Unit 1A – Research Methods and Statistics Unit Exam

Match each research technique with the scenario it best addresses in minimizing confounding variables in an experiment.

• Clearly defining variables so they can be measured or manipulated

• replication

• Ensuring participants are placed in groups by chance to control for age or personality differences

• statistical measurement

• Preventing both participants and researchers from knowing group assignments to reduce bias

• the double-blind procedure

• Repeating a study to see if the results are consistent

• random assignment

• Using numerical data to analyze experimental results

• operational definitions

• $10,000.

• $15,000.

• $16,000.

• $31,000.

• $80,000.

An experiment was designed to study the potential impact of alcohol consumption on emotional stability. A specification of the procedures used to measure emotional stability illustrates

• the independent variable.

• an operational definition.

• the double-blind procedure.

• random assignment.

• the dependent variable.

In order to learn about the political attitudes of all students enrolled at Arizona State University, Professor Marlow randomly selected 800 of these students to complete a questionnaire. In this instance, all the students enrolled at Arizona State University are considered to be a(n)

• independent variable.

• representative sample.

• control.

• dependent variable.

• population.

A correlation coefficient is a measure of the

• difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.

• average squared deviation of scores from a sample mean.

• direction and strength of the relationship between two variables.

• statistical significance of a difference between two sample means.

• frequency of scores at each level of some measure.

Which of the following statements is most correct about the relationship between correlation and causation?

• Correlations are statistical relationships, causations are logical relationships.

• Correlation indicates the possibility of a causal relationship, but it does not prove causation.

• If one variable is strongly positively correlated with another variable, the relationship is causal.

• if one variable is strongly negatively correlated with another variable, the relationship is not causal.

• Both correlations and causations need to be proven with experimental data.

Hypotheses are best described as

• assumptions.

• replications.

• explanations.

• confirmations.

• predictions.

The biggest danger of relying on case-study evidence is that it

• is based on naturalistic observation.

• may be unrepresentative of what is generally true.

• overestimates the importance of operational definitions.

• leads us to underestimate the causal relationships between events.

• relies mostly on correlational rather than causational evidence.

A researcher interested in proving a causal relationship between two variables should choose the (a)   research method.

• correlation
• survey
• naturalistic observation
• experiment
• case study

Professor Smith told one class that alcohol consumption has been found to increase sexual desire. He informed another class that alcohol consumption has been found to reduce sexual appetite. The fact that neither class was surprised by the information they received best illustrates the power of

• overconfidence.

• replication.

• the hindsight bias.

• the double-blind procedure.

• the placebo effect.