Question 1

What was Peirce's method of authority and how did he criticize it as a way of knowing?

Accepted Answer

Charles Sanders Peirce was an American p

Question 2

If our experiences include some unforgettable events, we might overestimate how often those kinds of events occur. This is called

Accepted Answer

A)  belief perseverance 
B)  a confirmation bias 
C)  the availability heuristic 
D)  the a priori heuristic 
A)  belief perseverance 
B)  a confirmation bias 
C)  the availability heuristic 
D)  the a priori heuristic

Question 3

Research psychologists believe all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  the causes of behavior can be discovered by using scientific methods 
B)  if statistical determinism is true, then free choices cannot be made 
C)  it may not be possible to predict behavior with certainty 
D)  making effective choices requires that events be predictable 
A)  the causes of behavior can be discovered by using scientific methods 
B)  if statistical determinism is true, then free choices cannot be made 
C)  it may not be possible to predict behavior with certainty 
D)  making effective choices requires that events be predictable

Question 4

The major shortcoming with introspection as a method was that

Accepted Answer

A)  it relied too heavily on the a priori method 
B)  it was used to answer philosophical rather than empirical questions 
C)  it relied too heavily on direct observations of behavior 
D)  observations could not be verified-they were too subjective 
A)  it relied too heavily on the a priori method 
B)  it was used to answer philosophical rather than empirical questions 
C)  it relied too heavily on direct observations of behavior 
D)  observations could not be verified-they were too subjective

Question 5

Questions that can be answered through systematic observation and data collection are called

Accepted Answer

A)  introspective questions 
B)  authoritative questions 
C)  empirical questions 
D)  nonempirical questions 
A)  introspective questions 
B)  authoritative questions 
C)  empirical questions 
D)  nonempirical questions

Question 6

As a way of fixing belief, Peirce's a priori method relies heavily on

Accepted Answer

A)  belief perseverance 
B)  drawing conclusions from making systematic observations of nature 
C)  relying on the expertise of others 
D)  convincing others through logical arguments 
A)  belief perseverance 
B)  drawing conclusions from making systematic observations of nature 
C)  relying on the expertise of others 
D)  convincing others through logical arguments

Question 7

A major characteristic of psychological science is its objectivity, which means that

Accepted Answer

A)  science is free from human biases 
B)  psychologists assume that people are essentially machines 
C)  observations can be verified by more than a single observer 
D)  results of research are always reported in terms of numbers (statistics) 
A)  science is free from human biases 
B)  psychologists assume that people are essentially machines 
C)  observations can be verified by more than a single observer 
D)  results of research are always reported in terms of numbers (statistics)

Question 8

Describe the essential features of pseudoscience, using phrenology (or graphology) as an example.

Accepted Answer

Pseudoscience refers to beliefs or pract

Question 9

Relying on Peirce's a priori method as a way of fixing belief is illustrated by which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because all events have causes, there must be some First Cause greater than all the rest 
B)  My country, right or wrong 
C)  Nothing will ever convince me that men have been on the moon 
D)  Of course it's right-it was in the book 
A)  Because all events have causes, there must be some First Cause greater than all the rest 
B)  My country, right or wrong 
C)  Nothing will ever convince me that men have been on the moon 
D)  Of course it's right-it was in the book

Question 10

To say that experience is the best teacher is to rely on __________ as a way of knowing.

Accepted Answer

The answer of To say that experience is the best...

Question 11

An objective observation is one

Accepted Answer

A)  that can only be made by a mechanical recording device 
B)  completely free from any personal bias on the part of the observer 
C)  that can be verified by a second observer 
D)  that cannot be questioned 
A)  that can only be made by a mechanical recording device 
B)  completely free from any personal bias on the part of the observer 
C)  that can be verified by a second observer 
D)  that cannot be questioned

Question 12

What do the preface to Wundt's Principles of Physiological Psychology and the original constitution of the American Psychological Association have in common?

Accepted Answer

A)  they both defined psychology as the study of behavior 
B)  they both recognized that psychology was a subdivision of philosophy 
C)  they both emphasized the scientific nature of the new psychology 
D)  they both defined psychology as the study of the mind 
A)  they both defined psychology as the study of behavior 
B)  they both recognized that psychology was a subdivision of philosophy 
C)  they both emphasized the scientific nature of the new psychology 
D)  they both defined psychology as the study of the mind

Question 13

In general, pseudoscientific theories

Accepted Answer

A)  take fairly simple behavioral phenomena and overly complicate them 
B)  recognize the weakness of relying on anecdotal evidence 
C)  avoid disproof by describing their studies in vague terms 
D)  reject the idea that their theories should be tested by collecting empirical data 
A)  take fairly simple behavioral phenomena and overly complicate them 
B)  recognize the weakness of relying on anecdotal evidence 
C)  avoid disproof by describing their studies in vague terms 
D)  reject the idea that their theories should be tested by collecting empirical data

Question 14

"Ergonomic" psychologists develop airplane dials that are fool proof. That is, pilots cannot inadvertently turn them the wrong way. This demonstrates the use of which of psychology's goals?

Accepted Answer

A)  description 
B)  explanation 
C)  prediction 
D)  application 
A)  description 
B)  explanation 
C)  prediction 
D)  application

Question 15

Which of the following is not listed in the text as a reason for taking a research methods course?

Accepted Answer

A)  it helps the student become a critical consumer of information 
B)  it is essential for admission to most graduate schools 
C)  it is the most important course in the psychology curriculum for achieving self-understanding 
D)  it provides a foundation for achieving a better understanding of other psychology courses 
A)  it helps the student become a critical consumer of information 
B)  it is essential for admission to most graduate schools 
C)  it is the most important course in the psychology curriculum for achieving self-understanding 
D)  it provides a foundation for achieving a better understanding of other psychology courses

Question 16

The problem with relying on a belief that "experience is the best teacher" is that

Accepted Answer

A)  our experiences might be limited and influenced by bias 
B)  our experiences seldom provide any information about what life is like 
C)  relying on experience makes us overlook the most important source of knowledge-authorities 
D)  none of the above-personal experience is the only reliable way to truth 
A)  our experiences might be limited and influenced by bias 
B)  our experiences seldom provide any information about what life is like 
C)  relying on experience makes us overlook the most important source of knowledge-authorities 
D)  none of the above-personal experience is the only reliable way to truth

Question 17

Chapter 1 focuses on scientific thinking as a way of knowing. Yet we often rely on other methods for "fixing belief," as Peirce put it. Using the belief held by Nazis in the 1930s that Jews were an inferior race, show how such a belief could be formed and maintained through the nonscientific ways of knowing.

Accepted Answer

The belief held by Nazis in the 1930s th

Question 18

Which of the following is most clearly phrased as an empirical question?

Accepted Answer

A)  Are newborns essentially good or bad? 
B)  Do Catholics believe in the reality of Hell? 
C)  Are the mind and body two separate entities? 
D)  Is there life after death? 
A)  Are newborns essentially good or bad? 
B)  Do Catholics believe in the reality of Hell? 
C)  Are the mind and body two separate entities? 
D)  Is there life after death?

Question 19

Phrenology eventually failed as science because

Accepted Answer

A)  it was shown that localization of brain function does not occur 
B)  its measures failed the test of objectivity 
C)  it avoided disproof by having an explanation for every possible outcome 
D)  it abandoned its use of the anecdotal method 
A)  it was shown that localization of brain function does not occur 
B)  its measures failed the test of objectivity 
C)  it avoided disproof by having an explanation for every possible outcome 
D)  it abandoned its use of the anecdotal method

Question 20

Explain what distinguishes empirical from nonempirical questions and give two example of each.

Accepted Answer

Empirical questions are those that can b

What was Peirce's method of authority and how did he criticize it as a way of knowing?

If our experiences include some unforgettable events, we might overestimate how often those kinds of events occur. This is called

Research psychologists believe all of the following except

The major shortcoming with introspection as a method was that

Questions that can be answered through systematic observation and data collection are called

As a way of fixing belief, Peirce's a priori method relies heavily on

A major characteristic of psychological science is its objectivity, which means that

Describe the essential features of pseudoscience, using phrenology (or graphology) as an example.

Relying on Peirce's a priori method as a way of fixing belief is illustrated by which of the following statements?

To say that experience is the best teacher is to rely on __________ as a way of knowing.

An objective observation is one

What do the preface to Wundt's Principles of Physiological Psychology and the original constitution of the American Psychological Association have in common?

In general, pseudoscientific theories

"Ergonomic" psychologists develop airplane dials that are fool proof. That is, pilots cannot inadvertently turn them the wrong way. This demonstrates the use of which of psychology's goals?

Which of the following is not listed in the text as a reason for taking a research methods course?

The problem with relying on a belief that "experience is the best teacher" is that

Which of the following is most clearly phrased as an empirical question?

Phrenology eventually failed as science because

Explain what distinguishes empirical from nonempirical questions and give two example of each.

Ethics in Psychological Research

Developing Ideas for Research in Psychology

Measurement, Sampling, and Data Analysis

Introduction to Experimental Research

Control Problems in Experimental Research

Experimental Design 1: Single Factor Designs

Experimental Design II: Factorial Designs

Correlational Research

Quasi-Experimental Designs Applied Research

Small N Designs

Descriptive Research Methods

Filters

Exam 1: Scientific Thinking in Psychology

What was Peirce's method of authority and how did he criticize it as a way of knowing?

If our experiences include some unforgettable events, we might overestimate how often those kinds of events occur. This is called

Research psychologists believe all of the following except

The major shortcoming with introspection as a method was that

Questions that can be answered through systematic observation and data collection are called

As a way of fixing belief, Peirce's a priori method relies heavily on

A major characteristic of psychological science is its objectivity, which means that

Describe the essential features of pseudoscience, using phrenology (or graphology) as an example.

Relying on Peirce's a priori method as a way of fixing belief is illustrated by which of the following statements?

To say that experience is the best teacher is to rely on __________ as a way of knowing.

An objective observation is one

What do the preface to Wundt's Principles of Physiological Psychology and the original constitution of the American Psychological Association have in common?

In general, pseudoscientific theories

"Ergonomic" psychologists develop airplane dials that are fool proof. That is, pilots cannot inadvertently turn them the wrong way. This demonstrates the use of which of psychology's goals?

Which of the following is not listed in the text as a reason for taking a research methods course?

The problem with relying on a belief that "experience is the best teacher" is that

Which of the following is most clearly phrased as an empirical question?

Phrenology eventually failed as science because

Explain what distinguishes empirical from nonempirical questions and give two example of each.

Ethics in Psychological Research

Developing Ideas for Research in Psychology

Measurement, Sampling, and Data Analysis

Introduction to Experimental Research

Control Problems in Experimental Research

Experimental Design 1: Single Factor Designs

Experimental Design II: Factorial Designs

Correlational Research

Quasi-Experimental Designs Applied Research

Small N Designs

Descriptive Research Methods

Filters