Question 1

Because psychologists regularly use college students as research participants,the research does NOT involve:

Accepted Answer

A)  random sampling. 
B)  convenience sampling. 
C)  selection bias. 
D)  populations.

Question 2

Research has shown that some types of behavioral or psychiatric disorders are more prevalent among people with low levels of education.This pattern of data is best represented by:

Accepted Answer

A)  validity. 
B)  descriptive statistics. 
C)  negative correlations. 
D)  standard deviations.

Question 3

Jafar conducted an experiment with student participants enrolled in his PSY 101 class.He investigated their reactions to advertisements that used humor.When analyzing his results,he should take into account that:

Accepted Answer

A)  there are likely to be many confounds in his methodology,so his results may not be reliable. 
B)  by using random assignment of participants to groups,it is likely that he avoided selection bias. 
C)  he has a convenience sample and may not be able to generalize his findings to the larger population of adults. 
D)  self-report methods are not an accurate way to get authentic reactions to the advertisements.

Question 4

The Hawthorne effect refers to changes in behavior associated with:

Accepted Answer

A)  reactivity. 
B)  observer bias. 
C)  experimenter expectancy. 
D)  informed consent.

Question 5

George is looking for a research project.He could make use of theory because:

Accepted Answer

A)  theories are shown to be true,so subsequent research is successful. 
B)  one of the benefits of theories is that they lead to testable hypotheses. 
C)  a theory can be successfully replicated by researchers. 
D)  theories are likely to result in serendipity,which leads to successful research.

Question 6

How are the scientific goals of description and explanation different?

Accepted Answer

A)  Description aims to identify the state of a research field; explanation aims to discuss the future of a research field. 
B)  Description aims to characterize what a phenomenon is; explanation aims to illustrate why a phenomenon occurs. 
C)  Explanation aims to identify the state of a research field; description aims to discuss the future of a research field. 
D)  Explanation aims to characterize what a phenomenon is; description aims to illustrate why a phenomenon occurs.

Question 7

In correlational studies,it is always possible that an unmeasured variable is responsible for the relation of interest.This complication is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  observer bias. 
B)  experimenter expectancy effects. 
C)  the directionality problem. 
D)  the third variable problem.

Question 8

Another word for a theory is a/an:

Accepted Answer

A)  explanation or model. 
B)  experiment or study. 
C)  prediction or guess. 
D)  data point or finding.

Question 9

Another word for replication is:

Accepted Answer

A)  reviewing. 
B)  generalizing. 
C)  repeating. 
D)  analyzing.

Question 10

Ashley is an undergraduate research assistant in a lab investigating preschool children's science knowledge.She is examining the items on the science knowledge assessments to ensure that they actually measure science,and not some other concept.What type of validity is she addressing?

Accepted Answer

A)  external 
B)  internal 
C)  construct 
D)  reliable

Question 11

The process by which any deception used in a study is explained to a participant is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  debriefing. 
B)  informed consent. 
C)  relief of confidentiality. 
D)  relief from relative risk.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true of serendipity in science?

Accepted Answer

A)  Serendipity plays no important role in science because unexpected findings have always been unimportant. 
B)  Serendipity has led to groundbreaking discoveries that immediately resulted in the Nobel Prize for researchers. 
C)  Serendipitous findings in science illustrate that research does not always proceed in an orderly fashion. 
D)  None of the above are true.

Question 13

Which of the following activities would NOT be considered a descriptive study?

Accepted Answer

A)  taking notes on the behavior of members in a cult 
B)  measuring the selection of food items in a cafeteria 
C)  examining the effects of a new medication in alleviating depression 
D)  counting the number of mating behaviors in baboons in the natural habitat

Question 14

Students who study little for tests tend to make more errors on tests; students who study a lot tend to make fewer errors.If a researcher collected data on both amount of studying and test scores,he or she would likely spot a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  inferential statistic. 
B)  variable standard deviation. 
C)  positive correlation. 
D)  negative correlation.

Question 15

When a researcher manipulates a variable to see what effect the manipulation has on a study participant's behavior,the research design involves:

Accepted Answer

A)  a correlational study. 
B)  an experiment. 
C)  naturalistic observation. 
D)  participant observation.

Question 16

When you pair two variables,and as one increases the other decreases,your data will show:

Accepted Answer

A)  a standardized range. 
B)  a negative correlation. 
C)  inferential statistics. 
D)  validity.

Question 17

One of the four main goals of science is explanation.The main goal of scientists addressing this goal is to explain:

Accepted Answer

A)  why a behavior occurs. 
B)  the steps of the scientific method. 
C)  how data collection works. 
D)  why a researcher wants to study a behavior.

Question 18

Something that can be measured or manipulated by an experimenter is considered:

Accepted Answer

A)  a descriptive statistic. 
B)  data. 
C)  a confound. 
D)  a variable.

Question 19

Dr.Rodriguez is talking with a colleague about the students and staff that are granted access to data collected in his experiment.With which ethical issue is he concerned?

Accepted Answer

A)  deception 
B)  informed consent 
C)  anonymity 
D)  confidentiality

Question 20

Before psychologists can begin a research project with human participants,they must receive approval from the:

Accepted Answer

A)  American Psychological Association. 
B)  Association of Psychological Science. 
C)  National Science Foundation. 
D)  institutional review board.

Exam 2: Research Methodology