Quiz on Scientific Method and Research in Psychology

What is the main problem with personal experience as a way of knowing?

• It is always accurate.

• It is subjective.

• It is universally accepted.

• It is based on scientific evidence.

What does confirmation bias refer to?

• The tendency to evaluate all information equally.

• The tendency to seek out information that contradicts our beliefs.

• The tendency to ignore information that is consistent with our beliefs.

• The tendency to seek out information that supports our expectations.

What is the purpose of the scientific method?

• To create untestable theories.

• To construct, test, and refine theories about natural phenomena.

• To validate personal beliefs.

• To gather subjective opinions.

A graduate student researching the effects of mindfulness on exam performance. They formulate a hypothesis: "Students who practice mindfulness for 10 minutes daily will perform better on exams than those who do not." The student designs a study, collects data from 100 participants, and performs statistical analysis to compare the two groups. Based on the results, they refine their hypothesis and suggest directions for future studies.
To guide their study according to what others have already discovered, which step of the research cycle do the student's need to perform before developing a hypothesis?

• Building theory

• Analyzing the data

• Reviewing the literature

• Formulating a testable hypothesis

Which of the following is NOT a value of the scientific method?

• Objectivity

• Accuracy

• Subjectivity

• Skepticism

What is the goal of research in psychology?

• To only describe behavior.

• To describe, explain, predict, and control behavior.

• To only control behavior.

• To only predict behavior.

Luna is conducting a study to find effective methods for reducing plastic waste in her community. What type of research is this and why?

• Applied research because it is focused on theoretical questions.

• Basic research is more practical than applied research.

• Applied research because it seeks solutions for real-world problems.

• Basic research because it seeks to address specific problems.

What makes a good theory?

• It is based solely on personal experience.

• It is always accepted without question.

• It makes precise predictions and is testable.

• It is complex and difficult to understand.