Exam 2: Reading and Evaluating Scientific Research

An experiment is conducted to test the hypothesis that taking gingko supplements increases memory.Participants are randomly assigned to receive gingko or placebo pills for a month and then their memory is tested.If the gingko group's average test score is 3 points higher than the placebo group,can the researchers conclude that the results support the hypothesis? If not,what do the researchers need to do to determine if the results support the results or not?

_______________assumes that there are facts about the world that can be observed and tested independently from the individual who describes them.

In an experiment to test the effects of anxiety on performance,the dependent variable is the __________.

A correlation of -.80 is a stronger relationship than a correlation of +.50.

Which of the following is true about studies that potentially increase mortality salience in participants?

A correlation coefficient will always range between:

In an experiment,a researcher manipulates one variable to see how it affects a second variable.The second variable,which is observed for any possible effects,is called the __________.

Professor Wagner is explaining to his subjects the purpose behind the experiment they just participated in,along with a general description of the results.He is engaging in what aspect of a research study?

One difficulty in conducting medical research is that participants often assume that any treatment will be effective in alleviating their symptoms.Therefore,a researcher has to design an experiment that measures the influence of ____________.

The survey method of research is ___________ in nature.

Dr.Sparks is concerned because he gave Julie a new intelligence test that he personally designed and her scores do not seem very consistent.Which aspect of psychological testing is Dr.Sparks concerned with?

Dr.Kwan's hypothesizes that allowing factory employees to listen to music while working will improve productivity.After conducting the experiment,Dr.Kwan finds that the group of participants who were allowed to listen to music was more productive than the group who did not,but this difference was not statistically significant.What should Dr.Kwan conclude about the difference between the two groups?

Louis is participating in a survey on undergraduate drug use.When the interviewer asks Louis whether he has used illegal drugs in the last 6 months,he lies and says 'no' because he doesn't want the interviewer to have a poor opinion of him.Louis's response is an example of ________________.

Claims based on common sense:

One key aspect of an experiment that is missing in other research designs is:

Professor McSpell designed an experiment to test her hypothesis that exercise will increase spelling ability.She divided children into three groups and had one group do 10 minutes of exercises,one group do 30 minutes of exercises,and the third group do no exercise.She then tested all three groups of children to see how many words they could spell correctly on a spelling test.In this experiment,the scores on the spelling test serve as the

By studying a _____,scientists hope that they can generalize the results of their investigation to the _____.

A mechanism by which experts in a field carefully screen the work of their colleagues is known as ____________.

According to your text,which of the following is true of the use of animal research in psychology?

In a controlled experiment,the group not subjected to a change in the independent variable,and used for comparison with the group receiving the experimental change,is the __________ group.