Scientific Method Mod 5

Why is an operational definition necessary when reporting research findings?

• An operational definition allows others to replicate the procedure.
• An operational definitoin provides more context and incluedes many examples of the concept described.  
• An operational definition is easier to translate into multiple languages than a dictionary definition. 
• An operational definitional uses more scientific language than a dictionary definition.

A researcher looking for gender differences in 3 year olds observes a preschool class and records how many minutes childern of each gender play with dolls.  She then compares the two sets of numbers. What type of descriptive research is she conducting? 

• case study
• national study
• random sample method
• naturalistic observation

Which of the following questions is best investigated by means of a survey? 

• Is IQ related to grades? 
• Are students more likely to be politically liberal or conservative? 
• What is the best study technique for AP tests? 
• Does extra sleep improve memory?

A testable prediction that drives research is know as a(n) 

• theory
• hypothesis
• operational definition
• random sample

Researchers are interested in finding out if winning Congressional candidates display more positive more positive facial expressions than losing candidates.  The researchers attend political debates and record how frequently each candidate displays positive facial expressions. Which research method are the researchers using? 

• Random Sample
• case study
• naturalistic observation
• survey

An individual with an exceptional memory is identified.  She is capable of recalling major events, the weather, and what she did on any given date.  What research method is being used if a psychologist conducts an in-depth investigation of this individual including questionnaires, brain scans, and memory tests? 

• naturalistic observation
• survey
• Correlational method
• case study

Which of the following is most important when conducting survey research?

• choosing a representative sample
• choosing a large sample
• choosing a biased sample
• choosing a sample that includes every member of a population

Which type of research design focuses on the in-depth analysis of one subject?

• cross-sectional
• longitudinal
• case study
• Individual

Which of the following is the correct chronological order, from left to right, of the steps taken in a scientific investigation?

• data collection, hypothesis, analysis, evaluation, observation
• analysis, design, data collection, hypothesis, evaluation
• observation, hypothesis, testing, analysis, evaluation
• hypothesis, observation, analysis, testing, evaluation

If a researcher wants to study effects of exercise on school performance of third graders they would choose which of the following groups to study?

• a representative sample of third graders 
• a sample of school children from all grades
• 3rd grade students from a private school in Chicago
• the entire population of 3rd graders in the world