Exam 2: How Psychologists Do Research

A primary reason for misuse of statistics is:

For many years, it was thought that a child's fascination with the genitals of an anatomically realistic doll indicated sexual abuse of the child. Using this example, explain why experiments usually require an experimental and a control condition. If you were designing an experiment to test this topic, what would be the independent variable? What would be the dependent variable?

Ideally, everything in the experimental situation EXCEPT the ________ is held constant.

A study in which subjects of different ages are compared at a given time is called a longitudinal study.

Psychologists measure test-retest reliability by giving different versions of the same test to the same group on two separate occasions.

A controlled test of a hypothesis, in which the researcher manipulates one variable in order to discover its effect on another variable, is called a/an:

Replication is an essential part of the scientific process.

Professor Flummox gives her new test of psychological aptitude to her psychology students at the start of the year. At the end of the year, she finds out that those students who received excellent scores on her test averaged only a C in her courses. A shortcoming of the test is that it lacks:

The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) requires that all its members follow the CPA code of ethics.

An essential part of scientific thinking is not only how to use statistics correctly, but also how to identify the misuse of statistics. Our authors suggest that students should:

Naturalistic observation would be the most effective research method in order to determine the "personal space" preferred by individuals from different cultures.

One of the more common errors with respect to correlational findings is making the assumption that a correlation between two variables:

The Tri-Council policy statement published in 1998 regarding the ethical conduct for research involving humans contains the following principles EXCEPT:

A disadvantage of correlational research is that it does not permit identification of cause and effect.

A controlled test of a hypothesis, in which the researcher manipulates one variable in order to discover its effect on another variable, is called:

In the "Miss Peach" cartoon in the textbook, Ira said that he averaged two baths a day. Explain why averages, such as this one, are sometimes misleading.

The ability of a test to measure what it is designed to measure is called standardization.

Two sets of observations, assessing annual income and dental health, are compared. Which of the following is the most likely outcome?

Which descriptive method would be most appropriate for studying mathematics ability of incoming college students?

A theory is a statement that attempts to predict or to account for a set of phenomena.