Step Up To: Psychology

Research MethodsPsychology, Eighth Edition

by David G. Myers

Chapter 1: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

Psychology as a

Science

Describe Our World

Correlation

Experiment

Statistical Reasoning

1. Psychology is currently defined as:

• A) the scientific study of behavior.• B) the scientific study of behavior

and mental processes.• C) the scientific study of biological

and cognitive processes.• D) the scientific study of motives

and conflicts.

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2. The ____ administers tests and provides therapy and the ___ prescribes medication. • A) clinical psychologist; psychiatrist• B) psychiatrist; clinical psychologist• C) counseling psychologist; clinical

psychologist• D) school psychologist; clinical

psychologist

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3. In the SQ3R model, the recommended sequence is:

• A) survey, question, read, reason, review.

• B) study, question, review, read, reflect.

• C) study, question, read, review, reflect.

• D) survey, question, read, review, reflect.

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4. Dr. James proposes that men’s desire for young, healthy women contributes to the survival of the human species. He is taking the ___ perspective.• A) psychodynamic• B) neurological• C) evolutionary• D) socio-cultural

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5. Together, three different levels form an integrated approach to understanding psychological processes. This approach is called:

• A) neuro-developmental.• B) biopsychosocial.• C) bio-mental-behavioral.• D) cognitive-behavioral.

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6. Julie appeared not to be surprised when the couple broke up. “I could have predicted that,” she said. Julie is demonstrating:

• A) ESP.• B) hindsight bias.• C) overestimation the extent to

which others share her opinion.• D) correlation proves causation.

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7. To have a scientific attitude, we should not just believe something we have been told, we should examine the evidence, ask questions and come to our own conclusions. This process is called:• A) a hypothesis.• B) an experiment.• C) critical thinking.• D) logical reasoning.

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8. A hypothesis is a(n):

• A) testable prediction that gives direction to research.

• B) way to organize facts.• C) process of linking facts to

deeper principles.• D) set of principles that

explains newly discovered facts.

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9. According to the recommendations by the Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, research using animal subjects:• A) should not be done.• B) should be conducted in a controlled

laboratory.• C) should only be conducted in order

to save lives.• D) should be done through

naturalistic observation. 47

10. The following is an example of an operational definition: • A) stress is defined as how well a person

adjusts to his/her environment.• B) personality is defined as how well that

person relates to others.• C) empathy is defined as showing you

can understand the other person’s feelings.

• D) intelligence is defined as a score on an intelligence test.

• E) all of the above. 25

11. When everybody has an equal chance of being included in a study, this process is called:

• A) unbiased reporting.• B) a survey.• C) a random sample.• D) reliability.

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12. Which of the following correlation coefficients reflects the strongest correlation?

• A) +.10• B) -.64• C) +.59• D) -.10

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13. A mistaken belief that two factors or events are related when they are not is called:

• A) the rule of falsifiability.• B) pseudoscience.• C) an illusory correlation.• D) paranormal

phenomena.

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14. Joan had not been able to get pregnant for years so she and her husband decided to adopt. Six months after the adoption, Joan became pregnant. This proves:• A) the belief that infertile couples are

more likely to have a child after adoption.

• B) if you try hard to have a child, you are less likely to.

• C) she must have become remarried. • D) coincidences which confirm a

belief are believed to be meaningful.33

15. Consistently, we find low self-esteem is often related with high levels of depression. This means:

• A) low self-esteem causes depression.• B) depression causes low self-esteem.• C) low self-esteem and depression are

caused by a third factor.• D) they are correlated but this does

not prove causation.

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16. In order to prove a cause-and-effect relationship, we must use:

• A) naturalistic observation.• B) the experimental method.• C) human subjects.• D) correlation coefficients.

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17. In an experiment, the group of participants who are exposed to the treatment of interest is in the:

• A) control condition.• B) independent condition.• C) placebo condition.• D) experimental condition.

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18. Neither the researcher nor the subjects knew whether or not they received the drug studied or a placebo. This is an example of:

• A) expectancy effects.• B) placebo effects.• C) a double-blind study.• D) nothing. It would be

ridiculous.

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19. The best way to assure the post-treatment differences found between the experimental and control groups is due to the treatment is by:• A) random assignment.• B) training your subjects well.• C) letting your subjects know

which group they are in.• D) using a placebo.

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20. Dr. Schulte wants to investigate if aggressive behavior in children is increased if they view violent videos. In this instance, the dependent variable is:

• A) violent videos.• B) aggressive behavior.• C) a placebo.• D) the control condition.

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21. Which measure of central tendency is the exact middle score of a distribution of scores?

• A) mean• B) median• C) mode• D) coefficient

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22. The ____ is a measure of the degree of variation among a set of scores from each other.

• A) mean• B) scatterplot• C) standard deviation• D) normal distribution

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23. Mean is to range as ____ is to ___.

• A) central tendency; variation• B) frequency distribution; bar

graph• C) scatterplot; correlation• D) mean; mode

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24: If results of research are not likely to have occurred by chance, we say the results are:

• A) an illusory correlation.• B) descriptive.• C) valid.• D) statistically significant.

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25. Mr. Soda found in his experiment more Americans enjoyed Coke than Pepsi. He blindfolded 100 people, had them taste each and then report. You would recommend that Mr. Soda:

• A) should use other colas, too.• B) should have tested non-

Americans.• C) should test many more

subjects.• D) should have some test 7-up.

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Answers

1. B

2. A

3. D

4. C

5. B

6. B

7. C

8. A

9. D

10. D

11. C

12. B

13. C

14. D

15. D

16. B

17. D

18. C

19. A

20. B

21. B

22. C

23. A

24. D

25. C