Question 1

According to the textbook, is most social psychological research high in external validity? Why or why not? How big of a problem is cultural relativity for social psychology as a field, and what steps are researchers taking to address it?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the textbook, is most social...

Question 2

Following the collapse of the Soviet empire in 1989, social psychology's focus on conflict ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  remained unchanged 
B)  emphasized racial/ethnic conflict 
C)  lessened 
D)  increased

Question 3

The scientific method used by social psychologists is ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  conceptually the same as the scientific method used by clinical psychologists, biologists, and chemists 
B)  conceptually the same as the scientific method used by clinical psychologists, but fundamentally different from the scientific method used by biologists, chemists, and other "hard scientists" 
C)  fundamentally different from the scientific method used in other fields 
D)  conceptually the same as the scientific method used by clinical psychologists, biologists, and chemists-except for the fact that social psychologists do not usually use statistical significance testing

Question 4

What do we call the field that combines the interests of social and biological psychology?

Accepted Answer

A)  Neuroscience 
B)  Physiological psychology 
C)  Social neuroscience 
D)  Social cognition

Question 5

Laela is interested in studying how our thoughts and behaviors are influenced by the groups to which we belong. Laela's work will MOST closely intersect with which other social science?

Accepted Answer

A)  Economics 
B)  Sociology 
C)  Neuroscience 
D)  History

Question 6

Repeating an experiment is called ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Repeating an experiment is called ____________________....

Question 7

With which of the following social sciences has social psychology had the LEAST interaction until recently?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sociology 
B)  Anthropology 
C)  Economics 
D)  History

Question 8

Suppose that you are a research participant in a laboratory study that is looking at fear and social support. The researcher shows you an extremely scary movie and then asks you whether you feel like talking to anyone (and if so, who) once the movie is over. Although you are in a laboratory setting the whole time, which does not resemble "real life" at all, you become engrossed in the procedures of the study and almost forget that you are in a study. Thus, in your experience, this study is ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  low in experimental realism and low in mundane realism 
B)  low in experimental realism and high in mundane realism 
C)  high in experimental realism and low in mundane realism 
D)  high in experimental realism and high in mundane realism

Question 9

In social psychology, researchers typically test hypotheses using the ____ confidence level.

Accepted Answer

A)  80% 
B)  85% 
C)  90% 
D)  95%

Question 10

When people work on a task jointly with someone else (e.g., putting together a large bookcase), each person tends to put in ____________________ effort than he or she would if working alone.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When people work on a task jointly...

Question 11

Ed just stole $50 from his parents. In assessing Ed's motives, which of the following questions would a social psychologist be MOST likely to ask?

Accepted Answer

A)  Is Ed unconsciously motivated to hurt his parents? 
B)  Is Ed a person with a weak moral character? 
C)  Does Ed have friends or other role models who are also stealing? 
D)  Is Ed mentally healthy enough to realize what he has done?

Question 12

In a ____, the researcher is able to manipulate an independent variable but NOT able to use random assignment.

Accepted Answer

A)  field experiment 
B)  quasi-experiment 
C)  correlational study 
D)  case study

Question 13

The ability of a measure to predict an outcome that should be related to the measure is ____ validity.

Accepted Answer

A)  convergent 
B)  divergent 
C)  measurement 
D)  face

Question 14

Johnna is examining how attitudes predict voting behavior. Her research will MOST likely involve an intersection of social psychology and what other social science?

Accepted Answer

A)  Anthropology 
B)  Sociology 
C)  Political science 
D)  Economics

Question 15

Reliability is to ____ as validity is to ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  consistency; measuring what something claims to measure 
B)  measuring what something claims to measure; consistency 
C)  temporal consistency; internal consistency 
D)  internal consistency; temporal consistency

Question 16

Most social psychological research has been conducted in the U.S. and a few very similar nations. According to the textbook, how well do findings generalize to other cultures?

Accepted Answer

A)  With only one notable exception, no cross-cultural differences have been found in any area of social psychology. 
B)  In general, there appear to be many large and important cross-cultural differences across areas of social psychology. 
C)  In general, there appear to be many large and important cross-cultural differences for women, but very few cross-cultural differences for men. 
D)  It is not yet known; not enough research has been replicated cross-culturally.

Question 17

Which of the following would be the BEST operational definition for tiredness?

Accepted Answer

A)  An increase in fantasies about sleeping 
B)  The number of hours since one has last slept 
C)  Irritability, poor motor skills, and weak concentration 
D)  How tired someone looks

Question 18

Which of the following is the best example of "cognition"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Enduring an auditory hallucination 
B)  Having a hunger pang 
C)  Thinking that you are a valuable employee 
D)  Exhibiting a nervous twitch

Question 19

A person who is secretly working for an experimenter to help create a particular situation is called a(n) ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A person who is secretly working for...

Question 20

What is the main advantage of an experiment over a correlational study?

Accepted Answer

A)  Research participants are always representative of the population. 
B)  The researcher is better able to draw conclusions about cause and effect. 
C)  The researcher is able to study phenomena within their natural context. 
D)  The researcher can use a much smaller sample size and still find a statistically significant result.

Exam 1: The Mission and the Method