Other Research Principles

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Questions 1 - 10
1

A test subject is participating in an experiment in which he must choose between two buttons. Pressing Button A will reward him with $5, while pressing Button B will donate $10 to a local charity. As a researcher looks on, the test subject chooses Button B. It's possible that the experiment's findings could be affected by __________.

the Hawthorne effect

the placebo effect

confounding variables

coercion

Explanation

The Hawthorne effect is also known as "the observer effect." Subjects of a study will alter their behavior if they are aware they are being observed. Because the researcher was watching the experiment, it is possible that the subject behaved differently than he would have if he was not being watched.

2

Which of the following describes the relationship between the population, the sample, and sampling in an experiment?

The sample is chosen from the population through sampling

The population is chosen from the sample through sampling

The population and the sample describe the same group of people

The sampling is chosen from the population through the sample

The sampling is chosen from the sample through the population

Explanation

The population is the entire group of people that the researcher is interested in, and the sample is the (often much smaller) group of people from that the researcher collects information from. Sampling is the process by which the sample group is chosen from the population.

3

Garth believes that there is a relationship between eating yogurt and doing well on important tests. Since there is not actually a relationship between these two variables, Garth's thinking represents an __________________.

illusory correlation

anecdotal correlation

hindsight bias

false consensus effect

groupthink

Explanation

Garth's thinking represents an illusory correlation. Although Garth believes that eating yogurt will help him to score higher on his important tests, there is no actual relationship between these two variables.

4

In an experiment, the __________ variable is manipulated to predict the dependent variable.

independent

correlative

zero-order

co-existing

experimental

Explanation

In an experiment, the independent variable is the predicted cause while the dependent variable is the predicted effect. The independent variable can be manipulated by experimentors to elicit a change in the dependent variable. The dependent variable cannot be directly manipulated.

For example, in a experiment that studies the effect of soda consumption on AP exam scores, the independent variable would be the amount of soda the subject drink (easily controlled by the experimentors) and the dependent variable would be AP exam scores (the unpredictable variable being tested).

5

Brenda is told that she is being given a caffeine pill. However, the experimenter simply gave her an empty pill. Fifteen minutes later, Brenda reports feeling more energized. What concept explains Brenda's report?

The placebo effect

The dummy coding effect

The control effect

Rose-colored glasses phenomenon

A lack of consciousness

Explanation

Brenda is experiencing the placebo effect, in that she is reporting a positive effect (more energy) when she was given a blank pill. Brenda mentally prepared herself for the expected effects of the pill, and was thus able to mimic the expected outcome despite no actual biological change.

6

Which of the following correlation values represents the strongest correlation between two variables?

Explanation

Correlations range from to , with representing a perfect negative correlation and representing a perfect positive correlation.

Statistically speaking, a correlation value of indicates that if one variable is increasing, then the other variable is decreasing. Similarly, if one variable is likely to be present, then the other variable is unlikely to be present. There is a negative correlation between wearing a seatbelt and injury during a car accident.

Statistically speaking, a correlation value of indicates that if one variable is increasing, then the other variable is also increasing. Similarly, if one variable is likely to be present, then the other variable is also likely to be present. There is a positive correlation between obesity and type II diabetes.

Statistically speaking, a correlation value of indicates no relationship between the two variables.

Of the given answer choices, a correlation value of gives the strongest evidence of correlation between the variables, even if the correlation is negative.

7

In a study of the effect of a new drug on sleep, researchers bring participants into a sleep lab and give half of them the new drug and half of them a placebo. They then asked the participants how they slept the next morning. In this experiment the quality of sleep is the __________ variable.

dependent

independent

internal

external

Explanation

The dependent variable is what the researchers measure in the experiment. In this case, the dependent variable is reactions of the participants to the drug or placebo (the independent variable). Since the reaction depends on the drug and is not within the direct control of the researchers it is the dependent variable.

8

Which of the following characteristics is true for a falsifiable hypothesis?

Can be proven wrong if the right conditions are met

Should be considered wrong until proven right through experiment

Is something that might be misrepresented or confounded

Can be used to prove that another hypothesis is incorrect

None of these

Explanation

Falsifiability is the principle that states that a research hypothesis must be able to be disproven. This does not mean that the hypothesis needs to be disproven in the study; however, hypothesis should be able to be disproven. If a hypothesis is correct under all conditions, then there is no way to scientifically test its validity.

9

Jessica scored points on a test. The mean score for the test was points with a standard deviation of . What is Jessica's z-score?

Explanation

Jessica's z-score indicates how many standard deviations below or above the mean Jessica's test score was. Jessica's test score of 70 was less than the mean (95), so we know that the the answer must be negative.

We know that the standard deviation was , so

Jessica's z-score is

10

Which of the following best describes Functionalism's influence on the study psychology?

It acted as alternative to Structuralism, and was a precursor to Behaviorism

It built on the principles of Structuralism, and was a precursor to Behaviorism.

It limited the field to study of only behavior.

Functionalism never became a formalized school of thought, and thus had no influence on psychology as a field of study.

Explanation

Functionalism, while it never became a formalized school of psychological thought, had an important impact on the field. Functionalism considered thinking and behavior in terms of functional adaptation to the subject's environment. It is fallacious to say that a school of thought must have been formalized and maintained in order to have influence in a field of study.

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