Exam 4: Observation

Which one of the following statements does not characterize scientific observation?

Identify the four measurement scales and provide an example of each measurement scale.

Which of the following statements about interobserver reliability is true?

Researchers conducted a content analysis in which they coded how males and females are depicted in work settings on TV.They included programs with a story line and all commercials,but they excluded documentaries,news broadcasts,and sports shows.Which characteristic of the researchers' sample is likely to be most affected by these decisions?

Advice columnists respond to only a fraction of the letters they receive.If a researcher were to analyze only the columnists' printed letters to describe the everyday problems people face,which problem likely will affect the researcher's findings?

Two observers observe a child in the classroom every 30 minutes to record whether he is behaving aggressively.They use two categories for their observations: yes (aggressive)or no (not aggressive).Using the data presented below,answer the following question. Do you think the observers demonstrated acceptable interobserver reliability? Why or why not?

When observers are asked to use a rating scale to measure a psychological dimension such as aggressiveness or anxiety,the researchers must decide whether these ratings represent

In using time sampling to gain a representative sample of behavior,the intervals in which the observations are to be made should be selected

In a field experiment,the investigator

A state's education director received a report listing the school rankings in terms of high school students' graduation rates.Which scale of measurement is represented in this report?

When events are classified into mutually exclusive categories on a nominal scale (e.g.,whether a behavior is present or absent),the most common descriptive statistic is

Some researchers argue that hypnosis is a special state of consciousness; other researchers disagree.They argue that when the hypnosis procedure is used,individuals simply respond to the cues and instructions made by the hypnotist in order to know how to respond.These cues are called

Describe the primary goals of naturalistic observation,participant observation,structured observation,and field experiments.

A researcher interested in "inattentional blindness" has a confederate walk across a stage holding a large sign during the first class of an introductory psychology course.At the end of the class,assistants ask departing students if they know what the sign said.This is an example of

Research studies have examined evidence of past human behavior,including works of art,television shows,and bumper stickers,to test various hypotheses.This source of unobtrusive evidence is called

Time sampling and situation sampling are used to increase which of the following characteristics of observational findings?

Time sampling is not an effective method for sampling behavior that occurs infrequently.To observe behaviors in situations that occur infrequently,researchers choose

In order to conduct a structured observation or a field experiment,researchers make use of ________ to create the observation situation.

Identify one factor that decreases interobserver reliability and one factor that increases interobserver reliability.

Students conducted a research project in which they hypothesized that women,more than men,would stop studying and look at each person who enters a library study room.Results indicated that women did make more head movements than men when people entered the library.To be confident about these results,we would want to make sure their results are not affected by