Question 1

Popular polls often suffer from volunteer bias because those who feel strongly enough about their opinions may differ from those who remain silent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

How wise IS popular wisdom? In Chapter One we pondered how many old sayings have other old sayings that contradict them.For example,a common saying is "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." But we also hear "You are never too old to learn." Now that you have read Chapter Two,design a research study in order to test these sayings.Provide your reasoning in selecting a particular research method,subjects,and other key details.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 3

To guard against misuse of statistics a person should do all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A) avoid use of statistics whenever possible. 
B) check to see how terms have been defined. 
C) look for the control group. 
D) be cautious about correlations. 
A) avoid use of statistics whenever possible. 
B) check to see how terms have been defined. 
C) look for the control group. 
D) be cautious about correlations.

Question 4

All of the following variables EXCEPT_______________ show a positive correlation.

Accepted Answer

A) height and weight 
B) men's educational level and their income 
C) average income and the incidence of dental disease 
D) school grades and I.Q.scores 
A) height and weight 
B) men's educational level and their income 
C) average income and the incidence of dental disease 
D) school grades and I.Q.scores

Question 5

Unlike plays and poems,scientific theories are not judged by how pleasing they are.Instead a theory must be backed by empirical evidence if it is to be taken seriously.Integrate this information from Chapter Two with the critical thinking guideline,"Avoid Emotional Reasoning," that you studied in Chapter One.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 6

In _______________ the researcher carefully and systematically watches and records behavior,without interfering with the behavior.

Accepted Answer

A) observational research 
B) survey research 
C) experimental research 
D) double-blind research 
A) observational research 
B) survey research 
C) experimental research 
D) double-blind research

Question 7

One purpose of peer review is to:

Accepted Answer

A) make sure that the researchers did not deceive their subjects in any way. 
B) choose which,among competing interpretations of a finding,is best. 
C) scrutinize the evidence before any announcement to the public. 
D) make sure that the research does not involve animals as subjects. 
A) make sure that the researchers did not deceive their subjects in any way. 
B) choose which,among competing interpretations of a finding,is best. 
C) scrutinize the evidence before any announcement to the public. 
D) make sure that the research does not involve animals as subjects.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A) A hypothesis is a specific prediction derived from a theory. 
B) A hypothesis is a statement that attempts to explain a specific behavior. 
C) A hypothesis is a statement about a relationship between variables that may be empirically tested. 
D) A hypothesis is a prediction about future events based on guesswork. 
A) A hypothesis is a specific prediction derived from a theory. 
B) A hypothesis is a statement that attempts to explain a specific behavior. 
C) A hypothesis is a statement about a relationship between variables that may be empirically tested. 
D) A hypothesis is a prediction about future events based on guesswork.

Question 9

Ideally,everything in an experiment except the independent variable is held constant.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

A researcher wants to know whether eating chocolate makes people nervous.The amount of chocolate eaten:

Accepted Answer

A) would be a dependent variable. 
B) would be a placebo. 
C) would be an independent variable. 
D) may be either an independent or dependent variable. 
A) would be a dependent variable. 
B) would be a placebo. 
C) would be an independent variable. 
D) may be either an independent or dependent variable.

Question 11

Which of the following is the definition of "significance tests"?

Accepted Answer

A) Statistical procedures that allow researchers to draw inferences about how statistically meaningful a study's results are. 
B) Statistical procedures that organize and summarize research data. 
C) Averages that are calculated by adding up a set of quantities and multiplying the sum by the total number of quantities in the set. 
D) Statistical procedures that assess how likely it is that a study's results occurred merely by chance. 
A) Statistical procedures that allow researchers to draw inferences about how statistically meaningful a study's results are. 
B) Statistical procedures that organize and summarize research data. 
C) Averages that are calculated by adding up a set of quantities and multiplying the sum by the total number of quantities in the set. 
D) Statistical procedures that assess how likely it is that a study's results occurred merely by chance.

Question 12

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?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 13

Which research method did Sigmund Freud rely upon? Analyze what you know about his theory given your understanding of research methods.What are the strengths and limitations of his approach?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 14

Which of the following is the definition of "inferential statistics"?

Accepted Answer

A) Statistical procedures that allow researchers to draw inferences about how statistically meaningful a study's results are. 
B) Statistical procedures that organize and summarize research data. 
C) Averages that are calculated by adding up a set of quantities and multiplying the sum by the total number of quantities in the set. 
D) Statistical tests that assess how likely it is that a study's results occurred merely by chance. 
A) Statistical procedures that allow researchers to draw inferences about how statistically meaningful a study's results are. 
B) Statistical procedures that organize and summarize research data. 
C) Averages that are calculated by adding up a set of quantities and multiplying the sum by the total number of quantities in the set. 
D) Statistical tests that assess how likely it is that a study's results occurred merely by chance.

Question 15

Which of the following is the definition of the "arithmetic mean"?

Accepted Answer

A) A statistical procedure that allows researchers to draw inferences about how statistically meaningful a study's results are. 
B) A commonly used measure of variability that indicates the average difference between scores in a distribution and their mean. 
C) An average that is calculated by adding up a set of quantities and dividing the sum by the total number of quantities in the set. 
D) A statistical test that assesses how likely it is that a study's results occurred merely by chance so that the researcher knows that the probability that the difference is "real" is overwhelming. 
A) A statistical procedure that allows researchers to draw inferences about how statistically meaningful a study's results are. 
B) A commonly used measure of variability that indicates the average difference between scores in a distribution and their mean. 
C) An average that is calculated by adding up a set of quantities and dividing the sum by the total number of quantities in the set. 
D) A statistical test that assesses how likely it is that a study's results occurred merely by chance so that the researcher knows that the probability that the difference is "real" is overwhelming.

Question 16

The standard deviation is an average that is calculated by adding up a set of quantities and dividing the sum by the total number of quantities in the set.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

When the authors refer to psychologists as scientists,they mean that:

Accepted Answer

A) psychologists work with complicated computers and laboratory equipment. 
B) psychologists rely upon sophisticated brain-imaging machines. 
C) psychologists base their work on scientific attitudes and procedures. 
D) psychologists wear white coats when they conduct animal research. 
A) psychologists work with complicated computers and laboratory equipment. 
B) psychologists rely upon sophisticated brain-imaging machines. 
C) psychologists base their work on scientific attitudes and procedures. 
D) psychologists wear white coats when they conduct animal research.

Question 18

Norman Cousins wrote a bestseller explaining how humor and vitamins cured him of a life-threatening disease.What rule of science did he violate?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A) The first variable causes the second variable. 
B) The two variables will be uncorrelated. 
C) The two variables will be negatively correlated. 
D) The two variables will be positively correlated. 
A) The first variable causes the second variable. 
B) The two variables will be uncorrelated. 
C) The two variables will be negatively correlated. 
D) The two variables will be positively correlated.

Question 20

The case study would be an appropriate research method to study the nature of aggressive acts early in childhood.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 2: Exstintion: How Psychologists Do Research

Popular polls often suffer from volunteer bias because those who feel strongly enough about their opinions may differ from those who remain silent.

To guard against misuse of statistics a person should do all of the following EXCEPT:

All of the following variables EXCEPT_______________ show a positive correlation.

In _______________ the researcher carefully and systematically watches and records behavior,without interfering with the behavior.

One purpose of peer review is to:

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

Ideally,everything in an experiment except the independent variable is held constant.

A researcher wants to know whether eating chocolate makes people nervous.The amount of chocolate eaten:

Which of the following is the definition of "significance tests"?

Which research method did Sigmund Freud rely upon? Analyze what you know about his theory given your understanding of research methods.What are the strengths and limitations of his approach?

Which of the following is the definition of "inferential statistics"?

Which of the following is the definition of the "arithmetic mean"?

The standard deviation is an average that is calculated by adding up a set of quantities and dividing the sum by the total number of quantities in the set.

When the authors refer to psychologists as scientists,they mean that:

Norman Cousins wrote a bestseller explaining how humor and vitamins cured him of a life-threatening disease.What rule of science did he violate?

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

The case study would be an appropriate research method to study the nature of aggressive acts early in childhood.

What Is Psychology

Exstintion: What Is Psychology

How Psychologists Do Research

Genes,evolution,and Environment

Exstintion: Genes,evolution,and Environment

The Brain: Source of Mind and the Self

Exstintion: The Brain: Source of Mind and Self

Body Rhythms and Mental States

Exstintion: Body Rhythms and Mental States

Sensation and Perception

Exstintion: Sensation and Perception

Learning and Conditioning

Exstintion: Learning and Conditioning

Behavior in Social and Cultural Context

Exstintion: Behavior in Social and Cultural Context

Thinking and Intelligence

Memory

Emotion,stress and Health

Motivation

Development Over the Life Span

Theories of Personality

Psychological Disorders

Approaches to Treatment and Therapy

Filters