Question 1

Traditionally,psychologists have considered a result "significant" if p < 0.05.What is one major objection to this practice?​

Accepted Answer

A) It requires experimenters to put many people in the control group. 
B) ​It makes a yes/no decision instead of offering degrees of confidence. 
C) ​It measures only the size of the effect, not its probability of occurrence. 
D) ​Statistical tests are more difficult to calculate than they are worth. 
A) It requires experimenters to put many people in the control group. 
B) ​It makes a yes/no decision instead of offering degrees of confidence. 
C) ​It measures only the size of the effect, not its probability of occurrence. 
D) ​Statistical tests are more difficult to calculate than they are worth.

Question 2

When do researchers most often use the case history method of research?​

Accepted Answer

A) When they study the behavior of someone with a rare condition 
B) ​When they need to study the effects of two variables at the same time 
C) ​When they compare the frequencies of certain behaviors in different cultures 
D) ​When they study people who are unable or unwilling to give informed consent 
A) When they study the behavior of someone with a rare condition 
B) ​When they need to study the effects of two variables at the same time 
C) ​When they compare the frequencies of certain behaviors in different cultures 
D) ​When they study people who are unable or unwilling to give informed consent

Question 3

What should every survey try to do?​

Accepted Answer

A) Put the survey on the Internet so that anyone can volunteer to answer it. 
B) ​Use a random sample or representative sample of the population. 
C) ​Word the questions to suggest the answers you hope to receive. 
D) ​Write all the questions at a college reading level. 
A) Put the survey on the Internet so that anyone can volunteer to answer it. 
B) ​Use a random sample or representative sample of the population. 
C) ​Word the questions to suggest the answers you hope to receive. 
D) ​Write all the questions at a college reading level.

Question 4

A survey asks,"Do you support the current laws on gun ownership?" Eighty percent of the respondents answered "no." What,if anything,can we conclude?​

Accepted Answer

A) Most people think the laws are not strict enough. 
B) ​Most people think the laws are too strict. 
C) ​Most people know what the current laws are. 
D) ​We can draw none of these conclusions. 
A) Most people think the laws are not strict enough. 
B) ​Most people think the laws are too strict. 
C) ​Most people know what the current laws are. 
D) ​We can draw none of these conclusions.

Question 5

A store plays background music on some days,randomly chosen,and none on other days.It compares sales on the two kinds of days.What is the dependent variable in this experiment?​

Accepted Answer

A) The workers in the store 
B) ​The volume of sales 
C) ​The presence or absence of music 
D) ​The variations in weather 
A) The workers in the store 
B) ​The volume of sales 
C) ​The presence or absence of music 
D) ​The variations in weather

Question 6

We find we can use measurements of variable A to predict measurements of B with moderate accuracy.Therefore,what can we conclude about the correlation between A and B?​

Accepted Answer

A) It is positive. 
B) ​It is negative. 
C) ​It is zero. 
D) ​It is either positive or negative, but not zero. 
A) It is positive. 
B) ​It is negative. 
C) ​It is zero. 
D) ​It is either positive or negative, but not zero.

Question 7

Suppose we find a strong positive correlation between how happy people are and how many friends they have.Which conclusion,if any,can we draw?​

Accepted Answer

A) Being happy helps you make friends. 
B) ​Having friends makes you happy. 
C) ​Being healthy increases happiness, and also increases the chance of friendships. 
D) ​None of these conclusions follow from the data. 
A) Being happy helps you make friends. 
B) ​Having friends makes you happy. 
C) ​Being healthy increases happiness, and also increases the chance of friendships. 
D) ​None of these conclusions follow from the data.

Question 8

A professor invites students who did poorly on the first test to attend a special review session before the second test.Most do better on the second test.What kind of research is this?​

Accepted Answer

A) A before-and-after study 
B) ​A single-blind experiment 
C) ​A double-blind experiment 
D) ​A case history 
A) A before-and-after study 
B) ​A single-blind experiment 
C) ​A double-blind experiment 
D) ​A case history

Question 9

Which of the following would be most likely to rely on naturalistic observations?​

Accepted Answer

A) A comparison of how two drugs affect animal learning 
B) ​A study of how much people can improve memory by practice 
C) ​A study of when and where people laugh the most 
D) ​A study comparing psychotherapy to antidepressant medications 
A) A comparison of how two drugs affect animal learning 
B) ​A study of how much people can improve memory by practice 
C) ​A study of when and where people laugh the most 
D) ​A study comparing psychotherapy to antidepressant medications

Question 10

What does the 95 percent confidence interval indicate about a set of results?​

Accepted Answer

A) It indicates the probability that the experimenter conducted the study properly.​ 
B) ​It indicates the range within which the true mean probably lies. 
C) ​It indicates the size of difference between the mean and the median. 
D) ​It indicates the probability that someone else can replicate the result. 
A) It indicates the probability that the experimenter conducted the study properly.​ 
B) ​It indicates the range within which the true mean probably lies. 
C) ​It indicates the size of difference between the mean and the median. 
D) ​It indicates the probability that someone else can replicate the result.

Question 11

You think about a friend you haven't thought about in months,and then that friend calls you.This is an example of what?​

Accepted Answer

A) A double-blind study 
B) ​A demand characteristic 
C) ​A statistically significant finding 
D) ​An anecdote 
A) A double-blind study 
B) ​A demand characteristic 
C) ​A statistically significant finding 
D) ​An anecdote

Question 12

What is the main difference between a correlational study and an experiment?​

Accepted Answer

A) Correlational studies take place in a laboratory, whereas experiments occur in nature. 
B) ​In an experiment, the investigator manipulates the independent variable. 
C) ​Participants give informed consent for correlations, but not for experiments. 
D) ​Correlations have several independent variables, whereas experiments avoid them. 
A) Correlational studies take place in a laboratory, whereas experiments occur in nature. 
B) ​In an experiment, the investigator manipulates the independent variable. 
C) ​Participants give informed consent for correlations, but not for experiments. 
D) ​Correlations have several independent variables, whereas experiments avoid them.

Question 13

Under what circumstances are the results of a before-and-after study difficult to interpret?​

Accepted Answer

A) If the study does not include a control group 
B) ​If the study includes too many participants 
C) ​If the study starts with a falsifiable hypothesis 
D) ​If the participants are a random sample of the population 
A) If the study does not include a control group 
B) ​If the study includes too many participants 
C) ​If the study starts with a falsifiable hypothesis 
D) ​If the participants are a random sample of the population

Question 14

Which of these is true about a "falsifiable" theory?​

Accepted Answer

A) Most scientists argue against the theory. 
B) ​Replicable data have contradicted the theory. 
C) ​It makes clear, unambiguous predictions. 
D) ​So far, not enough research has tested the theory. 
A) Most scientists argue against the theory. 
B) ​Replicable data have contradicted the theory. 
C) ​It makes clear, unambiguous predictions. 
D) ​So far, not enough research has tested the theory.

Question 15

A researcher finds that better-educated people tend to like their jobs more than less-educated people do.What kind of research design was probably used in this study?​

Accepted Answer

A) Single-blind experiment 
B) ​Double-blind experiment 
C) ​Correlation 
D) ​Case history 
A) Single-blind experiment 
B) ​Double-blind experiment 
C) ​Correlation 
D) ​Case history

Question 16

An online dating service reports that 45 percent of their clients started a satisfactory relationship within one year.Why is it difficult to evaluate how impressive that result is?​

Accepted Answer

A) We don't know when within the year those relationships started. 
B) ​We don't know how much the dating service charged for their services. 
C) ​We don't know the result for an appropriate control group. 
D) ​Forty-five percent is less than half. 
A) We don't know when within the year those relationships started. 
B) ​We don't know how much the dating service charged for their services. 
C) ​We don't know the result for an appropriate control group. 
D) ​Forty-five percent is less than half.

Question 17

Why do scientists prefer the more parsimonious explanation?​

Accepted Answer

A) It is simpler. 
B) ​It is more interesting. 
C) ​It leads to getting better grant support. 
D) ​It avoids the burden of proof. 
A) It is simpler. 
B) ​It is more interesting. 
C) ​It leads to getting better grant support. 
D) ​It avoids the burden of proof.

Question 18

Compared to a correlational study,which of these is a big advantage to an experiment?​

Accepted Answer

A) An experiment can be performed without asking for informed consent. 
B) ​An experiment requires less cost and less equipment. 
C) ​An experiment is less likely to be influenced by independent variables. 
D) ​An experiment is more likely to demonstrate cause and effect. 
A) An experiment can be performed without asking for informed consent. 
B) ​An experiment requires less cost and less equipment. 
C) ​An experiment is less likely to be influenced by independent variables. 
D) ​An experiment is more likely to demonstrate cause and effect.

Question 19

Which of the following do researchers generally regard as desirable?​

Accepted Answer

A) Experimenter bias 
B) ​Demand characteristics 
C) ​Falsifiable theories 
D) ​Illusory correlations 
A) Experimenter bias 
B) ​Demand characteristics 
C) ​Falsifiable theories 
D) ​Illusory correlations

Question 20

A researcher studies a group that includes the same percentages of male and female,old and young,and so on,as the whole population.This is which type of sample?​

Accepted Answer

A) Convenience sample 
B) ​Cross-cultural sample 
C) ​Random sample 
D) ​Representative sample 
A) Convenience sample 
B) ​Cross-cultural sample 
C) ​Random sample 
D) ​Representative sample

Exam 2: Scientific Methods in Psychology

Traditionally,psychologists have considered a result "significant" if p < 0.05.What is one major objection to this practice?​

When do researchers most often use the case history method of research?​

What should every survey try to do?​

A survey asks,"Do you support the current laws on gun ownership?" Eighty percent of the respondents answered "no." What,if anything,can we conclude?​

A store plays background music on some days,randomly chosen,and none on other days.It compares sales on the two kinds of days.What is the dependent variable in this experiment?​

We find we can use measurements of variable A to predict measurements of B with moderate accuracy.Therefore,what can we conclude about the correlation between A and B?​

Suppose we find a strong positive correlation between how happy people are and how many friends they have.Which conclusion,if any,can we draw?​

A professor invites students who did poorly on the first test to attend a special review session before the second test.Most do better on the second test.What kind of research is this?​

Which of the following would be most likely to rely on naturalistic observations?​

What does the 95 percent confidence interval indicate about a set of results?​

You think about a friend you haven't thought about in months,and then that friend calls you.This is an example of what?​

What is the main difference between a correlational study and an experiment?​

Under what circumstances are the results of a before-and-after study difficult to interpret?​

Which of these is true about a "falsifiable" theory?​

A researcher finds that better-educated people tend to like their jobs more than less-educated people do.What kind of research design was probably used in this study?​

An online dating service reports that 45 percent of their clients started a satisfactory relationship within one year.Why is it difficult to evaluate how impressive that result is?​

Why do scientists prefer the more parsimonious explanation?​

Compared to a correlational study,which of these is a big advantage to an experiment?​

Which of the following do researchers generally regard as desirable?​

A researcher studies a group that includes the same percentages of male and female,old and young,and so on,as the whole population.This is which type of sample?​

What Is Psychology

A: Scientific Methods in Psychology

Biological Psychology

A: Biological Psychology

Sensation and Perception

A: Sensation and Perception

Development

A: Development

Learning

A: Learning

Memory

A: Memory

Cognition and Language

A: Cognition and Language

Intelligenceintelligence

A: Intelligence Intelligence

Consciousnessconsciousness

A: Consciousnessconsciousness

Motivated Behaviorsmotivated Behaviors

A: Motivated Behaviorsmotivated Behaviors

Part 1 Emotions,stress,and Healthemotions,stress,and Health

A: Emotional,stress,and Healthemotional,stress,and Health

Social Psychologysocial Psychology

A: Social Psychologysocial Psychology

Personalitypersonality

A: Personalitypersonality

Part 1 Abnormal Psychology: Disorders and Treatmentabnormal Psychology: Disorders and Treatment

A: Abnormal Psychology: Disorders and Treatmentabnormal Psychology: Disorders and Treatment

Filters

Traditionally,psychologists have considered a result "significant" if p < 0.05.What is one major objection to this practice?

When do researchers most often use the case history method of research?

What should every survey try to do?

A survey asks,"Do you support the current laws on gun ownership?" Eighty percent of the respondents answered "no." What,if anything,can we conclude?

A store plays background music on some days,randomly chosen,and none on other days.It compares sales on the two kinds of days.What is the dependent variable in this experiment?

We find we can use measurements of variable A to predict measurements of B with moderate accuracy.Therefore,what can we conclude about the correlation between A and B?

Suppose we find a strong positive correlation between how happy people are and how many friends they have.Which conclusion,if any,can we draw?

A professor invites students who did poorly on the first test to attend a special review session before the second test.Most do better on the second test.What kind of research is this?

Which of the following would be most likely to rely on naturalistic observations?

What does the 95 percent confidence interval indicate about a set of results?

You think about a friend you haven't thought about in months,and then that friend calls you.This is an example of what?

What is the main difference between a correlational study and an experiment?

Under what circumstances are the results of a before-and-after study difficult to interpret?

Which of these is true about a "falsifiable" theory?

A researcher finds that better-educated people tend to like their jobs more than less-educated people do.What kind of research design was probably used in this study?

An online dating service reports that 45 percent of their clients started a satisfactory relationship within one year.Why is it difficult to evaluate how impressive that result is?

Why do scientists prefer the more parsimonious explanation?

Compared to a correlational study,which of these is a big advantage to an experiment?

Which of the following do researchers generally regard as desirable?

A researcher studies a group that includes the same percentages of male and female,old and young,and so on,as the whole population.This is which type of sample?