Exam 2: How Psychologists Do Research

Which of the following is critical in testing new drugs because of the optimism that the new drugs may create in the minds of the users?

In a laboratory, smokers are asked to drive using a computerized driving simulator and cover the maximum distance possible, while avoiding rear-end collisions. Some volunteers are given a real cigarette to smoke immediately before the test. Others smoke a fake cigarette without nicotine. The number of collisions the two groups make is to be compared. In this study, the cigarette without nicotine is a:

A researcher finds that there is no correlation between the number of calories a person consumes in a day and his or her IQ. The correlation coefficient here would be close to _____.

The magazine Lover's Delight publishes a survey of its female readers called, "The Sex Life of the Canadian Wife." It reports that 87 percent of all wives like to make love in rubber boots. The critical flaw in this research would be:

A statement that attempts to predict or account for a set of phenomena is called a(n) _______________.

An organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships is called a(n) _______________.

In a psychological research study, a sample made up of those who happen to be available at the time of study is called a _______________ sample.

Experiments have long been the method of choice in psychology. However, the experiment does have its limitations. Describe these limitations and explain why many psychologists have called for more field research.

Which of the following pairs of variables are likely to be uncorrelated?

If a psychological test is standardized:

Which variable does an experimenter manipulate when conducting experimental research?

A scientific theory can be thought of as a(n):

In order to be useful, a psychological test must be reliable; that is, it must:

Dr. Littman-Smith is conducting research in Kenya to learn about the ways that mothers and their toddlers interact as they go about their day. It is most likely that she is engaged in:

A correlation between "A" and "B" does not necessarily mean that "A" causes "B." Why? Explain using this example: The higher a male monkey's level of the hormone testosterone, the more aggressive he is likely to be.

List the five major characteristics of an ideal scientist.

A researcher plans to conduct an experiment to test whether a cup of hot milk at night helps people fall asleep faster than usual. In this study, the independent variable is:

Which of the following statements is true about case studies?

Reliability in psychological testing means that the test:

Juan is given a vocational-interest test and is then asked to attempt the same test a week later. The test administrator wants to measure the _______________ of the test.