Deck 4: The Psychologists Toolbox: Tools for Building Better Designs

Question 1

Rebecca is investigating conformity in males and females. She believes that females may be more likely than males to conform during high stress situations. In order to test this, she randomly assigns males and females to either a high or low stress situation and then assesses their conformity. What type of design is she using?

A) correlational
B) quasi-experimental
C) true experimental
D) nonexperimental

Answer 1

quasi-experimental

Question 2

What is the difference between a true experiment and a quasi-experimental design?

A) one involves manipulation of all independent variables
B) one involves manipulation of all dependent variables
C) one fails to manipulate any of the independent variables
D) one fails to measure any of the dependent variables

Answer 2

one involves manipulation of all independent variables

Question 3

Standardization leads to _____ error, and scorer bias leads to ____ error.

A) less; less
B) less; more
C) more; less
D) more; more

Answer 3

less; more

Question 4

Ceiling effect is to upper boundary as:

A) elevator effect is to no boundary.
B) elevator effect is to arbitrary boundary.
C) floor effect is to lower boundary.
D) floor effect is to highest boundary.

Question 5

In line with the social desirability bias, which of the following is a female participant most likely to lie about on a self-report measure?

A) weight
B) level of self-esteem
C) gender
D) height

Question 6

Dr. Thigpen continued to use his original scale to measure his patients' weights even though it no longer gave an accurate reading. Despite its inaccuracy, it did consistently give the same wrong weight each time a patient stepped on it. In this case, his scale lacks:

A) sensitivity.
B) reliability.
C) validity.
D) sensitivity, reliability, and validity.

Question 7

Two main types of measurement are:

A) self-report and quasi-experimental.
B) quasi-experimental and self-report.
C) behavioral and quasi-experimental.
D) self-report and behavioral.

Question 8

_____ gives everyone in a given population an equal chance of selection, whereas _____ does not.

A) Nonprobability sampling; probability sampling
B) Nonprobability sampling: bias sampling
C) Probability sampling; nonprobability sampling
D) Probability sampling; random sampling

Question 9

A cover story can often _____ demand characteristics, as they make the actual purpose of the study _____ to figure out.

A) increase; easier
B) increase; harder
C) decrease; easier
D) decrease; harder

Question 10

The portion of the APA-style report that ensures authors are avoiding plagiarism by giving credit where credit is due is called the:

A) abstract.
B) method.
C) results.
D) reference page.

Question 11

Each of the following is a type of sampling, EXCEPT:

A) random sampling.
B) probability sampling.
C) convenience sampling.
D) true sampling.

Question 12

Which of the following would be considered behavioral trace evidence?

A) a recent call log from an individual's cell phone
B) physiological measures
C) responses to a self-report inventory
D) demographic variables

Question 13

_____ is any outside influence that affects the true score in a consistent way, whereas _____ is variation from the measure's true score due to unsystematic or chance factors.

A) Random error; systematic error
B) Raw score; random error
C) Systematic error: random error
D) Random error; raw score

Question 14

Each of the following are self-report measures, EXCEPT:

A) interview.
B) survey.
C) reaction time measures.
D) questionnaires.

Question 15

How is behavioral observation different from behavioral trace?

A) One is self-report and the other is based on observation.
B) One happens in real time and the other examines past events.
C) One happens in real time and the other examines future events.
D) One examines past events and the other examines future events.

Question 16

Researchers are LEAST likely to be able to control:

A) random error.
B) social desirability bias.
C) observer bias.
D) systematic error.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of probability sampling?

A) quota sampling
B) cluster random sampling
C) convenience sampling
D) purposive sampling

Question 18

Which is the most appropriate number of response options for a self-report measure?

A) 1
B) 5
C) 50
D) 100

Question 19

A potential systematic difference between individuals who refused to participate in a study and those who participated is called:

A) demand characteristics.
B) nonresponse bias.
C) social desirability bias.
D) ceiling effect.

Question 20

For which situation is the "college sophomore problem" NOT a concern?

A) clinical psychology studies examining serial killers
B) social psychology studies examining human emotion
C) developmental psychology studies examining cognitions in the elderly
D) health psychology studies examining risk for coronary heart disease

Question 21

In a self-report measure, participants are:

A) observed in order to make inferences about their behaviors.
B) asked directly about how they feel about a particular topic.
C) recorded so that their actions can be coded by experimenters.
D) asked to select close friends or family who can report on their thoughts and feelings.

Question 22

Angelique is running a research study in which current participants are asked to recruit their friends for participation. What type of sampling is she using?

A) cluster random sampling
B) simple random sampling
C) convenience sampling
D) snowball sampling

Question 23

If Mauricio sets his watch to be fifteen minutes ahead of schedule, he has purposely created what type of error?

A) random error
B) bias
C) social desirability error
D) demand characteristics

Question 24

Researchers may choose to wear white lab coats during a study, as it helps to _____ participants' perceptions of the researcher.

A) confuse
B) inflate
C) standardize
D) humanize

Question 25

Random sampling ensures that the sample is _____ the population.

A) representative of
B) more diverse than
C) less biased than
D) larger than

Question 26

Each of the following is an example of random error, EXCEPT:

A) environmental distraction.
B) experimenter recording error.
C) a clock set fifteen minutes fast.
D) participant misunderstanding.

Question 27

For which study design should experimenters be most concerned about demand characteristics?

A) behavioral measures
B) informant reports
C) archival data
D) self-report measures

Question 28

The reason why response scales are generally limited to less than nine options is that anything:

A) higher is difficult to statistically analyze.
B) more than nine is subject to a floor effect.
C) over nine fails to provide adequate flexibility in responding.
D) over nine creates meaningless distinctions.

Question 29

Muhammad is conducting a research study and would like to minimize the effect of social desirability bias on his results. Which of the following should he do?

A) conduct the study online to ensure confidentiality
B) have participants read their responses aloud in front of the group
C) ask participants to put their name on the study questionnaires
D) ask questions that are sensitive in nature

Question 30

How do research psychologists decide upon a study design?

A) There is only one "right" design for psychological research studies.
B) They pick the design that provides the best test of the hypothesis under investigation.
C) Each person is trained to use a particular design based upon their graduate program.
D) They look to other psychologists to see what design is currently most popular.

Question 31

Why are self-report measures so informative?

A) because people have a wealth of self-knowledge
B) because self-report measures use behaviors to infer internal processes
C) because the inclusion of a self-report measure distinguishes a true experiment from a quasi-experimental design
D) because they are subject to demand characteristics

Question 32

If an APA-style research paper were a board game, which piece would be the instruction manual for anyone who may want to play?

A) abstract
B) method
C) results
D) introduction

Question 33

In designing his study, Rashad knows that he does not have to worry about social desirability bias or demand characteristics if he uses _____ assessments.

A) survey
B) behavioral trace
C) self-report
D) informant

Question 34

Consistency is to reliability as:

A) accuracy is to validity.
B) accuracy is to bias.
C) standardization is to consistency.
D) bias is to validity.

Question 35

_____ is the extraneous influence that will cause the raw score to deviate from the true score.

A) Validity
B) The floor effect
C) The ceiling effect
D) Error

Question 36

What is a quasi-independent variable?

A) a variable that is manipulated by the researcher
B) a variable that is measured by the researcher
C) a variable that is treated as if it was manipulated by the researcher even though it wasn't
D) a variable that is treated as if it was measured by the researcher even though it wasn't

Question 37

A _____ is the entire group of interest in a research study, whereas a _____ is a subset of individuals from which the researcher collects data.

A) sample; population
B) sample; quasi-experimental variable
C) population; sample
D) population; quasi-experimental variable

Question 38

By _____ the potential bias in a sample, researchers can _____ their confidence in the generalizability of their research conclusions.

A) decreasing; increase
B) decreasing; hold constant
C) increasing; increase
D) increasing; hold constant

Question 39

To examine the opinions of individuals living in her jurisdiction, Gloria administers a survey outside of her local polling center on Election Day. However, she is weary of drawing conclusions about the population from this sample when she learns that people without a driver's license are unable to vote. As a result, she fears the opinions of elderly members of her community (who no longer drive or have a valid driver's license) may be unrepresented. Gloria is worried about:

A) random error.
B) bias.
C) raw score.
D) true score.

Question 40

In which behavioral measure does a participant make a purposeful selection from several options?

A) behavioral trace
B) physiological measure
C) behavioral choice
D) behavioral observation

Question 41

Explain why psychologists learn to use multiple research designs rather than the one "best" research design.

Question 42

What is nonresponse bias and why is it an issue for researchers?

Question 43

Louis is looking for data to address his research question, which asks whether athletes are more organized than non-athletes. What types of behavioral trace data could he use in order to investigate his hypothesis?

Question 44

Eddie is using a behavioral measure to assess participants' responses to reactance. He believes that when participants are told that they cannot do something, then they will respond by engaging in the forbidden behavior. In his study, Eddie is using behavioral observation to measure reactance. How can he minimize the possibility of observer bias in his results?

Question 45

What is written in the method section of an APA-style report?

Question 46

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario I
Scenario I is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Garza-Villarreal, E. A., Wilson, A. D., Vase, L., et al. (2014). Music reduces pain and increases functional mobility in fibromyalgia. Frontiers in Psychology, 5(90), 1-10.
Music Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain
Garza-Villarreal and colleagues examined the effect of music on pain and mobility in 22 individuals with fibromyalgia. The study was designed so that pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and mobility were measured twice for each participant. The first set of measurements were obtained after they listened to white noise for 10 minutes, and the second set of measurements were obtained after they listened to music for 10 minutes. The music each participant listened to was of their own choosing with the instruction that the piece selected should be calming to them. The study was counterbalanced so that half of the participants heard the white noise first and half heard the music first. Pain intensity and unpleasantness was measured using the Verbal Rating Scale. Participants indicate their levels of pain intensity and pain unpleasantness by writing their response to various questions using a 10-point scale. Higher scores indicated higher levels of pain intensity and unpleasantness. Mobility was measured by timing how long it took participants to walk three meters from a sitting position and then back to their chair. The results revealed that pain intensity and unpleasantness changed significantly after participants listened to music, but not after they listened to white noise. In addition, music, but not white noise, reduced the time it took to complete the behavioral task. This study suggests that music improves mobility in fibromyalgia patients presumably by reducing pain perception.
(Scenario I) Systematic error in measurement in Scenario I would have occurred if:

A) the researchers cringed when participants in the control condition self-reported their pain.
B) the researchers cringed when participants in the experimental condition self-reported their pain.
C) A and B
D) either A or B

Question 47

What is the difference between probability and nonprobability sampling?

Question 48

How do researchers "give credit where credit is due" and avoid the ethical violation of plagiarism when writing an APA-style research report?

Question 49

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario I
Scenario I is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Garza-Villarreal, E. A., Wilson, A. D., Vase, L., et al. (2014). Music reduces pain and increases functional mobility in fibromyalgia. Frontiers in Psychology, 5(90), 1-10.
Music Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain
Garza-Villarreal and colleagues examined the effect of music on pain and mobility in 22 individuals with fibromyalgia. The study was designed so that pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and mobility were measured twice for each participant. The first set of measurements were obtained after they listened to white noise for 10 minutes, and the second set of measurements were obtained after they listened to music for 10 minutes. The music each participant listened to was of their own choosing with the instruction that the piece selected should be calming to them. The study was counterbalanced so that half of the participants heard the white noise first and half heard the music first. Pain intensity and unpleasantness was measured using the Verbal Rating Scale. Participants indicate their levels of pain intensity and pain unpleasantness by writing their response to various questions using a 10-point scale. Higher scores indicated higher levels of pain intensity and unpleasantness. Mobility was measured by timing how long it took participants to walk three meters from a sitting position and then back to their chair. The results revealed that pain intensity and unpleasantness changed significantly after participants listened to music, but not after they listened to white noise. In addition, music, but not white noise, reduced the time it took to complete the behavioral task. This study suggests that music improves mobility in fibromyalgia patients presumably by reducing pain perception.
(Scenario I) Assuming participants were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment conditions, what design did the researchers in Scenario I use?

A) true experiment
B) quasi-experiment
C) real experiment
D) semi-experiment

Question 50

Why are self-report measures used so frequently within the field of personality psychology?

Question 51

If researchers want to draw conclusions about an entire population, then why do they only use a subset of that population in their research investigations?

Question 52

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario I
Scenario I is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Garza-Villarreal, E. A., Wilson, A. D., Vase, L., et al. (2014). Music reduces pain and increases functional mobility in fibromyalgia. Frontiers in Psychology, 5(90), 1-10.
Music Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain
Garza-Villarreal and colleagues examined the effect of music on pain and mobility in 22 individuals with fibromyalgia. The study was designed so that pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and mobility were measured twice for each participant. The first set of measurements were obtained after they listened to white noise for 10 minutes, and the second set of measurements were obtained after they listened to music for 10 minutes. The music each participant listened to was of their own choosing with the instruction that the piece selected should be calming to them. The study was counterbalanced so that half of the participants heard the white noise first and half heard the music first. Pain intensity and unpleasantness was measured using the Verbal Rating Scale. Participants indicate their levels of pain intensity and pain unpleasantness by writing their response to various questions using a 10-point scale. Higher scores indicated higher levels of pain intensity and unpleasantness. Mobility was measured by timing how long it took participants to walk three meters from a sitting position and then back to their chair. The results revealed that pain intensity and unpleasantness changed significantly after participants listened to music, but not after they listened to white noise. In addition, music, but not white noise, reduced the time it took to complete the behavioral task. This study suggests that music improves mobility in fibromyalgia patients presumably by reducing pain perception.
(Scenario I) The researchers in Scenario I recruited participants from a fibromyalgia support group. This method of obtaining participants is most accurately described as:

A) simple random sampling.
B) probability sampling.
C) convenience sampling.
D) nonprobability sampling.

Question 53

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario I
Scenario I is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Garza-Villarreal, E. A., Wilson, A. D., Vase, L., et al. (2014). Music reduces pain and increases functional mobility in fibromyalgia. Frontiers in Psychology, 5(90), 1-10.
Music Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain
Garza-Villarreal and colleagues examined the effect of music on pain and mobility in 22 individuals with fibromyalgia. The study was designed so that pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and mobility were measured twice for each participant. The first set of measurements were obtained after they listened to white noise for 10 minutes, and the second set of measurements were obtained after they listened to music for 10 minutes. The music each participant listened to was of their own choosing with the instruction that the piece selected should be calming to them. The study was counterbalanced so that half of the participants heard the white noise first and half heard the music first. Pain intensity and unpleasantness was measured using the Verbal Rating Scale. Participants indicate their levels of pain intensity and pain unpleasantness by writing their response to various questions using a 10-point scale. Higher scores indicated higher levels of pain intensity and unpleasantness. Mobility was measured by timing how long it took participants to walk three meters from a sitting position and then back to their chair. The results revealed that pain intensity and unpleasantness changed significantly after participants listened to music, but not after they listened to white noise. In addition, music, but not white noise, reduced the time it took to complete the behavioral task. This study suggests that music improves mobility in fibromyalgia patients presumably by reducing pain perception.
(Scenario I) Which of the following was a behavioral measure used in Scenario I?

A) music choice
B) pain intensity
C) fibromyalgia
D) noise

Question 54

Why would a researcher use both self-report and behavioral measures to investigate the same phenomenon?

Question 55

Differentiate between the ceiling effect and the floor effect.

Question 56

Gemma wants to design a questionnaire that will assess assertiveness in the workplace. What should she keep in mind in order to ensure that her scale has adequate sensitivity?

Question 57

Josepha proposes a dissertation study in which her current participants are asked to recruit other participants to be in her study. What type of sampling is she using?

Question 58

Pedro is conducting a longitudinal study in which he will assess his participants numerous times with the same measures. When looking over his results he realizes that a measure that should produce similar results over time does not. What is wrong with Pedro's measure?

Question 59

What are demand characteristics and how can they be minimized in a research study?

Question 60

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario I
Scenario I is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Garza-Villarreal, E. A., Wilson, A. D., Vase, L., et al. (2014). Music reduces pain and increases functional mobility in fibromyalgia. Frontiers in Psychology, 5(90), 1-10.
Music Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain
Garza-Villarreal and colleagues examined the effect of music on pain and mobility in 22 individuals with fibromyalgia. The study was designed so that pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and mobility were measured twice for each participant. The first set of measurements were obtained after they listened to white noise for 10 minutes, and the second set of measurements were obtained after they listened to music for 10 minutes. The music each participant listened to was of their own choosing with the instruction that the piece selected should be calming to them. The study was counterbalanced so that half of the participants heard the white noise first and half heard the music first. Pain intensity and unpleasantness was measured using the Verbal Rating Scale. Participants indicate their levels of pain intensity and pain unpleasantness by writing their response to various questions using a 10-point scale. Higher scores indicated higher levels of pain intensity and unpleasantness. Mobility was measured by timing how long it took participants to walk three meters from a sitting position and then back to their chair. The results revealed that pain intensity and unpleasantness changed significantly after participants listened to music, but not after they listened to white noise. In addition, music, but not white noise, reduced the time it took to complete the behavioral task. This study suggests that music improves mobility in fibromyalgia patients presumably by reducing pain perception.
(Scenario I) The Verbal Rating Scale used in Scenario I to measure pain intensity and unpleasantness is a(n):

A) self-report measure.
B) self-behavioral observation measure.
C) observational self-report measure.
D) social desirability measure.

Question 61

Tristan is interested in understanding the study habits of college freshmen. He hypothesizes that males are more likely than females to procrastinate when stressed. For his study, Tristan randomly assigns participants to different stress conditions and measures their behavior. What type of study design is Tristan using?

A) correlation
B) quasi-experimental design
C) interview
D) true experiment

Question 62

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario III
Scenario III is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Johnson, M. K., Rowatt, W. C. & LaBouff, J. P. (2012). Religiosity and prejudice revisited: In-group favoritism, out-of group derogation, or both? Psychology of Religion and Spirtuality, 4(2), 154-168.
Does Religion Encourage Discrimination?
The purpose of this study was to examine intergroup bias-the idea that people favor those who share their religious attitudes and beliefs, and discriminate against those who do not. In the first part the researchers administered a survey to 144 undergraduate psychology students from a Christian university designed to address their attitudes toward individuals whose religious affiliation and sexuality were consistent and inconsistent with their own. In the second study the researchers recruited 73 undergraduates from the same university. The participants performed a lexical decision task 24 hours after reporting their religious affiliation and attitudes toward Christians, Muslims, atheists, heterosexual men, and homosexual men via an online survey. The purpose of the lexical decision task was to prime half of the participants with a religious word and half of the participants with a neutral word. Immediately following the lexical decision task the participants were again asked about their attitudes toward the aforementioned religious groups and male sexual orientations. The results of the study support intergroup bias. Not only did Christian participants exhibit a more positive attitude toward those consistent with their Christian values and a negative attitude toward those with values inconsistent with their Christian beliefs, but religious priming also appeared to accentuate the intergroup bias. The results of the study suggest that Christianity, a belief based on human acceptance, may actually promote discrimination.
(Scenario III) Suppose Ken, a participant of this study, is a homosexual atheist who is not out of the closet. Understanding the culture of the university he is at, when asked about his sexual orientation he says he is a heterosexual Christian. The results of Ken's responses on the survey will likely produce:

A) raw scores.
B) true scores.
C) bias.
D) random error.

Question 63

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario III
Scenario III is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Johnson, M. K., Rowatt, W. C. & LaBouff, J. P. (2012). Religiosity and prejudice revisited: In-group favoritism, out-of group derogation, or both? Psychology of Religion and Spirtuality, 4(2), 154-168.
Does Religion Encourage Discrimination?
The purpose of this study was to examine intergroup bias-the idea that people favor those who share their religious attitudes and beliefs, and discriminate against those who do not. In the first part the researchers administered a survey to 144 undergraduate psychology students from a Christian university designed to address their attitudes toward individuals whose religious affiliation and sexuality were consistent and inconsistent with their own. In the second study the researchers recruited 73 undergraduates from the same university. The participants performed a lexical decision task 24 hours after reporting their religious affiliation and attitudes toward Christians, Muslims, atheists, heterosexual men, and homosexual men via an online survey. The purpose of the lexical decision task was to prime half of the participants with a religious word and half of the participants with a neutral word. Immediately following the lexical decision task the participants were again asked about their attitudes toward the aforementioned religious groups and male sexual orientations. The results of the study support intergroup bias. Not only did Christian participants exhibit a more positive attitude toward those consistent with their Christian values and a negative attitude toward those with values inconsistent with their Christian beliefs, but religious priming also appeared to accentuate the intergroup bias. The results of the study suggest that Christianity, a belief based on human acceptance, may actually promote discrimination.
(Scenario III) Suppose you are a confederate of this study and become a roommate of a Christian student who reports high religiosity and appears to exhibit intergroup bias and outgroup discrimination. After living with him for some time you decide to examine the behavioral traces he leaves that may provide evidence of his intergroup bias. Which of the following behavioral traces may be MOST informative for the goal of this study?

A) church pamphlets describing the best allies for his particular church
B) church pamphlets describing what kind of people their followers should recruit for their church
C) your roommate's diary, which describes the women he has dated and the women he has not yet dated
D) a list of Christian-friendly individuals and a list of Christian-unfriendly individuals

Question 64

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario II
Scenario II is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Holtfreter, K., Reisig, M. D. & Turanovic, J. J. (2015). Depression and infrequent participation in social activities among older adults: the moderating role of high-quality familial ties. Aging and Mental Health, Oct 15:1-10. [Epub ahead of print].
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family ties and depression in the elderly. To that end, Holtfreter and colleagues randomly dialed telephone numbers from Florida and Arizona telephone directory databases that contained a combined total of 4130 phone numbers. Of the 4130 numbers dialed, 2000 individuals older than 60 years answered the call and agreed to participate in the telephone survey. The survey included questions that assessed one's level of social activity, depression, and family ties. The results revealed that elderly individuals who reported being very happy with their children and with their partner were significantly less depressed than those whose family ties were less strong. In addition, the researchers found that those who were depressed were less likely to participate in social activities. The results of this study suggest that family is an important contributor to psychological and social well-being.
(Scenario II) If the researchers in Scenario II had measured social activity, family ties, and depression by watching participants engage with others and their family, which type of behavioral measure would they have obtained?

A) behavioral trace
B) behavioral observation
C) behavioral choice
D) behavioral delay

Question 65

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario II
Scenario II is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Holtfreter, K., Reisig, M. D. & Turanovic, J. J. (2015). Depression and infrequent participation in social activities among older adults: the moderating role of high-quality familial ties. Aging and Mental Health, Oct 15:1-10. [Epub ahead of print].
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family ties and depression in the elderly. To that end, Holtfreter and colleagues randomly dialed telephone numbers from Florida and Arizona telephone directory databases that contained a combined total of 4130 phone numbers. Of the 4130 numbers dialed, 2000 individuals older than 60 years answered the call and agreed to participate in the telephone survey. The survey included questions that assessed one's level of social activity, depression, and family ties. The results revealed that elderly individuals who reported being very happy with their children and with their partner were significantly less depressed than those whose family ties were less strong. In addition, the researchers found that those who were depressed were less likely to participate in social activities. The results of this study suggest that family is an important contributor to psychological and social well-being.
(Scenario II) Suppose the researchers in Scenario II obtained their sample by asking for volunteers at a local assisted living home. This method of sampling would be best described as being a:

A) random sample.
B) haphazard sample.
C) convenience sample.
D) biased sample.

Question 66

Each of the following is a nonexperimental research design, EXCEPT:

A) interview.
B) factorial design.
C) survey research.
D) observation.

Question 67

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario II
Scenario II is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Holtfreter, K., Reisig, M. D. & Turanovic, J. J. (2015). Depression and infrequent participation in social activities among older adults: the moderating role of high-quality familial ties. Aging and Mental Health, Oct 15:1-10. [Epub ahead of print].
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family ties and depression in the elderly. To that end, Holtfreter and colleagues randomly dialed telephone numbers from Florida and Arizona telephone directory databases that contained a combined total of 4130 phone numbers. Of the 4130 numbers dialed, 2000 individuals older than 60 years answered the call and agreed to participate in the telephone survey. The survey included questions that assessed one's level of social activity, depression, and family ties. The results revealed that elderly individuals who reported being very happy with their children and with their partner were significantly less depressed than those whose family ties were less strong. In addition, the researchers found that those who were depressed were less likely to participate in social activities. The results of this study suggest that family is an important contributor to psychological and social well-being.
(Scenario II) The questions the researchers in Scenario II asked participants to assess depression came from the Geriatric Depression Scale, a widely used instrument known to accurately quantify depression in the elderly population. With this information, you conclude that their assessment of depression is:

A) accurate.
B) valid.
C) effective.
D) precise.

Question 68

The foundation for any research design is:

A) the ability to measure participants' experiences in a way that provides useful information to answer questions.
B) developing studies that can be examined using multiple research designs.
C) investigating questions that can be applied to solve a problem.
D) whether it is relevant to current cultural norms.

Question 69

Which of the following is a quasi-independent variable?

A) medication dosage
B) sleep deprivation
C) stress level
D) gender

Question 70

Which of the following is NOT one of the basic steps in designing research?

A) determine the best measures
B) choose the right research design for the question
C) recruit research participants
D) identify the independent and dependent variables

Question 71

Which of the following is NOT a quasi-independent variable?

A) gender
B) amount of sleep
C) ethnicity
D) intelligence

Question 72

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario II
Scenario II is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Holtfreter, K., Reisig, M. D. & Turanovic, J. J. (2015). Depression and infrequent participation in social activities among older adults: the moderating role of high-quality familial ties. Aging and Mental Health, Oct 15:1-10. [Epub ahead of print].
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family ties and depression in the elderly. To that end, Holtfreter and colleagues randomly dialed telephone numbers from Florida and Arizona telephone directory databases that contained a combined total of 4130 phone numbers. Of the 4130 numbers dialed, 2000 individuals older than 60 years answered the call and agreed to participate in the telephone survey. The survey included questions that assessed one's level of social activity, depression, and family ties. The results revealed that elderly individuals who reported being very happy with their children and with their partner were significantly less depressed than those whose family ties were less strong. In addition, the researchers found that those who were depressed were less likely to participate in social activities. The results of this study suggest that family is an important contributor to psychological and social well-being.
(Scenario II) Less than half of the potential participants in Scenario II agreed to complete the telephone interviews. This could potentially result in:

A) nonresponse bias.
B) nonrandom sampling.
C) nonprobability sampling.
D) haphazard sampling.

Question 73

What is a true experiment?

A) a research design where the researcher manipulates all of the dependent variables
B) a research design where the researcher manipulates all of the independent variables
C) a research design where the researcher treats variables as if they are independent variables even though the variables cannot be manipulated
D) a research design where the researcher treats variables as if they are dependent variables even though the variables cannot be manipulated

Question 74

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario III
Scenario III is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Johnson, M. K., Rowatt, W. C. & LaBouff, J. P. (2012). Religiosity and prejudice revisited: In-group favoritism, out-of group derogation, or both? Psychology of Religion and Spirtuality, 4(2), 154-168.
Does Religion Encourage Discrimination?
The purpose of this study was to examine intergroup bias-the idea that people favor those who share their religious attitudes and beliefs, and discriminate against those who do not. In the first part the researchers administered a survey to 144 undergraduate psychology students from a Christian university designed to address their attitudes toward individuals whose religious affiliation and sexuality were consistent and inconsistent with their own. In the second study the researchers recruited 73 undergraduates from the same university. The participants performed a lexical decision task 24 hours after reporting their religious affiliation and attitudes toward Christians, Muslims, atheists, heterosexual men, and homosexual men via an online survey. The purpose of the lexical decision task was to prime half of the participants with a religious word and half of the participants with a neutral word. Immediately following the lexical decision task the participants were again asked about their attitudes toward the aforementioned religious groups and male sexual orientations. The results of the study support intergroup bias. Not only did Christian participants exhibit a more positive attitude toward those consistent with their Christian values and a negative attitude toward those with values inconsistent with their Christian beliefs, but religious priming also appeared to accentuate the intergroup bias. The results of the study suggest that Christianity, a belief based on human acceptance, may actually promote discrimination.
(Scenario III) A self-report measure was used to assess religiosity. A major advantage of self-report methods is:

A) they are easy to administer.
B) they are inexpensive and efficient.
C) that information is obtained directly from the source.
D) All of the above are advantages of self-report measures.

Question 75

What is a quasi-experimental design?

A) a research design where the researcher manipulates all of the dependent variables
B) a research design where the researcher manipulates all of the independent variables
C) a research design where random assignment cannot be used
D) a research design where the researcher treats variables as if they are dependent variables even though the variables cannot be manipulated

Question 76

Which of the following is NOT an experimental design?

A) survey research
B) two-group research design
C) repeated-measures
D) mixed designs

Question 77

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario III
Scenario III is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Johnson, M. K., Rowatt, W. C. & LaBouff, J. P. (2012). Religiosity and prejudice revisited: In-group favoritism, out-of group derogation, or both? Psychology of Religion and Spirtuality, 4(2), 154-168.
Does Religion Encourage Discrimination?
The purpose of this study was to examine intergroup bias-the idea that people favor those who share their religious attitudes and beliefs, and discriminate against those who do not. In the first part the researchers administered a survey to 144 undergraduate psychology students from a Christian university designed to address their attitudes toward individuals whose religious affiliation and sexuality were consistent and inconsistent with their own. In the second study the researchers recruited 73 undergraduates from the same university. The participants performed a lexical decision task 24 hours after reporting their religious affiliation and attitudes toward Christians, Muslims, atheists, heterosexual men, and homosexual men via an online survey. The purpose of the lexical decision task was to prime half of the participants with a religious word and half of the participants with a neutral word. Immediately following the lexical decision task the participants were again asked about their attitudes toward the aforementioned religious groups and male sexual orientations. The results of the study support intergroup bias. Not only did Christian participants exhibit a more positive attitude toward those consistent with their Christian values and a negative attitude toward those with values inconsistent with their Christian beliefs, but religious priming also appeared to accentuate the intergroup bias. The results of the study suggest that Christianity, a belief based on human acceptance, may actually promote discrimination.
(Scenario III) Religiosity was the independent variable in the study described in Scenario III. Religiosity was divided into three groups based on whether the participants reported being Christian, atheist, or Muslim. The method by which religious groups were established makes this a(n) ___________study.

A) true experimental
B) quasi-experimental
C) pseudo-experimental
D) absolute experimental

Question 78

Which is the correct order of steps in the research process?

A) select a research design, obtain results, share findings
B) obtain results, share findings, select a research design
C) share findings, select a research design, obtain results
D) select a research design, share findings, obtain results

Question 79

A nonexperimental research design can answer all of the following questions, EXCEPT:

A) what takes place.
B) who is affected.
C) how much effect something has.
D) why something takes place.

Question 80

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario II
Scenario II is based on fabricated data inspired by the following study:
Holtfreter, K., Reisig, M. D. & Turanovic, J. J. (2015). Depression and infrequent participation in social activities among older adults: the moderating role of high-quality familial ties. Aging and Mental Health, Oct 15:1-10. [Epub ahead of print].
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family ties and depression in the elderly. To that end, Holtfreter and colleagues randomly dialed telephone numbers from Florida and Arizona telephone directory databases that contained a combined total of 4130 phone numbers. Of the 4130 numbers dialed, 2000 individuals older than 60 years answered the call and agreed to participate in the telephone survey. The survey included questions that assessed one's level of social activity, depression, and family ties. The results revealed that elderly individuals who reported being very happy with their children and with their partner were significantly less depressed than those whose family ties were less strong. In addition, the researchers found that those who were depressed were less likely to participate in social activities. The results of this study suggest that family is an important contributor to psychological and social well-being.
(Scenario II) Which of the following is a potential disadvantage to how data were collected in Scenario II?

A) The participants may not have enough self-knowledge to accurately report their thoughts and feelings.
B) The participants may have downplayed their depression and overstated their social life and family ties.
C) Given the age of the participants, their answers may be subject to retrospective bias.
D) All of the above are potential disadvantages.