Exam 2: The Tools of Psychological Research

The research method which would be used to assess whether two variables vary together in a systematic way is:

A survey is an example of descriptive research.

Scientific method:

In a(n) ____________________, a researcher focuses on a single individual.

When two variables are correlated, it is possible that there is a third variable involved.What is meant by the term third variable?

The test grade Wanda receives in Professor Hoffman's class is determined by the percentage of items she gets correct on the test.Professor Hoffman is using the grading method known as:

Ezekial Zarnak III took part in a study on depression last year.He was somewhat distressed to read a recent article on depression in Newsweek where one of the patients was EZ3.Although the article claimed the names were disguised to protect personal identities, Ezekial is certain he is one of the people described in the article.In this case, it would appear that the researchers violated the ethical principle of:

People's behavior sometimes changes simply because they are being observed.This effect is known as:

A researcher was investigating the link between memory and caffeine.Half the participants were given a caffeinated beverage before being asked to memorize a word list; the other participants were given a decaffeinated beverage before being asked to memorize the same word list.In this research study, the decaffeinated beverage would be:

An individual is exhibiting ____________________ when his or her behavior is changed by the process of being observed.

The results of Dr.Cliff's research study do not generalize to real-world situations.This means Dr.Cliff's research is not:

Dr.Beaudette is studying parent-infant attachment and plans to define attachment in terms of the time it takes for a parent to respond to an infant's cries.Defining attachment in this way would:

Jeff plans to conduct a small experiment with some of his friends.He writes the ten names on slips of paper and mixes them up in a bowl.He then draws the names one at a time.The first five names are assigned to the experimental group, and the last five names are assigned to the control group.In this example, Jeff's procedure illustrates:

Explain what the independent variable and the dependent variables are in an experimental study and use an appropriate example to illustrate each of these terms.

Dr.Nelson has been treating a patient for Tourette's syndrome for many years using a variety of therapies.Over the years, he kept detailed records of the patient's behaviors.Dr.Nelson's work is an example of a(n):

In some experiments, participants in the ____________________ group receive a placebo, which is an inactive "sugar" pill that looks just like the drug used in the experimental condition.

Researchers use the term external validity to refer to:

Researchers studying plant growth raised plants in two different rooms.One room had soft music playing 24 hours a day; the other room was silent.The researchers found that the plants grew better in the room where the music was played.In this study, the amount that the plants grew would be:

When knowing the value of measure does not allow you to predict the value of a second measure with accuracy greater than chance, the two measures are __________________.

Kyle believes that patrons in his bar will be more likely to leave a tip if the tip jar already has some money in it, compared to when the tip jar is completely empty.To test this belief, he has the tip jar empty about half the time when a customer approaches the bar; the rest of the time he ensures there is at least $5.00 in the jar when a customer approaches.In Kyle's experiment, the patrons who see the empty tip jar are part of: