Question 1

Intuition is not a valid way of developing research hypotheses.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

In order to estimate the amount of TV watched by New York City adults, a sociologist surveys a random sample of adults from this city. The average (mean) of the raw scores is a _________.

Accepted Answer

A)   population
B)   sample
C)   statistic
D)   parameter C

Question 3

Descriptive statistics are used to _________.

Accepted Answer

A)   calculate the mean and standard deviation of a sample
B)   calculate the mean and standard deviation of a population
C)   graph a distribution of raw scores
D)   all of these D

Question 4

Naturalistic observation is rarely used by scientists because it does not make use of the scientific method.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Statistical methods that use sample data to make statements about populations are called inferential statistics.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Define dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define dependent variable....

Question 7

In order to estimate the height of all students at your university, let's assume you have measured the height of all psychology majors at the university. If you had measured the height scores of all students at your university, the average (mean) of these scores would constitute a _________.

Accepted Answer

A)   population
B)   sample
C)   parameter
D)   statistic

Question 8

In acquiring knowledge the method that employs logic, reasoning and objective assessment is referred to as _______.

Accepted Answer

A)   the method of authority
B)   intuition
C)   rationalism
D)   scientific method

Question 9

Observational studies involve the manipulation of variables by the investigator.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Observational studies involve the use of independent variables.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

In order to estimate the attention level of college undergraduates in the United States, a psychologist measures the attention span of the undergraduates at a local university. The undergraduates at the local university are a _________.

Accepted Answer

A)   parameter
B)   population
C)   sample
D)   statistic

Question 12

What is the difference between rationalism and the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between rationalism and...

Question 13

What is the major difference between descriptive and inferential statistics? Illustrate, using an example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the major difference between descriptive...

Question 14

A variable is defined or identified as _________.

Accepted Answer

A)   "Early Education", in an experiment studying the effect of Early Education on IQ
B)   a characteristic of some event, object or person that has the same value regardless of differing times or conditions.
C)   a characteristic of some event, object, or person that may have different values at different times depending on the conditions.
D)   "IQ", in an experiment studying the effect of Early Education on IQ
E)   a, c, and d

Question 15

The method of authority is opposed to the scientific method.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The variable that the experimenter manipulates is called the _________.

Accepted Answer

A)   independent variable
B)   dependent variable
C)   constant variable
D)   experimental variable

Question 17

Let's assume you are conducting an experiment to determine the effect of a new drug on the incidence of epileptic seizures. You select 20 epileptics from the 150 epileptics being treated at a nearby hospital and administer the drug to them. You record the number of seizures in each of the 20 subjects for one month. Incidence of seizures is an example of a(n) _________.

Accepted Answer

A)   dependent variable
B)   constant
C)   statistic
D)   independent variable

Question 18

In order to estimate the average (mean) weight of all professional football players, an investigator determines the weight of the "Dallas Cowboy" players. The weight of each Dallas Cowboy is(are) called ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   constants
B)   data
C)   parameters
D)   statistics

Question 19

In order to estimate the height of all students at your university, let's assume you have measured the height of all psychology majors at the university. The height scores of all psychology majors constitute a _________.

Accepted Answer

A)   population
B)   sample
C)   parameter
D)   statistic

Question 20

Define descriptive statistics.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define descriptive statistics....

Exam 1: Statistics and Scientific Method

Intuition is not a valid way of developing research hypotheses.

In order to estimate the amount of TV watched by New York City adults, a sociologist surveys a random sample of adults from this city. The average (mean) of the raw scores is a _________.

Descriptive statistics are used to _________.

Naturalistic observation is rarely used by scientists because it does not make use of the scientific method.

Statistical methods that use sample data to make statements about populations are called inferential statistics.

Define dependent variable.

In order to estimate the height of all students at your university, let's assume you have measured the height of all psychology majors at the university. If you had measured the height scores of all students at your university, the average (mean) of these scores would constitute a _________.

In acquiring knowledge the method that employs logic, reasoning and objective assessment is referred to as _______.

Observational studies involve the manipulation of variables by the investigator.

Observational studies involve the use of independent variables.

In order to estimate the attention level of college undergraduates in the United States, a psychologist measures the attention span of the undergraduates at a local university. The undergraduates at the local university are a _________.

What is the difference between rationalism and the scientific method?

What is the major difference between descriptive and inferential statistics? Illustrate, using an example.

A variable is defined or identified as _________.

The method of authority is opposed to the scientific method.

The variable that the experimenter manipulates is called the _________.

In order to estimate the average (mean) weight of all professional football players, an investigator determines the weight of the "Dallas Cowboy" players. The weight of each Dallas Cowboy is(are) called ___________.

In order to estimate the height of all students at your university, let's assume you have measured the height of all psychology majors at the university. The height scores of all psychology majors constitute a _________.

Define descriptive statistics.