Question 1

Correlational research designs are NOT appropriate for purposes of

Accepted Answer

A)  causation.
B)  description.
C)  prediction.
D)  describing relationships. A

Question 2

The placebo and nocebo effects are examples of ________ in experimental research.

Accepted Answer

A)  confounding variables
B)  dependent variables
C)  false variables
D)  independent variables C

Question 3

The more easily an image of an horrific event comes to mind, like a major airline crash or a bloody image from a school shooting, the more often we assume it occurs. In reality, however, each of these is a relatively rare, infrequent event. We have fallen victim to the ________.

Accepted Answer

availability heuristic

Question 4

Dr Schott's scatterplot reveals no real patterns or clusters. In fact, the data seems to fall randomly on the graph. This pattern of results is most likely from which type of correlation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Positive
B)  Zero
C)  Negative
D)  Skewed

Question 5

Which of the following is a measure of central tendency?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mode
B)  Variability
C)  Range
D)  Standard deviation

Question 6

________ is the most important part of ensuring the generalisability of one's results to the general population.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ is the most important part of...

Question 7

The general public is often misled by discussions of research in the media because

Accepted Answer

A)  most reporters are not fair and balanced in their reporting of the facts.
B)  most reporters are actively working to bias the public against scientific research.
C)  most reporters are not trained in understanding research or how to accurately communicate about it.
D)  most reporters are lazy and attempting to do as little as possible in their jobs.

Question 8

________ is the extent to which a measure assesses what it claims to measure.

Accepted Answer

A)  Operationalisation
B)  Reliability
C)  Validity
D)  Control group

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true about naturalistic observation?

Accepted Answer

A)  It re-creates natural conditions in the laboratory as closely as possible to make an experiment more valid.
B)  It involves observing behaviour in its natural context.
C)  It is basically the same process as objective introspection.
D)  It involves observing behaviour in the lab without taking formal notes or using technological equipment to measure the experimental findings.

Question 10

A British literature instructor examines the number of class periods his students have missed by mid-terms and has the following data: 1, 0, 10, 0, 2, 1, 0, 0, 5, 2, 3, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2. What is the median for this data set?

Accepted Answer

A)  0
B)  1
C)  1) 7
D)  2) 5

Question 11

Sarula recently completed a compatibility "quiz" from one of her favourite magazines, and although she and her boyfriend have been dating for nearly two years, the "quiz" results suggested they are not compatible. Luckily, Riley, one of Sarula's friends, is a student of psychology and suggested that the "quiz" may not be valid. What is her friend suggesting?

Accepted Answer

A)  The "quiz" only gives you the answers you want.
B)  The "quiz" is going to give you similar results every time.
C)  The "quiz" is not very scientific.
D)  The "quiz" may not actually measure compatibility.

Question 12

When assessing patients' personalities using an "ink blot" test that she created, Dr Hardcastle is gaining confidence in the test's reliability. Which of the following is likely to be happening?

Accepted Answer

A)  Her patients are enjoying being tested every day.
B)  The test is generating approximately the same results each time.
C)  The test is measuring what it is supposed to be measuring.
D)  The test is likely to be uninformative.

Question 13

Dr Johansen randomly assigned subjects to three different groups during her last experiment. She then proceeded to give all the participants in the experiment a new study technique designed to enhance their learning for the upcoming test. What critical error did she make during her experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  She failed to identify the independent variable.
B)  She failed to identify the dependent variable.
C)  She failed to include an experimental group.
D)  She failed to include a control group.

Question 14

Explain why no single measure of central tendency and measure of dispersion exists that a researcher can use every single time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why no single measure of central...

Question 15

Common flaws in research design identified by the authors of the text include

Accepted Answer

A)  failure to include a control group.
B)  manipulation of the independent variable.
C)  measurement of the dependent variable.
D)  failure to inform participants that they are going to receive a placebo.

Question 16

Dr Wilkins randomly assigns subjects to one of three groups. He is interested in the effects of caffeine on anxiety levels. He gives subjects in the first group an extra two cups of coffee a day for six months. The second group receives an extra two cups of decaffeinated coffee a day for the same time period, while the control group is not given either regular or decaffeinated coffee. By providing one group with decaffeinated coffee, Dr Wilkins is trying to account for which potential element of the experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  A control condition
B)  The Rosenthal effect
C)  The placebo effect
D)  The artificial condition

Question 17

A key disadvantage to self-report measures is that

Accepted Answer

A)  demand characteristics can bias participant's answers.
B)  observing behaviour leads to changes in behaviour.
C)  respondents are not always honest in their answers.
D)  they are less effective than experiments in accurately predicting people's behaviour.

Question 18

A researcher wants to see whether she can make the typical administrative assistant job more motivating at Acme, Inc. To experimentally investigate this possibility, she randomly assigns administrative assistants to one of the following conditions: doing the job as it has always been done, having a computer performance monitoring device installed, receiving feedback about their performance on a weekly basis, or being given a say in how one's workload is structured and done. Which of the preceding conditions is an example of a control group?

Accepted Answer

A)  Being given a say in how one's workload is structured and done
B)  Doing the job as it has always been done
C)  Having a computer performance monitoring device installed
D)  Receiving feedback on a weekly basis

Question 19

A key factor to consider when reading about the results of a study on the internet, in a newspaper, or in a news magazine is to

Accepted Answer

A)  consider the source of the information.
B)  determine how well it fits with what others have told you in the past.
C)  rely on your commonsense or "gut" intuition.
D)  popular media outlets always have inaccurate information.

Question 20

Bauer (1992)argued that the scientific method is a myth because the techniques and strategies employed by scientists vary according to the ________ in which they are working.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Bauer (1992)argued that the scientific method is...

Exam 2: Research Methods