Question 1

Did you enjoy taking the SAT when you neared the end of high school? Perhaps you thought it was a waste of time.Maybe you'd be interested in reading some research that suggests people who score higher on the SAT tend to earn better grades in college.The ability of this test to anticipate what will happen in the future is called __________ validity.

Accepted Answer

A)  descriptive 
B)  predictive 
C)  external 
D)  anticipatory

Question 2

It is difficult for psychologists to make generalizations about our behaviors from one person to another.This limitation of research describes which of the empirical challenges of studying people?

Accepted Answer

A)  People react to situations differently 
B)  People are complex 
C)  People have hidden agendas 
D)  People are different

Question 3

A study in which each participant is exposed to several different independent variables is referred to as a __________-group experiment.

Accepted Answer

A)  single 
B)  between 
C)  within 
D)  repeated

Question 4

The most extreme example of the power of suggestion is seen in the __________ effect.

Accepted Answer

A)  placebo 
B)  demand 
C)  bias 
D)  sham treatment

Question 5

What basic research technique can be used to avoid biased samples?

Accepted Answer

A)  Blind assignment to groups 
B)  Double-blind assignment to groups 
C)  Two-way ignorant assignment to groups 
D)  Random assignment to groups

Question 6

Dr.Subing conducted a research experiment investigating the effect of ceiling fans on water consumption in laboratory rats.She was able to control for almost every factor that would influence the rats' desire to drink water,so in the end she had a lot of confidence that the dependent variable (water consumption)was caused exclusively by the independent variable (ceiling fans).In statistical terms,this project has high __________ validity.

Accepted Answer

A)  Internal 
B)  Construct 
C)  Predictive 
D)  Criterion

Question 7

Which of the following statements about laboratory studies and field studies is the most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Laboratory studies are always better because of their ability to control extraneous variables. The only time a field study should be used is if it is unethical to use a laboratory setting. 
B)  Some research questions can be explored in both a field study and a laboratory study to enhance confidence in the results that are obtained. 
C)  Laboratory studies and field studies each have certain advantages and disadvantages, which is why each research question can be explored in only one of the two types of settings. 
D)  Field studies are always better than laboratory settings because they give a more accurate assessment of people's behaviors. The only time a laboratory setting should be used is if a research question cannot be explored with a field study.

Question 8

Dr.Kochkodin wants to do a research study where he will be able to determine if changes in room temperature cause changes in exam score among undergraduate psychology students.What sort of research design is he most likely to use?

Accepted Answer

A)  A correlational study 
B)  An experimental study 
C)  A case study 
D)  Naturalistic observation

Question 9

Russell is conducting a study that employs naturalistic observation of teenagers at a local shopping mall food court.He is observing their "flirting" behaviors,and hypothesizes that the better clothes a teenager wears,the more likely he or she is to be flirted with.As he makes his observations,one of his research partners notices that he does not pay attention to the teenagers who have less "nice" clothing nearly as much as he does to those kids who have a lot of trendy,fashionable clothing.Russell is falling prey to which disadvantage of naturalistic observation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Blind bias 
B)  Observer bias 
C)  Hindsight bias 
D)  Double-blind bias

Question 10

Which of the following words is the best synonym for the term reliability?

Accepted Answer

A)  Accuracy 
B)  Trustworthiness 
C)  Error-proof 
D)  Consistency

Question 11

Experimental research studies are more likely to be conducted in the _________,while descriptive and correlational studies are usually performed in the __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  hospital setting; university setting 
B)  laboratory; field 
C)  university setting; hospital setting 
D)  field; laboratory

Question 12

A normal distribution is a symmetrical,bell-shaped curve.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

After the amazing case of Clever Hans was given a thorough investigation,a psychologist determined that there was a very simple explanation why this horse was able to demonstrate such amazing cognitive abilities.What was this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Clever Hans had a genetic abnormality that had actually given him cognitive abilities never before seen in a stallion. 
B)  Clever Hans was not actually answering the questions he was being asked, but was responding to subtle unconscious gestures made by his owner. 
C)  Clever Hans had learned to answer questions as a result of rigorous training and tutoring, and was, in fact, answering the questions he was asked correctly. 
D)  Clever Hans was really a myth that people had come to believe even though nobody had ever seen him. This demonstrated the power of "word of mouth" when it comes to incredible stories.

Question 14

What is a technique that a researcher can use to avoid the observer bias effect when engaging in naturalistic observation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Using matched observers 
B)  Using blind observers 
C)  Using counter-balanced observers 
D)  Using random observers

Question 15

Dr.Martinez is doing a research study examining the effects of a new headache medication on migraine pain.He decides to divide his participants up into four subject groups,each one of which will receive a different amount of medication to take when they have a migraine.The participants in group one receive a pill with 10 milligrams of the experimental medication,while the participants in group two receive a pill with 20 milligrams.Those assigned to group three receive a pill with 30 milligrams,while those in group four receive a placebo pill that has zero milligrams of the medication.How many experimental groups are in this research study?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4

Question 16

What procedure can a researcher use to make sure that the various participant groups are kept roughly equivalent before exposure to an independent variable?

Accepted Answer

A)  Snowball sampling 
B)  Double-blind assignment 
C)  Random assignment 
D)  Single-blind sampling

Question 17

Which of the following questions regarding the treatment of research participants is the most important for a psychologist to consider prior to beginning his/her research?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Is it okay to required Psychology 101 students to be research participants so that I know that I will have enough data for my study?" 
B)  "How can I ensure that people participating in my study are treated fairly?" 
C)  "Is there some way of getting people to participate in my research without actually having to pay them?" 
D)  "How much discomfort am I permitted to cause my participants before my research will be considered an ethical violation?"

Question 18

What does an IRB do if a proposed research project is found to violate the rules governing ethical research practices?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would turn down that study. 
B)  It would suggest that the study be conducted in a different country where research ethics rules are less stringent. 
C)  It would insist that the researcher show a greater potential for human gain before approving the project. 
D)  It would only approve the research if the institution for which the board worked stood to gain serious financial benefits as a result of the unethical research.

Question 19

The fact that human beings have various thoughts and feelings that affect their behavior demonstrates which empirical challenge related to studying people?

Accepted Answer

A)  People are different 
B)  People react to situations differently 
C)  People are complex 
D)  People make mistakes.

Question 20

When it comes to studying human beings,there are several empirical challenges that must be considered.Which of the following is one of the challenges mentioned in the textbook?

Accepted Answer

A)  People are different, making it hard to generalize about behavior. 
B)  People are simple, making the use of advanced statistics useless. 
C)  People can be dishonest, making it difficult to know if you are getting real information.. 
D)  People react to situations identically, making it difficult to determine variations in behaviors.

Exam 2: Research Methods