Research Designs

How does a researcher know which methods she should use to test her hypotheses in psychological research?

• The source of the financial support for the research will tell the researcher what type of methodology to employ in the study.

• The method that is used should be determined by what the researcher feels is her strongest area of expertise and knowledge.

• The research method being used will depend on the number of research participants that have been recruited for the study.

• The best method depends on the question being asked as well as the resources that are available to the researcher.

In an experiment, the condition that is being manipulated or changed by the researcher is called the ______ variable.

• confounding

• dependent

• extraneous

• independent

Psychologists often explore questions related to abstract concepts when conducting research but those concepts may be hard to quantify. What must be clearly stated at the beginning of the research of such a concept?

• a list of dependent variables related to that concept.

• a list of independent variables related to that concept

• an operational definition of the concept

• a proposal of who can and cannot participate in the study of that concept.

Which of the following is an example of an empirical question that could be tested systematic observation?

• How does race impact voting trends in a political election?

• Which religion's belief system is the most moral and ethical?

• Which kind of animal makes the best pet?

• Is technology good or bad for members of a society?

Which of the following would serve as an appropriate operational definition of depression in a research study about mood disorders?

• The total score the participant gets on a depression behavioral rating scale that is completed by her parents.

• The way a participant's therapist rates his depression on a defined scale of 1 to 100.

• A participant's total score on a statistically valid depression inventory.

• The extent to which a research participant reports that they "feel" depressed at the start of the study.

Markus is in a study examining the impact of vitamin C on vision. Some participants take 100mg. of vitamin C every day while others take a placebo. Markus doesn't know which group he's in, but he is given eye exams measuring his vision each month. what is the dependent variable?

• The fact that a placebo pill is being used.

• Participant's vision, in this case, Markus'.

• The amount of vitamin C a participant takes.

• The number of participants in the study.

Barbara is complaining that she has terrible abdominal pains. Several physicians have found nothing wrong with her. One physician gives Barbara a prescription for tablets with no real medication in them. "I think that this new medication will be very helpful for your abdominal infection," the physician tells Barbara. Within 24 hours of taking the fake medication Barbara reports that her abdominal pains have disappeared. This is called a ____________.

• placebo effect

• confounding variable

• double-blind study

• naturalistic study

What is participant demand?

• When an experimenter compels a person to participate in their research using threats or force.

• When a research participant behaves in a way that she/he thinks the experiment wants them to behave.

• When an independent variable is changed during an experiment leading to a disruption in the dependent variable.

• When a research participant threatens to discontinue their work on a project unless they get increased prizes of payment.

Maritza is in a study testing if almond milk slows the development of brittle bones. She's in the study for 3 months but doesn't know that her milk allergy is causing her body to block nutrients, so it doesn't help her. Maritza's allergy is an example of a(n):

• participant demand

• independent variable

• confound or confounding variable

• dependent variable.

Dr. Magill is conducting research on whether giving monkeys ice cold water in the morning will cause them to be less aggressive during the day. He has several graduate students observing the monkeys and he regularly comments to the students that ice water is "definitely making a difference." As a result, the graduate students are less likely to rate minor aggressive incidents as true aggression. The research in this example has been compromised by __________.

• confounds.

• experimenter expectations

• the placebo effect

• demand characteristics