Exam 2: A: Scientific Methods in Psychology

Most dictionary definitions are operational definitions.​

An operational definition tells how to measure something.​

A professor assembles a group of volunteers to compare two methods of studying.One group spends an hour a day on the first subject (such as psychology),then an hour on the second (chemistry),and so forth.The other group goes back and forth,with a few minutes on each topic,repeating the sequence until completing the same total study time as the first group.At the end of a week,the professor tests each student's knowledge of each subject.Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable.​

If the p value of a research study is small,the 95 percent confidence intervals for each group will be large.​

A before-and-after study can lead to a firm conclusion,even without a control group.​

The sum of all the scores divided by the total number of scores is called the ______.(NOT "average." Give the more precise term.)​

The use of a blind observer reduces the influence of experimenter bias.​

Every experiment has at least one independent variable.​

A definition that states how to measure something is a(n)__________ definition.​

If a theory makes simple,acceptable assumptions,we say the theory is ___________.​

Consider the following set of scores on a quiz: 70,100,85,70,75.The mean for this set of scores is 75.​

Properly conducted experiments allow researchers to draw conclusions about cause and effect.​

Falsifiability,independent variables,dependent variables,blind observers,and demand characteristics are all potential characteristics of an experiment.Which of these would an experimenter try to minimize or avoid,and why?​

If an increase in one variable is not associated with any consistent increase or decrease in a second variable,then the correlation between the two variables is ____________________.​

Traditionally,most researchers have called a result "statistically significant" if ____ is less than 0.05.​

Psychologists are confident that almost any statistically significant result can be replicated.​

Consider the following set of scores on a quiz: 2,2,3,5,8.The median for this set of scores is 4.​

In a properly conducted experiment,the researcher assigns people to the experimental and control groups by a procedure known as _________ assignment.​

If you study everyone who volunteers for your study,you obtain a random sample of the population.

If someone makes an interesting claim,such as extrasensory perception,anyone who doubts it has the "burden of proof."​