal proportions.
D) Cigarette smoking causes people to die young.

Question 57

When there is a positive correlation between two variables,this means that

A) the value of one variable increases as the value of another variable increases.
B) the value of one variable increases as the value of another variable decreases.
C) the value of one variable is the cause for increases in another variable.
D) we are positive that the outcomes of this research are good for society.

Question 58

What is an advantage that formal experimentation has over other research strategies?

A) One may exert control over the influence of variables.
B) It provides a real-to-life experimental environment.
C) We do not need to be skeptical about its conclusions.
D) It is the most ethical method of research available.

Question 59

A researcher finds that a person's height and weight are significantly positively correlated.Which interpretation below makes the most sense?

A) Height causes weight.
B) Weight causes height.
C) To lose weight,a person should attempt to become shorter.
D) When a person tends to be tall,they tend to be heavy.

Question 60

When the deliberate arrangement and control of variables is possible,the ______ is most likely to allow cause and effect conclusions to be drawn when the research is complete.

A) quasi experiment
B) naturalistic observation
C) formal experiment
D) correlational study

Question 61

Which variable depends upon the effects of the independent variable?

A) the dependent variable
B) the manipulation variable
C) the control variable
D) the placebo variable

Question 62

In formal experiments,the experimental group is the ______ group and the control group is the ______ group.

A) inactive;inactive
B) inactive;active
C) active;active
D) active;inactive

Question 63

A psychologist is studying the effect of varying levels of caffeine on anxiety.In this experiment,caffeine level is the

A) correlation coefficient.
B) dependent variable.
C) independent variable.
D) uncontrolled variable.

Question 64

For a formal experiment to yield valid results,all alternative explanations for the findings must be ruled out by a process of

A) experimental control.
B) placebo effectiveness.
C) non-random assignment.
D) interactive subjectivity.

Question 65

A researcher has 40 people to assign into two groups: an experimental group and a control group.The researcher flips a coin: heads,experimental group and tails,control group.This is an example of

A) monetary assignment.
B) experimenter bias.
C) random assignment.
D) treatment effects.

Question 66

A researcher wants to study the effects of caffeine on student performance on quiz scores.The research gives a caffeinated drink to half the students and a non-caffeinated drink to the other half of students.The researcher then measures quiz scores by counting the number of correct answers.Given the above scenario,what is the dependent variable?

A) the number of correct answers on the quiz
B) the number of students reporting that the consume caffeine everyday
C) whether or not the students received a caffeinated drink during the study
D) whether or not students like drinking caffeinated beverages

Question 67

In order to make the experience between the control group and the experimental group as equivalent as possible in a formal experiment,both groups must receive some treatment or have something done to them in order to avoid the

A) manipulation check.
B) dependent variable.
C) placebo effect.
D) random sample.

Question 68

In an experiment,the factors that are manipulated by the experimenter are known as

A) independent variables.
B) dependent variables.
C) correlational variables.
D) descriptive variables.

Question 69

A psychologist studied the effect of blood alcohol level on driving behavior.In this study,driving behavior was the ________ variable.

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

Question 70

A researcher wants to study the effects of caffeine on student performance on quiz scores.The research gives a caffeinated drink to half the students and a non-caffeinated drink to the other half of students.The researcher then measures quiz scores by counting the number of correct answers.Given the above scenario,what is the independent variable?

A) the number of caffeinated drinks the student consumes during the day
B) the number of correct answers on the quiz
C) the year in school of the students
D) whether the students receive the caffeinated drink or not

Question 71

The variable that the researcher controls is called the

A) manipulation check.
B) dependent variable.
C) placebo effect.
D) independent variable.

Question 72

If a researcher tests the effects of alcohol on the reaction times of participants,the participants who get the alcohol are in the

A) control group.
B) dependent group.
C) placebo group.
D) experimental group.

Question 73

A psychologist wishes to study the effect of background music on test taking.A classroom of students is divided in two;half take a test in a quiet room and the other half take the test where music is playing.The group in the quiet room is known as the ________ group.

A) correlational
B) experimental
C) quantitative
D) control

Question 74

A professor is interested in how study breaks influence memory.Some students take a 45-minute break while others take three 15-minute breaks.What is the independent variable?

A) the topic being studied
B) the memory for the material
C) the number of breaks taken
D) the professor's lecture time

Question 75

A university is interested in measuring student's confidence in career decisions and the effectiveness of their career counseling center.One group of students is randomly assigned to receive three weeks of career counseling;another group of students is prevented from receiving career counseling during those same three weeks.After three weeks have passed,the university asks students about their confidence in their future career using a scale of 1 to 10,with 10 indicating highest confidence.What is the independent variable?

A) the student's confidence score about the future career
B) the type of university attended
C) whether or not the student received career counseling
D) the number of weeks of counseling services

Question 76

The dependent variable is called the dependent variable because its value ______ other parts of the experiment.

A) is constant compared to
B) is related to
C) is the opposite of
D) depends on

Question 77

In a formal experiment,the variable that the experimenter measures is the ________ variable.

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

Question 78

A university is interested in measuring student's confidence in career decisions and the effectiveness of their career counseling center.One group of students is randomly assigned to receive three weeks of career counseling;another group of students is prevented from receiving career counseling during those same three weeks.After three weeks have passed,the university asks students about their confidence in their future career using a scale of 1 to 10,with 10 indicating highest confidence.What is the dependent variable?

A) whether or not students received career counseling
B) the student's confidence score about the future career
C) the number of weeks of counseling services
D) the type of university attended

Question 79

The goal of random assignment in formal experiments is to

A) ensure that the correct statistical procedures will be followed.
B) make sure that the sample is representative of the population.
C) make sure all the students signed up get a chance to participate.
D) make the groups roughly equal prior to the start of the study.

Question 80

Which of the following statements is true regarding formal experimentation?

A) It cannot support cause-and-effect relationships.
B) Its conclusions should be evaluated cautiously.
C) It is the best research method for answering any research question.
D) It is not useful for making predictions about behavior.