Question 1

Which of the following is not listed in the text as a reason for taking a research methods course?

Accepted Answer

A) it helps the student become a critical consumer of information 
B) it is essential for admission to most graduate schools 
C) it is the most important course in the psychology curriculum for achieving self-understanding 
D) it provides a foundation for achieving a better understanding of other psychology courses 
A) it helps the student become a critical consumer of information 
B) it is essential for admission to most graduate schools 
C) it is the most important course in the psychology curriculum for achieving self-understanding 
D) it provides a foundation for achieving a better understanding of other psychology courses

Question 2

Empirical questions

Accepted Answer

A) are answerable with objective data 
B) cannot be answered via scientific methods 
C) are best answered through Peirce's a priori method 
D) can only be answered relying on accounts of personal experiences 
A) are answerable with objective data 
B) cannot be answered via scientific methods 
C) are best answered through Peirce's a priori method 
D) can only be answered relying on accounts of personal experiences

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of describing behavior?

Accepted Answer

A) students with test anxiety should perform better on oral than written tests 
B) test anxiety results from an early history of school failure 
C) test anxiety can be reduced through relaxation training 
D) test anxious subjects left the exam sooner than non-anxious subjects 
A) students with test anxiety should perform better on oral than written tests 
B) test anxiety results from an early history of school failure 
C) test anxiety can be reduced through relaxation training 
D) test anxious subjects left the exam sooner than non-anxious subjects

Question 4

Peirce was critical about the a priori method as a way of fixing belief because

Accepted Answer

A) it was especially prone to a confirmation bias 
B) the use of logic is not really needed for arriving at truth 
C) it really meant nothing more than relying on authority 
D) carefully reasoned arguments can produce opposite conclusions 
A) it was especially prone to a confirmation bias 
B) the use of logic is not really needed for arriving at truth 
C) it really meant nothing more than relying on authority 
D) carefully reasoned arguments can produce opposite conclusions

Question 5

People often will believe that learning graphology will allow them to assess one's personality. One reason is motivational-having spent $30, they convince themselves of the value of the experience and work harder to bring about the desired outcome. This phenomenon is called

Accepted Answer

A) confirmation bias 
B) belief perseverance 
C) availability heuristic 
D) effort justification 
A) confirmation bias 
B) belief perseverance 
C) availability heuristic 
D) effort justification

Question 6

Which of the following is true about relying on authority as a way of searching for the truth?

Accepted Answer

A) the authority could be wrong 
B) it is a problem for nonscientists but not for scientists 
C) it is almost certain that the authority's knowledge is based on subjective experience only 
D) authority should seldom if ever be believed-people should discover things for themselves 
A) the authority could be wrong 
B) it is a problem for nonscientists but not for scientists 
C) it is almost certain that the authority's knowledge is based on subjective experience only 
D) authority should seldom if ever be believed-people should discover things for themselves

Question 7

Our experiences can be a valuable guide to the truth, but drawing firm conclusions from experience can be affected by our tendencies to ignore events that don't support our beliefs. That is, we sometimes

Accepted Answer

A) use the availability heuristic 
B) have a confirmation bias 
C) decide on the truth on the basis of logic rather than direct experience 
D) rely too much on introspection 
A) use the availability heuristic 
B) have a confirmation bias 
C) decide on the truth on the basis of logic rather than direct experience 
D) rely too much on introspection

Question 8

Which of the following is true about pseudoscience?

Accepted Answer

A) pseudosciences seldom last very long because they are so easily falsified 
B) to create apparent legitimacy, they take simple phenomena and add unnecessary complexity 
C) pseudoscientific theories are flexible enough to account for any outcome and are therefore untestable as theories 
D) all science eventually becomes pseudoscience 
A) pseudosciences seldom last very long because they are so easily falsified 
B) to create apparent legitimacy, they take simple phenomena and add unnecessary complexity 
C) pseudoscientific theories are flexible enough to account for any outcome and are therefore untestable as theories 
D) all science eventually becomes pseudoscience

Question 9

A research methods course differs from a course in developmental psychology by emphasizing

Accepted Answer

A) process over content 
B) content over process 
C) basic rather than applied research 
D) applied rather than basic research 
A) process over content 
B) content over process 
C) basic rather than applied research 
D) applied rather than basic research

Question 10

The method of introspection was gradually replaced by behavioral methods because

Accepted Answer

A) the latter were more objective 
B) the latter yielded more in depth descriptions of one's personal experience 
C) introspection required considerable training but no training is required to use behavioral methods 
D) behavioral methods allowed a closer examination of mental processes 
A) the latter were more objective 
B) the latter yielded more in depth descriptions of one's personal experience 
C) introspection required considerable training but no training is required to use behavioral methods 
D) behavioral methods allowed a closer examination of mental processes

Question 11

In an effort to 'give psychology away,' _________ is a form of research that is done to both better understand a phenomenon and to apply it to promote better psychological well-being.

Accepted Answer

A) introspection 
B) translational research 
C) determinism 
D) the a priori method 
A) introspection 
B) translational research 
C) determinism 
D) the a priori method

Question 12

Eleanor Gibson's creation of the visual cliff was motivated by her interest in

Accepted Answer

A) the ability to perceive details at great distance 
B) the perception of depth 
C) experimental extinction of a conditioned response 
D) discovering an alternative to introspection 
A) the ability to perceive details at great distance 
B) the perception of depth 
C) experimental extinction of a conditioned response 
D) discovering an alternative to introspection

Question 13

The major shortcoming with introspection as a method was that

Accepted Answer

A) it relied too heavily on the a priori method 
B) it was used to answer philosophical rather than empirical questions 
C) it relied too heavily on direct observations of behavior 
D) observations could not be verified-they were too subjective 
A) it relied too heavily on the a priori method 
B) it was used to answer philosophical rather than empirical questions 
C) it relied too heavily on direct observations of behavior 
D) observations could not be verified-they were too subjective

Question 14

Phrenology originated in the legitimate scientific attempt to

Accepted Answer

A) find a good measure of personality 
B) prove that humans were descended from apes 
C) study localization of brain function 
D) none of the above-like other pseudosciences, phrenology had no connection with legitimate science 
A) find a good measure of personality 
B) prove that humans were descended from apes 
C) study localization of brain function 
D) none of the above-like other pseudosciences, phrenology had no connection with legitimate science

Question 15

Research psychologists believe all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A) the causes of behavior can be discovered by using scientific methods 
B) if statistical determinism is true, then free choices cannot be made 
C) it may not be possible to predict behavior with certainty 
D) making effective choices requires that events be predictable 
A) the causes of behavior can be discovered by using scientific methods 
B) if statistical determinism is true, then free choices cannot be made 
C) it may not be possible to predict behavior with certainty 
D) making effective choices requires that events be predictable

Question 16

Which of the following is not an empirical question?

Accepted Answer

A) Can prayer reduce blood pressure? 
B) Are prayers regularly answered by God? 
C) Do college seniors pray for different things than college freshmen? 
D) none of these are empirical questions - prayer is too private 
A) Can prayer reduce blood pressure? 
B) Are prayers regularly answered by God? 
C) Do college seniors pray for different things than college freshmen? 
D) none of these are empirical questions - prayer is too private

Question 17

Ted argues that the mind equals the brain. His argument is based on the assertion that the mind ceases to function when the brain ceases to function. This illustrates which of Peirce's ways of fixing belief?

Accepted Answer

A) the a priori method 
B) the method of direct experience 
C) the scientific method 
D) the method of authority 
A) the a priori method 
B) the method of direct experience 
C) the scientific method 
D) the method of authority

Question 18

Phrenology eventually failed as science because

Accepted Answer

A) it was shown that localization of brain function does not occur 
B) its measures failed the test of objectivity 
C) it avoided disproof by having an explanation for every possible outcome 
D) it abandoned its use of the anecdotal method 
A) it was shown that localization of brain function does not occur 
B) its measures failed the test of objectivity 
C) it avoided disproof by having an explanation for every possible outcome 
D) it abandoned its use of the anecdotal method

Question 19

Why is it important for professional psychologists to be familiar with research methods?

Accepted Answer

A) they might need to perform an evaluation to determine the effectiveness of an agency's program 
B) they might need to critically evaluate the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of some new clinical treatment for depression 
C) both alternatives a. and b. are true 
D) none of the above-professional psychologists only need to apply the results of research; they need not be familiar with how the research was done 
A) they might need to perform an evaluation to determine the effectiveness of an agency's program 
B) they might need to critically evaluate the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of some new clinical treatment for depression 
C) both alternatives a. and b. are true 
D) none of the above-professional psychologists only need to apply the results of research; they need not be familiar with how the research was done

Question 20

Students sometimes change their answers on multiple-choice questions. Many students believe that the most common outcome is that they change from the correct answer to a wrong answer, despite research that shows that students more often change from an incorrect answer to a correct one. What accounts for the strength of this erroneous belief?

Accepted Answer

A) scientific thinking via logical deduction 
B) social cognition biases that distort their beliefs of their experiences 
C) a priori thinking-they reason that it would have been better to go with the first hunch or instinct 
D) none of the above-students in fact believe that they are successful when they change answers 
A) scientific thinking via logical deduction 
B) social cognition biases that distort their beliefs of their experiences 
C) a priori thinking-they reason that it would have been better to go with the first hunch or instinct 
D) none of the above-students in fact believe that they are successful when they change answers

Which of the following is not listed in the text as a reason for taking a research methods course?

Empirical questions

Which of the following is an example of describing behavior?

Peirce was critical about the a priori method as a way of fixing belief because

People often will believe that learning graphology will allow them to assess one's personality. One reason is motivational-having spent $30, they convince themselves of the value of the experience and work harder to bring about the desired outcome. This phenomenon is called

Which of the following is true about relying on authority as a way of searching for the truth?

Our experiences can be a valuable guide to the truth, but drawing firm conclusions from experience can be affected by our tendencies to ignore events that don't support our beliefs. That is, we sometimes

Which of the following is true about pseudoscience?

A research methods course differs from a course in developmental psychology by emphasizing

The method of introspection was gradually replaced by behavioral methods because

In an effort to 'give psychology away,' _________ is a form of research that is done to both better understand a phenomenon and to apply it to promote better psychological well-being.

Eleanor Gibson's creation of the visual cliff was motivated by her interest in

The major shortcoming with introspection as a method was that

Phrenology originated in the legitimate scientific attempt to

Research psychologists believe all of the following except

Which of the following is not an empirical question?

Ted argues that the mind equals the brain. His argument is based on the assertion that the mind ceases to function when the brain ceases to function. This illustrates which of Peirce's ways of fixing belief?

Phrenology eventually failed as science because

Why is it important for professional psychologists to be familiar with research methods?

Ethics in Psychological Research

Developing Ideas for Research in Psychology

Sampling, Measurement, and Hypothesis Testing

Introduction to Experimental Research

Methodological Control in Experimental Research

Experimental Design I: Single-Factor Designs

Experimental Design II: Factorial Designs

Non-Experimental Design I: Survey Methods

Non-Experimental Design II: Observational and Archival Methods

Quasi-Experimental Designs and Applied Research

Small N Designs

Filters

Exam 1: Scientific Thinking in Psychology

Which of the following is not listed in the text as a reason for taking a research methods course?

Empirical questions

Which of the following is an example of describing behavior?

Peirce was critical about the a priori method as a way of fixing belief because

People often will believe that learning graphology will allow them to assess one's personality. One reason is motivational-having spent $30, they convince themselves of the value of the experience and work harder to bring about the desired outcome. This phenomenon is called

Which of the following is true about relying on authority as a way of searching for the truth?

Our experiences can be a valuable guide to the truth, but drawing firm conclusions from experience can be affected by our tendencies to ignore events that don't support our beliefs. That is, we sometimes

Which of the following is true about pseudoscience?

A research methods course differs from a course in developmental psychology by emphasizing

The method of introspection was gradually replaced by behavioral methods because

In an effort to 'give psychology away,' _________ is a form of research that is done to both better understand a phenomenon and to apply it to promote better psychological well-being.

Eleanor Gibson's creation of the visual cliff was motivated by her interest in

The major shortcoming with introspection as a method was that

Phrenology originated in the legitimate scientific attempt to

Research psychologists believe all of the following except

Which of the following is not an empirical question?

Ted argues that the mind equals the brain. His argument is based on the assertion that the mind ceases to function when the brain ceases to function. This illustrates which of Peirce's ways of fixing belief?

Phrenology eventually failed as science because

Why is it important for professional psychologists to be familiar with research methods?

Ethics in Psychological Research

Developing Ideas for Research in Psychology

Sampling, Measurement, and Hypothesis Testing

Introduction to Experimental Research

Methodological Control in Experimental Research

Experimental Design I: Single-Factor Designs

Experimental Design II: Factorial Designs

Non-Experimental Design I: Survey Methods

Non-Experimental Design II: Observational and Archival Methods

Quasi-Experimental Designs and Applied Research

Small N Designs

Filters