Research Methods and Data Analysis

Dr. Schulte wants to investigate if aggressive behavior in children is increased if they view violent videos.  In this instance, the dependent variable is

• 
  violent videos
• 
  aggressive behavior
• 
  a placebo
• 
  the control condition

In a study of effects of alcohol on driving ability, the control group should be given

• a high dosage of alcohol
• one-half the dosage given the experimental group
• a driving test before and after drinking alcohol
• no alcohol at all

Describe the relationship between the variables.

• no correlation
• strong positive correlation
• strong negative correlation
• weak positive correlation

When everybody has an equal chance of being included in a study, this process is called

• unbiased reporting
• 
  survey
• random sample
• reliability

The ____ is a measure of the degree of variation among a set of scores from each other.

• mean
• scatterplot
• standard deviation
• normal distribution

Estimate the correlation coefficient

• r=-1
• r=1
• r=-0.5
• r=0.5

Operational definitions are used for which of the following reasons?

• They enable researchers to replicate studies by precisely describing the variables and how they are used.
• They exclude mental processes from being studied, as they are no longer considered part of the scientific study of psychology.
• They determine which test of statistical significance will be used to analyze the results of the experiment
• They determine whether the experiment is better suited for a laboratory or a field setting

Neither the researcher nor the subjects knew whether or not they received the drug studied or a placebo.  This is an example of

• expectancy effects
• 
  pacebo effects
• double blind
• nothing.  It would be ridiculous

Students who do better in high school tend to do better in college.  This is an example of

• a.a negative correlation 
• a zero correlation
• a positive correlation 
• a perfect correlation

A correlation coefficient of 0 means that there is

• a strong negative relationship between 2 variables
• a strong positive relationship between 2 variables
• a perfect positive relationship between 2 variables
• no relationship between 2 variables