WorksheetsUnit 1A – Research Methods and Statistics Unit Exam
Total questions: 65
Worksheet time: 3hrs 15mins
Match each research technique with the scenario it best addresses in minimizing confounding variables in an experiment.
replication
Repeating a study to see if the results are consistent
statistical measurement
Using numerical data to analyze experimental results
random assignment
Ensuring participants are placed in groups by chance to control for age or personality differences
operational definitions
Clearly defining variables so they can be measured or manipulated
the double-blind procedure
Preventing both participants and researchers from knowing group assignments to reduce bias
In a group of five individuals, two report annual incomes of 10,000,andtheotherthreereportincomesof 14,000, 15,000,and 31,000, respectively. The mode of this group's distribution of annual incomes is
$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.
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.
To learn about the TV viewing habits of all the children attending Oakbridge School, Professor DeVries randomly selected and interviewed 50 of the school's students. In this instance, all the children attending the school are considered to be a(n)
population.
representative sample.
independent variable.
control condition.
dependent variable.
Researchers are interested in studying the relationship between poor prenatal nutrition and early cognitive development. Because of ethical concerns, which research method would be most appropriate for researchers to use?
survey
case study
experimentation
correlational
naturalistic observation
Match each research method or concept with its correct description as used in psychological studies.
naturalistic observation.
Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.
the hindsight bias.
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.
random sampling.
A process for selecting a representative group from the population under study.
the double-blind procedure.
Neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the treatment or the placebo.
replication.
Repeating the essence of a research study to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.
In a drug treatment study, participants given a pill containing no actual drug are receiving a(n)
random sample.
experimental treatment.
double-blind.
replication.
placebo.
Knowing the difference between an experimental condition and a control condition is most relevant to understanding the nature of
correlations.
random sampling.
replication.
independent variables.
hindsight bias.
Match each statistical measure to the scenario where it would be the most appropriate to use in determining housing values in a particular community.
range
To describe the difference between the highest and lowest housing prices
mode
To identify the most frequently occurring housing price
median
To find the middle value of housing prices, especially when there are outliers
mean
To calculate the average housing price
standard deviation
To measure how much housing prices vary from the average
In the 1800s, the activist Dorothea Dix led a movement in support of
using introspection as a therapeutic procedure
eliminating the policy of deinstitutionalization
adopting the belief that mental disorders occur when people fail to conform to society’s expectations
outlawing the practice of surgical lobotomy
improving the treatment of patients with mental disorders who were housed in asylums
In an experiment designed to study the effectiveness of a new drug, research participants who receive a placebo are participating in the ________ condition.
dependent variable
correlational
experimental
replication
control
In the hypothesis “Students who study a list of terms in the morning, just after waking up, will recall more terms than students who study the list just before falling asleep,” what is the dependent variable?
list of terms
memorization
time of day
number of terms remembered
students
Following the scientific discovery that a specific brain structure is significantly larger in violent individuals than in those who are nonviolent, a news headline announced: “Enlarged Brain Structure Triggers Violent Acts.” The headline writer should most clearly be warned about the dangers of
perceiving illusory correlations.
explaining events in hindsight.
confusing correlation with causation.
generalizing from unrepresentative samples.
discerning order in random events.
The most commonly reported measure of central tendency is the
mode.
mean.
normal distribution.
median.
standard deviation.
According to Professor Fayad, we like people who like us because their affection for us boosts our own self-esteem. His idea is an example of
naturalistic observation.
illusory correlation.
hindsight bias.
replication.
a theory.
Which technique involves repeating the essence of an earlier research study with different participants and in different circumstances?
replication
correlational research
random sampling
naturalistic observation
the double-blind procedure
Which of the following questions most likely could be answered using an empirical approach?
Is human nature basically good or evil?
What causes aggression?
What happens after we die?
How will style choices change in the future?
What is the basis of faith?
Researchers use experiments rather than other research methods in order to distinguish between (a)
George was worried about his bakery's new cupcakes after two customers disliked them on the first day, but when he surveyed his customers over the next week, more than 90% of the customers said they loved them. By giving too much weight to those two customers before the survey, George almost committed an error known as
a sampling bias.
wording effects.
a replication error.
confusing correlation with causation.
not following ethical guidelines.
When provided with the unscrambled solution to anagrams, people underestimate the difficulty of solving the anagrams by themselves. This best illustrates
illusory correlation.
hindsight bias.
the placebo effect.
wording effects.
overconfidence.
Professor Ober carefully observes and records the behaviors of children in their classrooms in order to track the development of their social and intellectual skills. Professor Ober is most clearly engaged in
survey research.
naturalistic observation.
experimentation.
replication.
correlation.
When you question whether anecdotal evidence can be generalized to all people, you are applying (a)
If the correlation between the physical weight and reading ability of children is +0.85, this would indicate that
there is very little statistical relationship between weight and reading ability among children.
low body weight has a negative effect on the reading abilities of children.
better reading ability is associated with greater physical weight among children.
body weight has no causal influence on the reading abilities of children.
weight is a causal variable dependent on reading ability.
To understand the unusual behavior of an adult client, a clinical psychologist carefully investigates the client's current life situation and his physical, social-cultural, and educational history. Which research method has the psychologist used?
the survey
the case study
experimentation
naturalistic observation
correlation
Introspection as practiced by early structuralists is best illustrated by which of the following behaviors?
Describing one's immediate sensations while looking at a rose
Determining the best way for children to learn in school
Conditioning an infant to fear rabbits
Recalling one's unconscious desires
Creating intelligence tests for use in the military
According to the ethical guidelines set by the American Psychological Association (APA), which of the following is true of psychological research in which animals are used as subjects?
It must not involve the use of surgical procedures.
It is no longer permitted by the APA without special authorization.
It should conform to all APA ethical guidelines for animal research.
It must be limited to investigations that use correlational procedures.
It may not be conducted by psychologists who do not have a license.
A researcher uses debriefing when he (a)
John B. Watson is best known as the founder of
behaviorism
functionalism
rationalism
structuralism
mechanism
A disadvantage of longitudinal studies is that
Differences observed among participants of different ages are usually due to differences in the environment in which they were reared
participants who drop out during the course of the study may be different in important ways from ones who do not drop out
unfamiliarity with testing situations can put older participants at a disadvantage
personality traits do not remain constant across the life span
men and women confront different developmental crises in the course of their lives because of their different social roles
Ten participants in a treatment group were asked to rate their feelings of self-worth on a scale of one to ten, with a value of ten indicating a very positive feeling of self-worth. The data for the participants are above. What is the mode for these data?
4
5
6
7
8
A double-blind control is essential for which of the following?
A study comparing the IQ test scores of children from different educational systems
A study of relationships among family members
An experiment to determine the effect of a food reward on the bar-pressing rate of a rat
Assessment of a treatment designed to reduce schizophrenic symptoms
A survey of drug use among teenagers
A psychologist designed a study to test the effects of cell phone use on driving safety. Participants were randomly assigned either to drive an automobile simulator while talking to a friend on a cell phone or to drive a simulator without talking on a phone. Which type of research does the scenario describe?
Participant observation
Naturalistic observation
Correlational
Case study
Experimental
A survey shows that children who have encyclopedias in their homes earn better grades in school than children whose homes lack encyclopedias. The researcher concludes that having encyclopedias at home improves grades. This conclusion is erroneous primarily because the researcher has incorrectly
failed to allow for experimenter bias
identified the independent variable
identified the dependent variable
inferred correlation from causation
inferred causation from correlation
A teacher finds the distribution of scores on a final exam to be positively skewed with low variability. On the basis of this information, the teacher would be most justified in concluding that
a small number of students in the class did poorly on the exam
the students in her classroom have a very wide range of intellectual abilities
the exam was too difficult
the exam is not a reliable assessment tool
most of her students are of above average ability
A test has a mean of 80 with a standard deviation of 4. A score that is within one standard deviation of the mean is (a)
A test with normally distributed results was returned to a class of 100 students. Later, the teacher realized an error was made and added 10 points to each student's score. Which of the following must have changed as a result of the increase in scores?
A student's percentile rank
The standard deviation of the scores
The variance of the scores
The skew of the distribution
The mode
An instructor conducted an experiment to determine the effects of two different methods of study on the amount students learned in introductory physics. The results showed that the average amount learned by the group using one method was greater than the average amount learned by the group using the other. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Which of the following is the most appropriate conclusion to be drawn?
The group of students attaining the higher mean score had studied more than the other group.
The better study method will have different effects for students of varying levels of ability.
Neither group learned a significant amount.
There is a positive correlation between the results of the two methods.
There is a possibility that the difference between the two groups occurred by chance.
Dr. Grayson is interested in studying the relationship between weight loss and mood. To conduct the study, Dr. Grayson analyzes the results of several previous studies on weight loss and emotional state. Which research strategy is Dr. Grayson using?
Meta-analysis
Naturalistic observation
An experiment
A survey
A case study
Match each description with the correct aspect of informed consent.
Explaining only the benefits of the study
Describing only positive outcomes to participants
Informing participants of procedures, risks, and rights before participation
Providing all necessary information for voluntary participation
Allowing deception without explanation
Using misleading information without participant awareness
Keeping participant data confidential
Ensuring privacy of participant information
Which ethical guideline ensures that participants can leave a study at any time without penalty?
Confidentiality
Protection from harm
Right to withdraw
Informed consent
Which ethical principle protects the privacy of participants’ personal information?
Debriefing
Confidentiality
Right to withdraw
Institutional review
After a study, researchers explain the true purpose of the experiment and provide resources to participants. This process is known as:
Informed consent
Debriefing
Confidentiality
Voluntary participation
In psychological research, deception is permitted only if:
It entertains participants
It is necessary, does not harm participants, and is revealed in debriefing
The researcher prefers it
Which group oversees and approves research involving human participants in the United States?
American Psychological Association (APA)
Congress
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Research Methods Committee
Match each guideline with its description regarding the use of animals in psychological research.
Using animals only for observational studies
Permitting only non-intrusive observation of animals in research
Providing humane housing, care, and minimizing suffering
Ensuring ethical treatment and welfare of animals during studies
Avoiding use of animals under all circumstances
Prohibiting animal involvement in any research activities
Obtaining written consent from animal owners
Requiring formal approval from those responsible for the animals
Which ethical guideline is violated if participants are physically or emotionally harmed during a study?
Debriefing
Protection from harm
Confidentiality
Right to withdraw
If a study involves minors, which additional step is required?
Informing teachers only
Allowing children to decide independently
Obtaining parental consent and child assent
Keeping results anonymous
Why is replication connected to ethical standards?
It ensures researchers get the same participants again
It prevents plagiarism
It confirms reliability of results and avoids misleading claims
It allows deception
The biological perspective in psychology focuses on:
Cultural values shaping behavior
Brain structures, genetics, and neurotransmitters
Observable behavior only
Childhood unconscious conflicts
Which perspective emphasizes observable actions and reinforcement over internal processes?
Cognitive
Behavioral
Humanistic
Sociocultural
According to the cognitive perspective, memory, thought, and problem-solving are explained by:
Social influence
Reinforcement
Mental processes
Childhood experiences
The psychodynamic perspective stresses that behavior is driven by:
Immediate rewards and punishments
Cultural norms
Unconscious motives and early childhood experiences
Brain structures
Which perspective highlights personal growth, free will, and self-actualization?
Biological
Cognitive
Humanistic
Evolutionary
A researcher studies how peer pressure affects teenagers’ behavior. Which perspective best explains this?
Evolutionary
Sociocultural
Cognitive
Biological
Which perspective explains behavior in terms of natural selection and adaptation?
Psychodynamic
Evolutionary
Humanistic
Behavioral
According to the behavioral perspective, phobias are best explained as:
Results of unconscious conflicts
Natural brain responses
Learned behaviors through conditioning
Cultural influences
Which perspective would examine how serotonin levels influence depression?
Cognitive
Behavioral
Biological
Humanistic
Which perspective emphasizes how society, culture, and environment shape an individual's behavior?
Biological
Evolutionary
Sociocultural
Cognitive
