Deck 2: The Research Process: Part 1

Question 1

The researcher _____ the _____ variable.

A) varies;dependent
B) varies;independent
C) holds constant;dependent
D) holds constant;independent

Answer 1

varies;independent

Question 2

Bethany is a developmental psychologist who believes that eating dinner together as a family each night is related to increased academic performance in school.To assess this,she measures how often her participants have a family dinner and their overall grade at the end of the academic year.In Bethany's study,_____ is the independent variable,whereas _____ is the dependent variable.

A) number of family dinners;academic performance
B) number of children in a family;academic performance
C) academic performance;number of family dinners
D) academic performance;number of children in a family

Answer 2

number of family dinners;academic performance

Question 3

A(n)_____ is a statement based on repeated experimental observation that describes some aspect of the world.

A) observational definition
B) hypothesis
C) scientific law
D) conceptual definition

Answer 3

scientific law

Question 4

Informed consent is:

A) a detailed series of steps that lets the researcher know the order in which to administer the study.
B) the explanation of the purpose of the study and disclosure of any deception used.
C) an explanation of the risks and benefits of participating in the study.
D) a list of participants' identification numbers that includes group assignment and any notes regarding participants' experiences.

Question 5

Empirical research relies on:

A) systematic observation.
B) intuition.
C) anecdotal evidence.
D) introspection.

Question 6

An element that the experimenter expects to change is known as a:

A) variable.
B) constant.
C) conceptual definition.
D) operational definition.

Question 7

For which of the following would a researcher need to use a nonexperimental design?

A) to measure the impact of studying on academic performance
B) to assess the impact of beta-carotene on eyesight
C) to examine the effect of Tylenol on headache duration
D) to study the consequences of losing a loved one

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good hypothesis?

A) being specific
B) being grounded in previous research
C) being elaborate
D) being falsifiable

Question 9

_____ is a part of the standard ethical procedures at the end of a research study that contains an explanation of the purpose of the study and disclosure of deception.

A) The research protocol
B) Debriefing
C) Informed consent
D) Random assignment

Question 10

May believes that wearing perfume makes women feel more attractive.In order to investigate this,she assigns 25 women to wear perfume and 25 women not to wear perfume.At the end of the study period,she has participants self-report their level of attractiveness.What type of study design is May using?

A) within-subjects
B) between subjects
C) longitudinal
D) nonexperimental

Question 11

A benefit of peer-reviewed journal articles is that they are _____,whereas a disadvantage is that they are _____.

A) readily accessible to mainstream audiences;not empirically sound
B) readily accessible to mainstream audiences;empirically sound
C) empirically sound;readily accessible to mainstream audiences
D) empirically sound;not readily accessible to mainstream audiences

Question 12

In an experiment the researcher is examining:

A) cause and effect.
B) naturally occurring relationships.
C) a person's thoughts and beliefs.
D) the predictor variable.

Question 13

The definition of a variable in theoretical terms as it relates to the study is the:

A) script.
B) constant.
C) conceptual definition.
D) operational definition.

Question 14

Esmerelda is trying to explain to her mother how research articles published in academic journals differ from books.Which of the following summarizes a primary difference between the two?

A) Books are objective.
B) Books are peer-reviewed.
C) Research articles are subjective.
D) Research articles are peer-reviewed.

Question 15

PsycINFO is a:

A) website that publishes educational blogs.
B) pop culture website referencing psychological findings.
C) database housing peer-reviewed journal articles.
D) book of the standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders.

Question 16

Articles that successfully complete the peer-review process are those that:

A) ask sound questions,use suitable methods,and then draw bias conclusions.
B) ask sound questions,use suitable methods,and then draw appropriate conclusions.
C) ask subjective questions,use suitable methods,and then draw bias conclusions.
D) ask subjective questions,use suitable methods,and then draw appropriate conclusions.

Question 17

The predictor variable is the:

A) variable that the experimenter manipulates.
B) variable that an experimenter measures.
C) outcome variable in a nonexperimental design.
D) potential causal variable in a nonexperimental design.

Question 18

Between-subjects is to once as:

A) within-subjects is to none.
B) within-subjects is to multiple.
C) longitudinal is to one.
D) longitudinal is to none.

Question 19

Ursula just finished a Facebook quiz that revealed which celebrity her personality most closely resembled.After taking the quiz she was impressed with how accurate and insightful her results were.Given the unscientific nature of most online quizzes,her feelings are probably the result of:

A) the Barnum effect.
B) the Bailey effect.
C) Occam's razor.
D) scientific law.

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of empirical research?

A) determining whether Cupid causes people to fall in love
B) measuring how quickly the Sandman causes children to fall asleep
C) investigating whether the Easter Bunny is more likely to leave pink or blue eggs
D) assessing whether water consumption leads to clearer skin