Exam 2: The Scientific Method

Of the following,the best description of "intervening variables" in psychology is that

A researcher calibrates an instrument by placing a five-pound weight on a scale to see if the scale gives a reading of 5.0 pounds.The researcher is testing the scale's

The term scientists use to refer to a psychological concept is

Correlations are valuable because they allow psychologists to

Research that focuses on describing the unique characteristics of individuals is referred to as the

Researchers have shown that teacher evaluations based on brief viewings of videotapes made by students who were not enrolled in a course correlate well with end-of-the-semester teacher evaluations made by students enrolled in the class.The researchers suggest that the relationship occurs because people can make relatively accurate judgments of affective behavior (e.g.,likableness)very quickly because doing so is adaptive.Based on the correlational evidence alone,the researchers' explanation for their findings can best be considered

The empirical approach emphasizes

Theorists propose _______ variables to connect independent and dependent variables and explain why these variables are connected.

Psychologists use ____________ to identify the causes of a phenomenon.

Which of the following is a cognitive error that can cause confirmation bias because we perceive a relationship when none exists?

When intelligence is defined using a paper-and-pencil test that emphasizes understanding of logical relationships and familiarity with the meaning of words,intelligence is being defined with

When scientists conduct research they seek to

A correlational study is uniquely useful for meeting which of the following goals of the scientific method?

Research that is conducted with the goals of understanding phenomena and testing a theory is referred to as __________ research.

who live on the streets of Toronto about their experiences with suicide.When the researchers read transcripts of the interviews,they noticed themes of isolation and rejection.This is an example of ____________ research.

Which of the following statements about research in psychology is true?

When constructing and evaluating a theory,scientists follow a guideline that places a premium on identifying the simplest of alternative explanations of a phenomenon.This guideline is called the

Reliability refers to the ________ of measurement,and validity refers to the ________ of measurement.

Which of the following is a characteristic of the scientific method?

When researchers observe a correlation between two variables,such as between the amount of time spent studying and test scores,they know that