Psychology Core-Concepts Mind Behavior and Psychological Science

Mind, Behavior, and Psychological Science Multiple Choice 1. Which of the following statements is a formal definition of psychology? a. Psychology is the scientific study of human nature. b. Psychology is the scientific study of theories and research methods. c. Psychology is the scientific study of the process of learning and modifying behavioral reflexes. d. Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. e. Psychology is the scientific study of groups of people. Answer: d. Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. 2. The literal meaning of the word "psychology" is the a. study of the mind. b. study of people. c. science of behavior. d. study of insanity. e. science of people. Answer: a. study of the mind. 3. The term "psyche" means a. people. b. thoughts. c. processes. d. brain. e. mind. Answer: e. mind. 4. Modern psychology is best considered to be a a. collection of pieces of folk wisdom. b. series of contradictions to be sorted out. c. science. Correct. The study of psychology is a science, which means that there are specific methods for asking questions, gathering data, and answering questions. d. therapeutic process. Incorrect. Psychotherapy is a small part of the larger field of psychology. Modern psychology is best considered to be a science. e. pseudoscience. Answer: c. science. 5. In the definition of psychology, the term mental processes refers to a. internal, covert activities. b. outward behavior. c. overt actions and reactions. d. only animal behavior. e. sensory and perceptual events. Answer: a. internal, covert activities 6. Which topic would NOT be investigated by a psychologist if the definition of psychology were limited to “the science of behavior”? a. relation between grade-point average and salary b. thought processes students used while trying to answer this question c. how changes in the rate of television violence influence real-life violence d. effectiveness of several treatments for people who suffer from depression e. the hereditary determinants of sexual orientation Answer: b. thought processes students used while trying to answer this question 7. The majority of psychologists work in a. private practice. b. public school. c. government. d. universities, colleges, and medical schools. e. not-for-profit agencies. Answer: d. universities, colleges, and medical schools 8. These psychologists perform most of the research that creates new psychological knowledge: a. industrial/organizational psychologists b. clinical psychologists c. school psychologists d. applied psychologists e. experimental psychologists Answer: e. experimental psychologists 9. Margaret is a psychologist who designs programs to increase employee morale and workplace productivity. She is a(n) a. developmental psychologist. b. clinical psychologist. c. industrial/organizational psychologist. Correct. This would fall under the job description of an I/O psychologist. d. applied psychologist. Incorrect. An applied psychologist uses the knowledge developed by experimental psychologists to tackle human problems of various types. e. experimental psychologist. Answer: c. industrial/organizational psychologist. 10. Dr. Jones is an industrial/organizational (I/O) psychologist. Thus, she is most likely to do which of the following? a. help individuals who have eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa b. conduct experiments to determine which studying strategies work best c. diagnose learning disabilities within a school district d. assist an athlete in creating an effective schedule of practice sessions Incorrect. This might be the job duty of a sports psychologist. e. Help companies develop questions to ask job candidates. Correct. I/O psychologists apply the scientific principles of psychology to the workplace, and this includes assisting with the processes of interviewing and hiring. Answer: e. help companies develop questions to ask job candidates 11. A(n) ________ psychologist would be most likely to help individuals overcome their depression. a. clinical b. industrial/organizational (I/O) c. engineering d. school e. social Page Reference: 6 Answer: a. clinical 12. One major difference between psychiatry and psychology is that psychiatry is a. a branch of sociology. Incorrect. Neither psychiatry nor psychology are branches of sociology. b. a medical specialty. Correct. Psychiatrists are medical doctors, while psychologists are not. c. focused on importance of perception for human function. d. part of a large group of specialties. e. involved in case study research. Page Reference: 6 Answer: b. a medical specialty. 13. Which degree is a psychologist LEAST likely to have earned? a. master's b. PhD c. EdD d. PsyD e. MD Page Reference: 6 Answer: e. MD 14. Dr. Braunz has been treating a child with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. She decides to write a prescription for Ritalin. Given this information, it is most likely that Dr. Braunz is a a. psychiatrist. Correct. Psychiatrists are medical doctors and can write prescriptions. b. psychoanalyst. c. humanistic psychologist. Incorrect. This type of psychologist would never write a prescription for Ritalin. d. school psychologist. e. psychiatric social worker. Page Reference: 6 Answer: a. psychiatrist. 15. Ross is a psychologist, whereas Rachel is a psychiatrist. Thus, which of the following is MOST likely to be true? a. Rachel has not earned a PhD degree. Correct. Rachel would have to earn a medical degree (MD) in order to be a psychiatrist. Ross would have to earn a different doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) to be a psychologist. b. They both have earned MD degrees. Incorrect. A psychologist does not earn an MD degree. c. They both can prescribe medicine to help people with psychological problems. d. Only Ross can treat people with psychological problems. e. Ross is more likely than Rachel to use a medical perspective to understand people. Page Reference: 6 Answer: a. Rachel has not earned a PhD degree. 16. Psychology is distinct from psychiatry in that it a. requires significantly less graduate training. Incorrect. Both fields of practice require intense and extensive graduate training. b. is concerned with all behavior, not just abnormality and mental illness. Correct. As your authors note, psychology focuses on the whole range of human experiences, which includes but is not limited to mental disorders or illnesses. c. is based on counseling therapy rather than medication. d. is less concerned with scientific method than the latter disciplines. e. is not considered to be a scientific field. Page Reference: 6 Answer: b. is concerned with all behavior, not just abnormality and mental illness. 17. Psychology is differentiated from pseudo-psychology because of a. the absolute certainty of its findings. Incorrect. Even with properly conducted research, one can never be absolutely certain of their findings. b. its focus on the natural rather than the social world. c. the more widespread public acceptance of pseudoscience. d. its findings are more relevant to human problems. e. its method of using the scientific method to test theories and hypotheses. Correct. Pseudo-psychology makes claims that are not supported with any true scientific research. Psychology is a discipline that relies on the scientific method to support its claims. Page Reference: 7 Topic: Thinking Critically about Psychology and Pseudo-Psychology Answer: e. its method of using the scientific method to test theories and hypotheses. 18. Which of the following is an example of pseudo-psychology? a. paranormal claims b. astrology Incorrect. All of these options are examples of pseudoscience. c. graphology d. subliminal messages e. All of the above are correct. Correct. None of the examples in this question can provide legitimate, scientifically-backed evidence that they are legitimate; therefore, they are all examples of pseudo-psychology. Page Reference: 7 Topic: Thinking Critically about Psychology and Pseudo-Psychology Answer: e. All of the above are correct. 19. One evening, when he couldn't sleep, Mr. Bradley turned on the television and saw an infomercial for a new sleep aid. As a critical thinker, Mr. Bradley should be most cautious about this new product if a. the product had been subjected to an experimental study and the scrutiny of a peer-review process. b. its makers claim it has been "proven" to induce sleep in 80 percent of test participants. Correct. Remember that extraordinary claims without extraordinary evidence are one of the keys to identifying pseudo-psychology. c. its makers discuss the scientific investigations that have compared it to other effective sleep aids rather than relying on testimonials of those with insomnia. d. the results of research connect the efficacy of the sleep-aid to other widely accepted scientific findings. Incorrect. Providing properly gathered scientific evidence is a key for supporting extraordinary claims. e. the advertisement noted several scientifically controlled studies that all found the same results. Page Reference: 7 Topic: Thinking Critically about Psychology and Pseudo-Psychology Answer: b. its makers claim it has been "proven" to induce sleep in 80 percent of test participants. 20. After the abduction and murder of a well-known business leader, lawmakers immediately passed new legislation for increased penalties. This is an example of a. confirmation bias. b. realistic bias. c. volitional bias. d. reactive bias. Incorrect. Your textbook does not discuss something called the reactive bias. Perhaps you have confused this with the emotional bias. e. emotional bias. Correct. This refers to the tendency to make judgments based on attitudes and feelings rather than on rational analysis of a situation. Page Reference: 8 Topic: Thinking Critically about Psychology and Pseudo-Psychology Answer: e. emotional bias. 21. The tendency to look for information that supports one’s own belief is called a. the principle of falsifiability. b. confirmation bias. c. criterion validity. d. volunteer bias. e. expectation bias. Page Reference: 8 Topic: Thinking Critically about Psychology and Pseudo-Psychology Answer: b. confirmation bias. 22. The tendency to look for supportive evidence rather than actively seeking out contradictory evidence is known as a. the availability heuristic. b. belief perseverance. c. the confirmation bias. d. the hindsight bias. e. the emotional bias. Page Reference: 8 Topic: Thinking Critically about Psychology and Pseudo-Psychology Answer: c. the confirmation bias. 23. Gwen has posted a questionnaire on MySpace asking her friends to support her idea of cell phones in the classroom. She ignores anyone opposing her beliefs, which is an example of a. naïve realism. Incorrect. Naïve realism suggests that we believe that we see the world precisely as it is. The best answer to this question is the confirmation bias. b. conjunctive fallacy. c. confirmation bias. Correct. The confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that supports our point of view and ignore evidence that contradicts our point of view. d. attribution bias. e. reactive bias. Page Reference: 8 Topic: Thinking Critically about Psychology and Pseudo-Psychology Answer: c. confirmation bias. 24. Noted Greek philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle observed that a. brain damage contributed to most mental disorders. b. emotions were caused by changes in brain chemistry. c. "truth" was determined by careful testing procedures. d. emotions can distort thinking. e. emotions were not worthy of scientific discussion. Page Reference: 11 Topic: What are Psychology's Six Main Perspectives? Answer: d. emotions can distort thinking. 25. French philosopher René Descartes most likely would believe that individuals suffer from schizophrenia due to a. irrational ways of interpreting events in the world. b. unconscious conflicts involving sexuality and aggression. c. whether an individual lives in a destructive society Incorrect. This would be a sociocultural explanation, and would not be consistent with the theories of René Descartes. d. the upbringing of the person. e. activity within the person's nervous system. Correct. René Descartes believed in a separation between the physical body and spiritual mind, and felt that behaviors were ‘hard-wired’ into the human nervous system. Page Reference: 12 Answer: e. activity within the person's nervous system. 26. A psychologist who studies how hormones affect a person's behavior is using the ________ perspective. a. biological b. functional c. deterministic d. evolutionary e. humanistic Page Reference: 12 Answer: a. biological 27. Evolutionary psychology might suggest that certain cognitive strategies and goals are built into the brain because a. they help humans adapt to their natural environment. Correct. Adaptation and survival are the basic tenets of evolutionary theory. b. human brains are similar to the brains of the higher primates. c. they are the result of learning that has taken place over many centuries. Incorrect. In fact, evolutionary theory does not allow for the idea that learned behaviors can become genetically passed from generation to generation. d. they are the result of memories we have inherited from our ancestors. e. they are prewired to help us achieve self-actualization during our lifetimes. Page Reference: 13 Answer: a. they help humans adapt to their natural environment. 28. Dr. Jones probably agrees with the ________ theory of psychology, since he contends that humans are intelligent species due to the fact that intelligence gives us an advantage in the natural world. a. psychoanalytic b. behavioral c. cognitive Incorrect. Cognitive psychology does not address concepts like advantages in the natural world. The best answer to this question is evolutionary psychology. d. evolutionary Correct. Survival advantage is a basic premise of evolutionary psychology. e. developmental Page Reference: 13 Answer: d. evolutionary 29. A breakthrough in the scientific field of ________ ultimately led to the world's first psychology laboratory. a. chemistry b. botany c. biology d. sociology e. geology Page Reference: 13 Answer: a. chemistry 30. Chemistry, physics, and anthropology are classified as scientific because of their a. findings. b. philosophy. c. methods. Correct. The methods of science that are used to objectively measure phenomena are the basis of these disciplines. d. clinical application. e. usefulness in general life. Incorrect. Your authors do not discuss the utility of these fields as that which distinguishes them as sciences. Page Reference: 13 Answer: c. methods. 31. In 1879, in Leipzig, Germany, the first psychological laboratory was overseen by a. William James. b. William Tell. c. Wilhelm Wundt. d. Sigmund Freud. e. William the Conqueror. Page Reference: 13 Answer: c. Wilhelm Wundt. 32. Wilhelm Wundt founded the a. notion of free will. b. approach of radical behaviorism. c. psychodynamic approach. d. first psychology laboratory. e. first therapy clinic. Page Reference: 13 Answer: d. first psychology laboratory. 33. At the close of the nineteenth century, Gerhard is excited to find that he has been accepted for training in the psychology laboratory of Wilhelm Wundt. It is likely that Gerhard will be trained to a. analyze how to break down his sensations into their most basic elements. Correct. Wundt trained his students to detect the basic elements of human consciousness. b. determine the function or purpose of a particular human behavior. Incorrect. Wundt was not a functionalist. c. listen intently while individuals tell him of their depression or nervousness. d. carefully feel the bumps on a person’s head in order to determine his or her character traits. e. uncover a person’s unconscious conflicts. Page Reference: 13 Answer: a. analyze how to break down his sensations into their most basic elements. 34. The school of psychology called structuralism used a technique called _____, which involved reporting the contents of consciousness to study a person’s experiences. a. intervention b. introspection c. insight inventory d. induction e. investigation Page Reference: 13-14 Answer: b. introspection 35. The research technique of introspection a. measures people biologically by using tools such as an MRI or PET scan. b. studies groups of people interacting with one another. c. asks people to describe their sensations and responses. d. studies children rather than adolescents and adults. e. exposes people to a variety of stressful situations to determine how they will respond. Page Reference: 13 Answer: c. asks people to describe their sensations. 36. What is the best analogy for Wundt’s and Titchener’s mission for psychology? a. a chart listing the basic chemical elements Correct. They wanted to break down the mind into basic elements. b. a list of the courses required for graduation c. an umbrella keeping you dry in a storm. d. a computer program for word processing a term paper Incorrect. A computer program does not have basic elements. e. a traffic light that alternates colors on a predictable time schedule Page Reference: 13-14 Answer: a. a chart listing the basic chemical elements 37. Structuralists were concerned with uncovering the basic components of a. the unconscious. Incorrect. The unconscious was the emphasis of psychodynamic theorists, not structuralists. b. the mind. Correct. The name structuralism comes from the idea that it was possible to identify and study the structure of the human mind. c. the environment. d. culture. e. the family unit. Page Reference: 14 Answer: b. the mind. 38. Who was an early proponent of functionalism? a. Ivan Pavlov b. William James c. Wilhelm Wundt d. Max Wertheimer e. E.B. Titchener Page Reference: 14 Answer: b. William James 39. Functionalists were interested in the function of ________ in dealing with the problems of everyday living. a. family and friends b. consciousness Correct. It was in this way that functionalists differed from structuralists; that is, they were more interested in the purpose, or “function,” of consciousness than its actual structure. c. stress reduction techniques d. drugs Incorrect. The use of drugs might be of interest to a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist, but not to a functionalist. e. professional therapists Page Reference: 14 Answer: b. consciousness 40. If a functionalist from the 1870s were alive today, where would we most likely find him? a. in a laboratory, studying principles of perception b. in a school, working to improve teaching methods Correct. Functionalists applied research. c. in a mountain retreat, contemplating the meaning of life d. in a sleep laboratory, trying to determine if our need for sleep is biologically based Incorrect. This would be considered pure research. e. in a hospital doing research into the neurochemicals that have survived various “levels” of human evolution Page Reference: 14-15 Answer: b. in a school, working to improve teaching methods 41. Gestalt psychology argued that perception is a. altered by an evolutionary pressure to avoid being eaten. b. impossible to study using introspection. c. a process in which the whole is more than the sum of the parts. Correct. Gestalt psychologists felt that if you study the parts you miss the bigger picture, or the whole, and thus you miss a crucial element of what should be studied. d. a process found in animals but not humans. e. a function of our unique streams of consciousness. Incorrect. This might be a focus of a functionalist, but not a Gestalt psychologist. Page Reference: 14 Answer: c. a process in which the whole is more than the sum of the parts. 42. While on a visit to a large city, you observe several billboards in which a series of lights seems to move. Which perspective in psychology would most likely help you understand this phenomenon? a. Gestalt Correct. Gestaltists focused on perception of wholes. b. behavioral c. humanistic d. psychodynamic Incorrect. This theory focused on the unconscious. e. temperament Page Reference: 14 Answer: a. Gestalt 43. The first applied psychologists were the a. structuralists. b. behaviorists. c. functionalists. d. Gestalt psychologists. e. psychoanalysts. Answer: c. functionalists. 44. A scientist who studies the strategies involved in playing a game of chess is most likely to follow a(n) ________ approach to psychology. a. cognitive Correct. This individual is studying mental process that govern the moves that a chess player will make. This is most applicable to cognitive psychology. b. humanistic c. behavioristic Incorrect. A behavioral psychologist would focus on the learning processes that determine our actions. d. evolutionary e. psychoanalytic Answer : a. cognitive 45. A cognitive psychologist has been studying aggression in teens. Which of the following is most likely to be the title of his latest study? a. "The Consequences of Teen Violence" Incorrect. This might be the title of a study conducted by a behaviorist. b. "The Family Dynamics of Violent Teens" c. "Social Pressures that Produce Violent Teens" d. "The Use of Medications to Control Aggression in Teens" e. "The Reasons Why Teens Say They Act Violently" Correct. As your textbook notes, cognitive psychology focuses on how a person’s thoughts and actions are a result of perceptions and interpretations of experiences. Answer : e. "The Reasons Why Teens Say They Act Violently" 46. The key feature of behaviorism that distinguishes it from other approaches to psychology is that a. consciousness is central to the study of the mind. b. only observable behavior is appropriate for study. Correct. Behaviorists did not feel that it was possible to scientifically study things that could not be seen and measured, including the mind! c. mental abilities evolve just as physical characteristics do. Incorrect. This is a key feature of the developmental perspective. d. a holistic view of a person is essential for understanding. e. groups, not individuals, should be the focus of study. Answer: b. only observable behavior is appropriate for study. 47. ________ argued that a truly objective science of psychology should deal solely with observable events: stimuli from the environment and the organism's responses. a. Jean Piaget b. John B. Watson c. B. F. Skinner d. Sigmund Freud e. Wilhelm Wundt Answer: b. John Watson 48. John B. Watson believed that psychology should involve the study of a. behavior. b. the mind. c. the brain. d. consciousness. e. emotions. Answer: a. behavior. 49. Which school of psychology questioned whether psychologists should study the mind? a. psychodynamic theory b. behaviorism c. Gestalt psychology d. cognitive psychology e. humanistic psychology Answer: b. behaviorism 50. Suppose you were a graduate student studying for a PhD in psychology in the 1920s. Your advisor was strongly influenced by John B. Watson. Which of the following might your advisor consider an acceptable choice for your research? a. a survey of daydreams b. an analysis of how specific behaviors are acquired Correct. Watson believed observable behavior should be the focus of study. c. a survey of sexual imagery in dreams of men and women d. an analysis of the thought processes students report while answering test items Incorrect. You cannot observe thought processes. e. the achievement of self-actualization and why it is such a rarely seen occurrence Answer: b. an analysis of how specific behaviors are acquired 51. ________ was an influential advocate of behaviorism. a. Jean Piaget b. William James c. B. F. Skinner d. Sigmund Freud e. Wilhelm Wundt Answer: c. B. F. Skinner 52. A behavioral psychologist studying the causes of alcohol usage would most likely a. ask people why they consume alcohol. Incorrect. This might be a question asked by a cognitive psychologist. b. observe whether people have a positive or negative experience after consuming alcohol. Correct. The work of noted behaviorist B.F. Skinner focused on the influences of consequences of an action on future behaviors. c. measure brain changes following alcohol consumption. d. determine patterns of alcohol usage within different cultures. e. ask people how they feel while they are consuming alcohol. Answer : b. observe whether people have a positive or negative experience after consuming alcohol. 53. The ________ approach views the mind, particularly the unconscious mind, as a reservoir of energy for the personality. a. biological b. sociocultural c. behavioristic d. psychodynamic Correct. Freud believed that this energy is the primary motivation of all human behaviors. e. humanistic Incorrect. The humanistic model emphasizes personal freedom of choice, growth, and the positive aspects of human beings. Answer: d. psychodynamic 54. The belief that the unconscious mind has an influence on one’s behavior is part of what early field of psychology? a. structuralism b. functionalism c. psychodynamic psychology d. behavioral psychology e. cognitive psychology Answer: c. psychodynamic psychology 55. The psychodynamic perspective was originally conceived as a technique for a. developing useful experiments to study the mind. b. observing workplace productivity. c. treating mental disorders. d. creating surveys to measure behavior. e. the use of animal models of abnormal behavior. Answer: c. treating mental disorders. 56. The principles of psychodynamics were first outlined by a. William James. b. B. F. Skinner. c. Sigmund Freud. d. Aristotle. e. Jean Piaget. Answer: c. Sigmund Freud. 57. Which of the following would be correctly described as a “whole-person” perspective in psychology? a. humanistic psychology b. cognitive psychology c. developmental psychology d. sociocultural psychology e. Gestalt psychology Answer: a. humanistic psychology 58. Ted is seeing a humanistic psychologist for therapy. His psychologist is most likely to focus on a. cultural guidelines that shaped Ted's personality. Incorrect. This might be the emphasis of the sociocultural therapist. b. how Ted's parents shaped his behavior. c. striving for growth and exercising free will. Correct. Humanistic psychology developed, at least partially, as backlash against the negativistic attitude of psychodynamic theories. It emphasizes human growth, individuality, and freedom. d. the conflict between personal desires and social restrictions. e. Ted's unconscious resentment of his siblings. Answer: c. striving for growth and exercising free will. 59. You attend a lecture by a psychologist who uses terms such as free will and growth. Which psychological perspective is most consistent with the points the psychologist presented? a. behaviorism Incorrect. This perspective does not suggest free will or human nature. b. humanism Correct. This perspective suggests people have many choices. c. functionalism d. psychodynamics e. structuralism Answer: b. humanism 60. The humanistic approach toward psychology emphasizes a. the positive side of human nature. b. the deterministic nature of human environments. c. unconscious motivations. d. stimulus-response relationships in humans. e. our brain biochemistry. Answer: a. the positive side of human nature. 61. “Differences in individuals are a result of differences in persistent characteristics and internal dispositions.” This is the basic premise of which psychological perspective? a. trait and b. psychodynamic theory c. structuralism d. functionalism e. Gestalt psychology Answer: a. trait and 62. The ancient Greek typology of the four body humors is lives on in modern times as a. trait and . b. psychodynamic theory. c. structuralism. d. functionalism. e. Gestalt psychology. Answer: a. trait and . 63. Marcia believes that people have an internal set of “conditions” that are largely responsible for determining their actions in life. Marcia would probably be most affiliated with which school of psychological thought? a. trait and Correct. These “conditions,” which differ from person to person, refer to traits and temperaments. b. behavioral psychology Incorrect. Behaviorists did not believe that untestable, unobservable phenomena had any place in the science of psychology. c. structuralism d. functionalism e. Gestalt psychology Answer: a. trait and 64. According to this perspective, people change as the interactions of heredity and environment unfold over time: a. biological Incorrect. The nature and nurture aspects of this question emphasize a developmental perspective, not a biological approach. b. cognitive c. whole-person d. developmental Correct. The pattern of growth that we demonstrate over the course of our lives is affected by both nature- and nurture-related factors. This is the essence of developmental psychology e. sociocultural Page Reference: 19 Topic: The Developmental Perspective: Changes Arising from Nature and Nurture Answer: d. developmental 65. The main idea that defines this perspective is that people change in predictable ways as the influences of heredity and environment unfold over time: a. engineering b. sociocultural c. developmental Correct. The pattern of growth that we demonstrate over the course of our lives is affected by both nature- and nurture-related factors. This is the essence of developmental psychology. d. structuralist e. humanistic Incorrect. Humanistic psychologists focus on growth, personal freedom, and the positive aspects of human beings. Page Reference: 19 Topic: The Developmental Perspective: Changes Arising from Nature and Nurture Answer: c. developmental 66. The ________ perspective argues that other people have a large influence on our own behaviors. a. engineering b. sociocultural Correct. The study of the impact that we have on others, as well as the impact that others have on us is a crucial tenet of the sociocultural perspective. c. cognitive d. structuralist e. humanistic Incorrect. Humanistic psychologists focus on growth, personal freedom, and the positive aspects of human beings. Page Reference: 19-20 Answer: b. sociocultural 67. If you are interested in how patterns, beliefs, and customs influence behavior, you are interested in the ________ perspective. a. behavioral b. sociocultural c. psychodynamic d. cognitive e. evolutionary Page Reference: 19 Answer: b. sociocultural 68. A cross-cultural psychologist would be most interested in which of the following? a. measuring how children respond after they are spanked b. asking parents why they spank their children Incorrect. This might be a research question for a cognitive psychologist. c. comparing how often Americans and Canadians spank their children Correct. The influence of culture on attitudes and behaviors is central to the work of a cross-cultural psychologist. d. examining how spanking has served an evolutionary purpose throughout history e. determining whether mothers or fathers are more likely to spank their children Page Reference: 20 Answer: c. comparing how often Americans and Canadians spank their children 69. Psychologists gather data using a. media reports. b. empirical investigations. c. common sense. d. second-hand reference. e. careful thought. Page Reference: 24 Topic: How Do Psychologists Develop New Knowledge? Answer: b. empirical investigations. 70. Empirical investigation is a. a study that makes logical sense. b. the collection of objective information by means of careful measurements. c. based on random coding of data. d. biased by random procedures. e. always found to be accurate. Page Reference: 24 Topic: How Do Psychologists Develop New Knowledge? Answer: b. the collection of objective information by means of careful measurements. 71. ________ is a system used for reducing bias in research. a. Statistics b. The scientific method c. Checks and balances d. The double-blind method e. Correlation Page Reference: 24 Topic: How Do Psychologists Develop New Knowledge? Answer: b. The scientific method 72. The scientific method could best answer a. questions about whether a particular behavior is sinful. b. questions about whether men or women are more violent. Correct. This process is an objective way of putting questions to a “pass-fail” test; that is, uncovering what happens in the world around us. It does not allow for conclusions that involve value judgments. c. questions about whether cats can read minds. d. questions about whether or not Elvis was a great singer. e. questions about whether it is right or wrong to spank children. Incorrect. The scientific method is not useful at determining the answers to questions that involve moral judgment. Page Reference: 24 Topic: How Do Psychologists Develop New Knowledge? Answer: b. questions about whether men or women are more violent. 73. In science, a theory a. is based on several hypotheses. b. always generates accurate findings. c. is an unverified idea or abstract concept. d. is diametrically opposed to empiricism. e. is a testable explanation for a set of facts or observations. Page Reference: 24 Topic: How Do Psychologists Develop New Knowledge? Answer: e. is a testable explanation for a set of facts or observations. 74. The term "hypothesis" literally means a. prediction. b. knowledge derived from common sense. c. an informed hunch. d. little theory. e. belief system. Page Reference: 24 Answer: d. little theory. 75. According to the text, another name for a "hypothesis" is a. a specific testable idea or prediction. b. knowledge derived from common sense. c. an informed hunch. d. informed guess. e. belief system. Page Reference: 24 Answer: a. a specific testable idea or prediction. 76. The first step in any scientific investigation is a. forming the hypothesis. b. perceiving the question. c. coming to a conclusion. d. developing an argument. e. identifying research participants. Page Reference: 24 Answer: a. forming the hypothesis. 77. “Children who watch violent cartoons will become more aggressive.” According to the scientific method, this statement is most likely a a. conclusion. b. result. c. hypothesis. Correct. This statement is an educated guess about the effects of violent cartoons. d. fact. Incorrect. This is merely a testable statement about the effects of violent cartoons on children’s behavior. e. data point. Page Reference: 24 Answer: c. hypothesis. 78. Sally proposes the idea that one’s sexual history prior to marriage may be linked to whether one ends up getting divorced. This best represents which step of the scientific method? a. testing the hypothesis b. observing events Incorrect. The speculation regarding the correct answer to this research question is called forming a hypothesis. c. forming a hypothesis Correct. Forming a hypothesis involves making an educated guess as to the answer to a research question. d. formulating a theory e. randomizing participants Page Reference: 24 Answer: c. forming a hypothesis 79. Based on his classroom experiences and everyday observations, Dr. McGinty believes that those students sitting in the front row of a classroom get higher grades than those sitting in rows further back. His belief is an example of a(n) a. method. b. theory. Correct. Dr. McGinty is using a set of observations to create a testable explanation for those events. This is the definition of a theory. c. stimulus event. d. correlation coefficient. e. dependent variable. Incorrect. The dependent variable in an experiment is that condition which is observed or measured by a researcher. Page Reference: 24 Answer: b. theory. 80. The most important aspect of a hypothesis is that it must be a ________ idea. a. complicated b. relevant c. testable Correct. If a prediction is untestable, then it has no value in a scientific exploration. d. believable e. logical Incorrect. While logic is an important quality of a hypothesis, it is not the most important quality. Page Reference: 24 Answer: c. testable 81. Malcolm works for a major pharmaceutical company and is in charge of designing a clinical protocol to study depression. The new medication under investigation has the potential to alleviate the symptoms of depression. Malcolm needs to describe how depression as well as how the improvement of depressive symptoms will be defined in the study in order to recruit the right subjects. In other words, Malcolm needs to provide a(n) a. hypothesis. b. theory. c. operational definition. Correct. In order to accurately test one’s hypotheses, the aspects of the study to be explored must be clearly defined. This is where operational definitions become critical. d. functional definition. e. investigative definition. Incorrect. Your textbook does not describe something called an investigative definition. Page Reference: 24-25 Answer: c. operational definition. 82. Jenna wants to learn whether men or women are better drivers. To determine this, she decides that she will measure driving ability by examining the number of automobile accidents people have been involved in as a driver. The number of accidents is the basis of a. her control group in this study. b. a theory of good driving. c. the independent variable in this study. Incorrect. This is not the independent variable because Gina cannot manipulate how many accidents a person has. d. the operational definition of driving ability. Correct. In order to accurately test one’s hypotheses, the aspects of the study to be explored must be clearly defined. This is where operational definitions become critical. e. a case study examination of driving ability. Page Reference: 24-25 Answer: d. the operational definition of driving ability. 83. ________ refers to information gathered to test a hypothesis. a. Data b. A conclusion c. A response d. A variable e. A theory Answer: a. Data 84. If I performed a study in the 1980s, and you wanted to see if my findings are still current in 2008, you could simply ________ my study today. a. analyze b. qualify c. power d. quantify e. replicate Answer: e. replicate 85. What is one of the major reasons that psychologists report results publicly? a. to comply with legal requirements b. to identify all the extraneous variables c. to allow researchers to replicate experiments d. to explain research results so that non-psychologists can understand them e. to validate grant funding that supported their research Answer: c. to allow researchers to replicate experiments 86. A scientist who is skeptical about a particular study can decide to run that study in their laboratory. This would represent ________ the original research study. a. reconfiguring b. rearranging c. reanalyzing d. replicating e. referencing Answer: d. replicating 87. Researchers must report their results completely whether the hypothesis was supported or not. Complete reporting is necessary for the purpose of a. educational knowledge. b. replication. c. finding a better way to support the hypothesis. d. publication. e. validation. Answer: b. replication 88. A key aspect of an experiment is the requirement that researchers a. use correlational methods. b. manipulate one variable to see its effect on another variable. Correct. It is only because this manipulation occurs that experiments allow for the drawing of cause-and-effect conclusions. c. replicate their findings. d. publish their results in a scientific journal. Incorrect. While the most value form research comes from disseminating the findings in a journal, this is not a requirement of an experiment. e. provide some sort of placebo. Answer: b. manipulate one variable to see its effect on another variable. 89. A psychology teacher wants to determine whether computer-aided learning will produce higher standardized test scores than a usual lecture format. In this example, the independent variable is the a. individual students. b. students' previous grades in psychology. c. test scores. Incorrect. This is what is being measured in the experiment, so this is the dependent variable. d. students' interest in psychology. e. method of instruction. Correct. Because the method of instruction can be controlled, or manipulated, by the researcher, this is the independent variable in the study. Answer: e. method of instruction. 90. A psychology teacher wants to determine whether computer-aided learning will produce higher standardized test scores than a usual lecture format. In this example, the dependent variable is the a. individual students. b. students' previous grades in psychology. c. standardized test scores. Correct. The test scores are what is observed, or measured, in the study. This is what makes them the dependent variable. d. students' interest in psychology. e. method of instruction. Incorrect. Because this is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher, this is the independent variable. Answer: c. standardized test scores. 91. In an experiment, the independent variable is always a. changed by the subjects. Incorrect. In fact, the independent variable is that which is changed, or manipulated, by the researcher. b. confounded by other variables. c. controlled by the researcher. Correct. This control is the hallmark of an experimental study. Without it, conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships become impossible to make. d. created by other researchers. e. considered by the control group. Answer: c. controlled by the researcher. 92. Dr. Williamson provides students with different types of beverages and then measures their ability to drive a car. In this example, beverage type is the a. independent variable. Correct. Because the beverage type can be controlled, or manipulated, by the researcher, this is the independent variable in the study. b. dependent variable. Incorrect. That which is observed, or measured, is the dependent variable. In this case, it would be driving ability. c. control group. d. hypothesis. e. confounding variable. Answer: a. independent variable. 93. Simply put, the difference between people in the experimental group and those in the control group is whether they a. are participating in the research. b. receive the study treatment. c. are measured by the researcher(s). d. receive the dependent variable. e. are in a double-blind study. Answer: b. receive the study treatment. 94. A subject who is exposed to the study treatment is said to be in the ________ condition. a. control b. operational c. experimental d. blind e. correlational Answer: c. experimental 95. Some people believe that money can buy happiness. Dr. Goodwin wants to determine whether paying people plays a role in their happiness. The level of money given to a subject would be considered to be the a. experimental variable. Incorrect. This is not an incorrect answer but it is not the best selection for this question. b. confounding variable. c. dependent variable. d. independent variable. Correct. Because the amount of money can be controlled, or manipulated, by the researcher, this is the independent variable in the study. e. control variable. Answer: d. independent variable. 96. Some people believe that money can buy happiness. Dr. Goodwin wants to determine whether paying people plays a role in their happiness. The level of happiness would be considered to be the a. experimental variable. b. confounding variable. c. dependent variable. Correct. The level of happiness is what is observed, or measured, in the study. This is what makes it the dependent variable. d. independent variable. Incorrect. The independent variable is that condition in a study that is controlled or manipulated by the researcher. The level of happiness in this study is not controlled, but rather is observed by the researcher. That makes it the dependent variable. e. control variable. Answer: c. dependent variable. 97. Gina wants to conduct a study of discrimination based on looks in hiring practices. Gina selects two candidates with equivalent qualifications, one extremely attractive and the other of average attractiveness. She sends them to interview for the same job. The dependent variable in Gina's experiment is a. the relative attractiveness of the two candidates. Incorrect. This would be an example of an independent variable. b. the qualifications of the two candidates. c. the type of job the candidates apply for. d. the response of the interviewer to each candidate. Correct. The response of the interviewer is what is observed, or measured, in the study. This is what makes it the dependent variable. e. the number of candidates who interviewed for the job. Answer: d. the response of the interviewer to each candidate. 98. The ________ variable is the outcome variable and is believed to be affected by the variable manipulated by the experimenter. a. intervening b. predictor c. dependent d. independent e. randomized Answer: c. dependent 99. In a research study, the dependent variable is a. assumed to influence the other variables. b. measured by the researcher(s). c. involved in standardizing the meaning of concepts. d. involved in maintaining objectivity by avoiding bias. e. manipulated by the researcher. Answer: b. measured by the researcher(s). 100. Random assignment a. ensures that studies can be replicated. b. is a good way to define the dependent variable. c. is difficult to achieve in research. d. must be used with great caution. Incorrect. There is nothing in your textbook that notes the need for caution when randomly assigning participants to groups. e. minimizes any potential differences between the control and experimental groups. Correct. By using random assignment, the relationship between the independent and dependent variables stays as ‘clean’ as possible in the study. -28 Answer : e. minimizes any potential differences between the control and experimental groups. 101. A research design characterized by random assignment of participants to conditions and manipulation of an independent variable is called a(n) a. case study. b. naturalistic observation. c. experiment. d. survey. e. delphi study -28 Answer: c. experiment. 102. In a well-designed experiment, subjects must be ________ to experimental conditions to control for other factors. a. stratified b. correlated c. randomized Correct. By using random assignment, the impact of extraneous factors on the research becomes muted; that is, it does not interfere with the study of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. d. dispersed e. controlled Incorrect. There is nothing in your textbook that supports the idea that participants must be controlled in a research study. -28 Answer: c. randomized, factors. 103. What is the main difference between an experiment and a correlational study? a. A correlational study involves the manipulation of variables, while an experiment does not. Incorrect. This is the opposite of the correct answer. b. An experiment looks at the relationship between independent and dependent variables, while a correlational study looks at the relationship between within-group and between-group variables. c. A correlational study looks at the relationship between independent and dependent variables, while an experiment looks at the relationship between within-group and between-group variables. d. An experiment involves the manipulation of variables, while a correlational study does not. Correct. It is the manipulation of variables along with random assignment that allows an experiment to make cause and effect conclusions, while a correlational study cannot. e. An experiment involves naturalistic observation, while a correlational study involves laboratory work. -29 Answer: d. An experiment involves the manipulation of variables, while a correlational study does not. 104. Professor Golder is studying hyperactivity in preschool age children. She is concerned that differences in child rearing, diet, and so forth may affect her results. To minimize these potential preexisting variables, she should be sure to do which of the following? a. Use random assignment when forming her groups. Correct. Random assignment “cancels out” the effects of any preexisting differences between groups, allowing study of the variable of interest. b. Include an independent variable. c. Include a dependent variable. d. Assign boys to the experimental group and girls to the control group. Incorrect. This kind of assignment to participant groups would actually be problematic, because it would create a con founding variable that could make the experiment invalid. e. Include multiple confounding variables. Answer: a. Use random assignment when forming her groups. 105. In this type of research, the relationship between variables is studied, but there is no manipulation of an independent variable: a. correlational study b. experiment c. case study d. survey e. observation Answer: a. correlational study 106. Which of the following is NOT a drawback to correlational studies? a. Researchers must give up some control of the research conditions. Incorrect. This is one of the drawbacks of a correlational study. b. One can never ensure that groups are comparable in every way. c. Subjects cannot be assigned randomly to the various conditions. d. The results may not hold true in the real world outside of the laboratory. Correct. This is actually one of the major strengths of correlational studies. It is often a drawback to experimental research projects. e. It cannot be determined whether one variable caused a change in the other. Answer: d. The results may not hold true in the real world outside of the laboratory. 107. This type of correlation coefficient indicates that the variables change simultaneously in the same direction--one grows larger or smaller, the other grows or shrinks in a parallel way: a. no correlation b. positive correlation c. zero correlation d. neutral correlation e. negative correlation Answer: b. positive correlation 108. If a study finds that there is a negative correlation between exercise and blood pressure, this would most likely indicate that a. exercise could be dangerous in terms of our blood pressure. b. blood pressure changes alter our exercise patterns. Incorrect. This conclusion suggests a cause and effect relationship, which cannot be concluded from correlational research. c. the more we exercise, the higher our blood pressure becomes. d. exercise causes our blood pressure to rise. e. people who exercise more tend to have a lower blood pressure. Correct. Remember that a negative correlation indicates that the two variables in question move in the opposite direction; that is, as one goes up, the other comes down. Answer: e. people who exercise more tend to have a lower blood pressure. 109. If there is a positive correlation between the number of children a person has and their overall life satisfaction, we would find that people with more children a. consistently find less satisfaction with their lives. Incorrect. This conclusion would suggest a negative correlation. b. are less satisfied with their lives than are people with fewer children. c. are no more or less satisfied than those with fewer children. d. are more satisfied with their lives than are people with fewer children. Correct. Remember that a positive correlation indicates that the two variables in question move in the same direction; that is, as one goes up, the other goes up. e. are less satisfied with their lives than they were before they had children. Answer: d. are more satisfied with their lives than are people with fewer children. 110. If people tend to wear more layers of clothing as the weather gets colder, we would expect ________ between the variables of temperature and amount of clothing. a. a negative correlation Correct. Remember that a negative correlation indicates that the two variables in question move in the opposite direction; that is, as one goes up, the other comes down. b. no correlation c. a positive correlation Incorrect. If it were a positive correlation, then people would wear more clothing as the temperature rose. d. a randomized correlation e. a confounded correlation Answer: a. a negative correlation 111. If obese people tend to whistle less than slender people, what kind of correlation would be expected between weight and the tendency to whistle? a. zero b. positive Incorrect. A positive correlation would suggest that obese people would whistle more than slender people. c. negative Correct. Remember that a negative correlation indicates that the two variables in question move in the opposite direction; that is, as one goes up, the other comes down. d. random e. minimal Answer: c. negative 112. This type of correlation coefficient indicates that the variables change simultaneously in opposite directions--as one grows larger, the other gets smaller: a. no correlation b. positive correlation c. zero correlation d. neutral correlation e. negative correlation Answer: e. negative correlation 113. Which of these is a type of correlation coefficient? a. Normal b. Parallel c. Skewed d. Negative e. Tiered Answer: d. Negative 114. Which correlation coefficient is most likely to describe the relationship between brushing one’s teeth and the number of cavities one gets? a. -.62 Correct. One would expect that as brushing increases, cavities tend to decrease. Thus, a negative correlation would best describe the relationship. Further, one would expect the relationship to be fairly strong and thus closer to 1.0 than to 0 in absolute value. b. .83 Incorrect. This correlation coefficient would suggest that as brushing increases the number of cavities increases. We would hope that the relationship between tooth brushing and the number of cavities one gets would be a strong negative correlation. c. -.08 d. .45 e. -1.78 Answer: a. 115. Correlation does not mean a. quantification. b. experimentation. Incorrect. Your textbook does not indicate that correlation does not mean experimentation. c. standardization. d. causation. Correct. Remember that the absence of manipulation in a correlational study makes it impossible to draw conclusions about cause and effect relationships. e. covariation. Answer: d. causation. 116. The number in a correlation coefficient reflects the a. type of research conducted. b. the strength of the relationship between two variables. c. number of groups (or individuals) studied. d. accuracy of the results. e. amount of change that occurred. Answer: b. the strength of the relationship between two variables. 117. The values of a correlation coefficient can range from a. 0 to 1.0 b. -1.0 to +1.0 c. 0 to 100. d. -10 to +10.0 e. 0 to 10.0 Answer: b. -1.0 to +1.0. 118. Which of the following correlation coefficients represents the strongest relationship between two variables? a. .50 b. .25 c. -.25 d. -.75 e. .62 Answer: d. -.75 119. If there is no relationship between variables, the correlation coefficient would equal a. +1. b. -1. c. 0. d. 100. e. 0.5. Answer: c. 0. 120. If you could measure the height of each student in your introductory psychology class and the amount of money that each person has in their pockets right now, you would expect to find a. a zero correlation. Correct. When there appears to be no relationship between two variables, they are described as having a zero correlation. b. a positive correlation. c. a negative correlation. d. that taller people have more money. Incorrect. It is unlikely that there is a relationship between a person's height and the amount of money that they have with them. Therefore you cannot predict how much money a person will have based on their height. e. that shorter people have more money. Answer: a. a zero correlation. 121. A scientist who asks people which memory strategies they use in their daily lives would be said to be conducting a(n) a. experiment. b. case study. Incorrect. This study is not an in depth investigation of a single unique case. Therefore it is not a case study. c. survey. Correct. A survey is a data-gathering method that involves asking people’s responses to a set of verbal or written questions. d. clinical trial. e. naturalistic observation. Page Reference: 30 Answer: c. survey. 122. Which of the following questions could be answered best by using the survey method? a. What is the effect of ingesting alcohol on problem-solving ability? Incorrect. Surveying students about their problem-solving abilities while drunk would allow too much room for subjectivity and give results with no accurate standards for analysis or comparison. b. Does wall color affect the frequency of violence in prison populations? c. Do students prefer a grading system with or without pluses and minuses? Correct. Student preferences are about opinions, and surveys are good at gathering the opinions of many people. d. What is the relationship between number of hours of study per week and grade point average? e. What is the relationship between alcohol consumption and driving ability? Page Reference: 30 Answer: c. Do students prefer a grading system with or without pluses and minuses? 123. Alicia wants to understand the impact of peer pressure on adolescent behavior. She goes to a popular mall and observes the activities and interactions of a group of adolescents. Alicia is using a. self-report measures. Incorrect. This sort of observation indicates naturalistic observation, not a self-report measure. b. naturalistic observation. Correct. Because Alicia is observing these individuals in their natural setting without taking any steps to alter their behaviors, she is engaged in naturalistic observation. c. conditioning. d. introspection. e. a double-blind study. Page Reference: 30 Answer: b. naturalistic observation. 124. Which type of research study would best be used to determine how aggressive children are while playing at a schoolyard during recess? a. confounding b. case study Incorrect. This question would best be answered by observing children as they play on the schoolyard. Therefore a case study is not the best option. c. introspection d. naturalistic observation Correct. In this case, the best type of study would be one that does not interfere with the behaviors under investigation. That would be the primary benefit of naturalistic observation. e. experiment Page Reference: 30 Answer: d. naturalistic observation 125. Which of the following statements is true about naturalistic observation? a. It recreates natural conditions in the laboratory as closely as possible to make an experiment more valid. b. It involves observing behavior in its natural context. c. It is basically the same process as objective introspection. d. It involves observing behavior in the lab without taking formal notes or using technological equipment to measure the experimental findings. e. It involves manipulation of one variable to study a second one. Page Reference: 30-31 Answer: b. It involves observing behavior in its natural context. 126. Observing behavior as it happens in real-life natural settings without imposing laboratory controls is known as the a. naturalistic observation method. b. experimental method. c. survey method. d. psychometric approach. e. case study observation. Page Reference: 30-31 Answer: a. naturalistic observation method. 127. A detailed description of a particular individual being studied or treated is called a. a representative sample. b. a case study. c. a single-blind study. d. a naturalistic observation. e. correlational examination. Answer: b. a case study. 128. A case study would be the most appropriate method to investigate which of these topics? a. the ways in which the games of boys differ from the games of girls b. the development of a male baby raised as a female after a surgical error destroyed his penis Correct. A case study involves investigating only one person in great detail. c. the math skills of students in Japan as compared to those of U.S. students Incorrect. A case study involves investigating only one person and is not appropriate for comparing cultures. d. physiological changes that occur when people watch violent movies e. the relationship between childhood nutrition and physical development Answer: b. the development of a male baby raised as a female after a surgical error destroyed his penis. 129. In the 1970s, a 13-year-old girl was found locked up in a room, strapped to a potty chair. Since she had grown up in a world without human speech, researchers studied “Genie’s” ability to acquire words, grammar, and pronunciation. This type of research is called a. a case study. Correct. A case study looks at only one person in great detail. b. a representative sample. c. a single-blind study. d. a naturalistic observation. Incorrect. Naturalistic observation involves studying more than one individual. e. correlational examination. Answer: a. a case study. 130. Which type of research study would best be used to study the factors that shaped a notorious serial killer? a. confounding b. case study Correct. Remember that a case study is used to obtain a large amount of information about one or just a few individuals with rare problems or unusual talents. c. introspection d. naturalistic observation e. experiment Incorrect. There is probably no way you could ethically manipulate an independent variable to study this individual, so a case study is the best option. Answer: b. case study 131.__________ is a phenomenon in which researchers’ hypotheses lead them to unintentionally bias the outcome of a study. a. Durability bias b. Expectancy bias c. Availability heuristic d. Confounding variable e. Confirmation bias Answer: b. Expectancy bias 132. How does conducting a double-blind study attempt to remedy the expectancy bias? a. The experimenter does not know, but the participant does know, what condition the participant is assigned to. Incorrect. This would be an example of a single blind study. In a double-blind study, neither the experimenter nor the participant knows which condition the participant has been assigned to. b. The experimenter and the participant both know what condition the participant is assigned to. c. The experimenter knows, but the participant does not know, what condition the participant is assigned to. d. Neither the experimenter nor the participant knows what condition the participant is assigned to. Correct. When neither the experimenter nor the participant knows what condition has been assigned, it eliminates the possibility of the placebo and experimenter effects. e. Neither the experimenter nor the participant knows that deception has been used in the study. -32 Answer: d. Neither the experimenter nor the participant knows what condition the participant is assigned to. 133. To control for this bias in drug studies, participants are kept blind as to whether they are receiving the active drug or placebo: a. personal b. observer c. expectancy d. placebo e. confounding -32 Answer: c. expectancy 134. A subject in an experiment that receives no real treatment would be receiving a. an active substance. b. the treatment under study. c. the active condition. d. a placebo. e. the experimental treatment. Page Reference: 32 Answer: d. a placebo. 135. Jose is in a study to measure the effects of caffeine on mental performance. If Jose is given a caffeine-free beverage that tastes just like a beverage with caffeine, we would say that he is a. in the experimental group. Incorrect. Because Jose is not receiving the treatment in question, in this case caffeine, he is not a member of the experimental group. b. in a correlational study. c. receiving a placebo. Correct. A placebo is a “sham” drug or treatment that has no real effect on the person receiving it. d. receiving the dependent variable. e. participating in introspection research. Page Reference: 32 Answer: c. receiving a placebo. 136. Dr. Hefner wants to test the effects of Viagra on sexual desire. Dr. Hefner's research assistant (who is unaware of what the study is testing) randomly gives 50 males the drug while 50 males receive a placebo. (The study subjects are also unaware of the treatment which they are getting.) This would be described as a a. correlational study. b. double-blind study. Correct. In this case, the fact that neither the experimenter nor the participants knows who is receiving which pill makes this a double-blind study. c. study with no control group. d. study with two independent variables. Incorrect. There is only one variable being manipulated by the researcher, so there is only one independent variable in the study e. study that would be difficult to replicate. Page Reference: 32 Answer: b. double-blind study. 137. When both the researchers and the participants of the study are uninformed about the nature of the independent variable being administered, this is known as a. correlational. b. humanistic. c. functionalist. d. placebo. e. double-blind. Page Reference: 32 Answer: e. double-blind. 138. Which of the following is a common ethical guideline suggested by the American Psychological Association? a. Participants may not withdraw once they start. b. Participants must be allowed to make an informed decision. c. Participants cannot be subjected to shock of any kind. d. Participants cannot be deceived about aspects of the research. e. Participants must be paid for their participation in a research project. Page Reference: 32 Answer: b. Participants must be allowed to make an informed decision. 139. A study in which participation is NOT truly voluntary and informed is said to involve a. a double-blind control. b. debriefing. Incorrect. Debriefing is a revelation of the intent of a research project where deception has been used after the participants’ contributions have been obtained. c. deception. Correct. When the circumstance being studied cannot be objectively measured while d. vivisection. e. counterconditioning. Answer: c. deception. 140. The American Psychological Association guidelines state that research participants must a. be paid (or rewarded) for their participation. b. never be deceived under any circumstances. c. never participate in blind research. d. be debriefed after the study if the research involves deception. e. waive their right to privacy if they volunteer for a study. Answer: d. be debriefed after the study if the research involves deception. 141. What must happen after a study in which the participants were misled about the nature of the research? a. Subjects must be assigned to experimental groups. b. A debriefing must take place. c. A placebo must be used. d. An assessment of risk/gain must be made. e. The confounds must be discussed with the participants. Answer: b. A debriefing must take place. 142. Experimenters can justify the use of deception a. there is informed consent. b. research is more important than people. Incorrect. It is a basic principle that people come first, research second. c. it may be necessary for the experiment to work. Correct. Deception is justified if the study wouldn’t work any other way. d. it is not that harmful. e. there are no guidelines that prohibit any use of deception. Answer: c. it may be necessary for the experiment to work. 143. ________ refers to providing each subject with a full and honest account of the true purposes and assumptions of the research study, if the study involved deception. a. Informed consent b. Deception c. Debriefing d. Risk/gain assessment e. IRB protocol Answer: c. Debriefing 144. Some research questions cannot be answered using human experiments because a. some studies would be impractical or unethical. Correct. There are some variables that simply cannot be manipulated in an ethical way using human participants. In this case, the use of animal participants is sometimes chosen. b. randomization is often hard to achieve. Incorrect. Randomization is not difficult to achieve. c. double-blind studies are usually dangerous to participants. d. researchers know that their results usually will not be published. e. they are not a very effective way to learn about cause and effect relationships. Answer: a. some studies would be impractical or unethical. 145. An important point from the authors' discussion on why people need to care about the dangers of pseudo-psychology is that a. harm rarely results from pseudopsychological beliefs or treatments. b. a lack of critical thinking may lead to poor decisions that affects one's personal life, including their physical or emotional health. Correct. A lack of critical thinking and reasonable valuation of a claim can have effects that impact the individual in many different ways. c. people are often quite accurate and unbiased in their day-to-day decision-making. Incorrect. In fact your chapter presents quite a few examples of how people tend to be very inaccurate and biased in their decision-making. d. quackery and pseudo-psychology are especially easy to detect without exposure to critical thinking or skepticism. e. the more people listen to pseudo-psychology, the more accurate the claims of that pseudo-psychology become. -34 Topic: Psychology Matters: The Perils of Pseudo-Psychology Answer: b. a lack of critical thinking may lead to poor decisions that affect one's personal life, community, and/or child's schooling. 2.0 - Chapter 01 Completion 1. Which type of psychologist might work at Ford Motor Company to determine how to change the lighting and the assembly line, or to determine which questions to ask potential employees? Answer: industrial/organizational 2. Which "school" in psychology was dedicated to uncovering the basic "structures of the mind"? Page Reference: 14 Answer: structuralism 3. Which schools of psychology are the most and the least likely to study thoughts and mental processes? -16 ; The Behavioral Perspective: Focusing on Observable Behavior Answer: cognitive psychology; behaviorism 4. Which approach would a psychologist studying alcoholism be likely to use to examine the number of positive consequences a person receives when consuming alcohol? Answer: the behavioral approach, or behaviorism 5. Who was the founder of psychoanalysis? Answer: Sigmund Freud 6. In an experiment, which variable is controlled by the experimenter and which is measured by the experimenter? Answer: independent variable; dependent variable 7. If there is a negative correlation between candy consumption and happiness, what would we expect to note in people who eat a lot of candy? Answer: People who eat more candy are less happy than those people who eat less candy. 8. Dr. Morris, a forensic psychologist, conducted an interview with a notorious serial killer in the hopes of gleaning some form of understanding as to why he committed such heinous acts of violence. This type of research is known as a Answer: case study. 9. In which research procedure are the researcher AND the subjects kept uninformed as to which group a subject is in until after the research has been completed? Answer: double-blind 3.0 - Chapter 01 Essay 1. Choose two of the four following types of psychologists and describe some of the tasks these individuals are likely to perform: (a) Environmental psychologists (b) Forensic psychologists (c) Sports psychologists (d) School psychologists -6 Answer: The answers will vary based on the selection of the students, but should emphasize several of the jobs of each choice based on the job descriptions provided on pages 5-6. 2. Explain why pseudo-psychology could be considered harmful. Page Reference: 7 Topic: Thinking Critically About Psychology and Pseudo-Psychology Answer: A person who follows a type of pseudo-psychology may miss out on an important benefit or may suffer harm because the practice is ineffective. 3. Name and briefly discuss the six major perspectives in psychology today, explaining the foundational assumptions and methods of each. Page Reference: 12-21 Topic: What are Psychology's Six Main Perspectives? Answer: See Table 1.1 for a brief review of the biological, cognitive, behavioral, whole-person, developmental, and sociocultural perspectives. Useful summaries to assist in the grading of responses can also be found on page 21. 4. How did structuralism and functionalism contribute to the early beliefs of psychology? Answer: Students must mention the insistence of each approach on basing knowledge on scientific evidence. Further, they should explain the basic principles of each early perspective and the overlap with current psychological perspectives. 5. Identify some of the differences between the cognitive and behavioral perspectives. -17 ; The Behavioral Perspective: Focusing on Observable Behavior Answer: Students should note that the cognitive view focuses on thought and what is happening in the mind. The behavioral view studies people from the "outside" by focusing on people's actions, along with an emphasis on the consequences of behaviors as a crucial instrument in determining future actions. 6. Briefly describe the psychodynamic view. Answer: The student must mention the importance of the role of the unconscious mind. Better answers may also mention irrational desires and conflicts, sexual and aggressive impulses, and the focus on treating mental disorders. 7. Describe a benefit of incorporating sociocultural perspectives into mainstream psychology. Answer: The student should mention that the sociocultural perspective allows researchers to compare and contrast individuals living in various parts of the world or who come from very different cultural or ethnic backgrounds. The excellent answer might identify several different areas of diversity beyond simple race or ethnicity to show higher-level understanding of this perspective. 8. Define the concept of control group and explain why one is used in an experiment. Answer: The control group consists of the people who do not receive the special treatment (independent variable). Thus, they are used as a comparison for the experimental group. 9. In a couple of paragraphs, describe how an experiment could be designed to determine whether Ritalin is effective in treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Be sure to state what the independent variable, dependent variable, experimental group, and control group would be in this study. Answer: The student must have one group of people (the experimental group) receiving Ritalin (which is the independent variable), while another group (the control group) receives nothing or a fake pill with no medicine (placebo). The student will need to operationally define how the ADHD symptoms will be measured at the end of the study. That is, the student will have to discuss how the dependent variable (ADHD symptoms or hyperactivity) will be quantified. 10. Explain what is involved in a correlational study and why such studies are sometimes performed instead of experiments. Describe several drawbacks to correlational studies. Answer: Correlational studies are like experiments that have already occurred in the real world. They are performed in cases where conducting an experiment might be hazardous or unrealistic. The student should mention that there are several drawbacks to correlational studies. For example, one cannot be sure that the groups are similar. Also, researchers cannot control the independent variable or randomly assign people to the different conditions. Most important, we cannot claim that one factor causes a change in the other. This last point is crucial, and might be considered mandatory for awarding of full credit. 11. Define a double-blind study and explain why this procedure is used in an experiment. Answer: It means that neither the subjects nor the researchers know who is receiving the independent variable or the placebo. It is used to reduce expectancy bias in both the researcher and the volunteers. 12. Define deception and explain why a psychologist would use deception in research. What do you think of its usage in research? What is an ethical consideration for the use of deception in research? Answer: Deception involves not advising participants about some aspect of the research. It is used in instances when informing people would undermine the research. Students may be for or against the use of deception provided they explain their rationale. An essential ethical consideration would mention the requirement of debriefing in research where deception is used.