Question 1

The more general the prediction a fortune teller or palmist makes,the more believable are the results.This fact has been called the
A) Guilford effect.
B) phenologist's fallacy.
C) Barnum effect.
D) Gall fallacy.

Accepted Answer

The Barnum effect is the tendency for individuals to believe that general, vague statements about themselves are highly accurate and personally relevant. This phenomenon is frequently observed in the context of fortune-telling, palm reading, and other similar practices. Therefore, the more general the prediction, the more believable it becomes, as it appears to apply to a larger number of people. The Guilford effect, Gall fallacy, and phenologist's fallacy are not related to this particular phenomenon.

Question 2

An elderly lady is greatly impressed by an astrologer who describes her as physically vigorous,innovative,and artistically creative.Her reaction to this flattering description is an example of
A) uncritical acceptance.
B) the confirmation bias.
C) the Gall effect.
D) the confusion of cause and effect.

Accepted Answer

The elderly lady's reaction of being greatly impressed and flattered by the astrologer's description without questioning its accuracy or validity reflects uncritical acceptance of the astrology reading. She accepts the description as true without critically evaluating it.

Question 3

An industrial-organizational psychologist is studying video game designers.This psychologist carefully questions game designers about how much stress they experience.These interviews
Would constitute the first step in the scientific method referred to as
A) making observations.
B) testing the hypothesis.
C) theory building.
D) defining the problem.

Accepted Answer

The first step in the scientific method is making observations. In this case, the psychologist is gathering information through interviews with game designers, which is a form of observation.

Question 4

Sid believes his dreams forecast the future.He describes all the dreams that came true in the last month.His friend Joey asks him about all the times his dreams did not come true.Sid's tendency to remember the times his dreams came true and forget the times they did not is known as
A) the confirmation bias.
B) the Barnum Effect.
C) the observer effect.
D) critical thinking.

Accepted Answer

The tendency to remember and place more importance on information that confirms our beliefs or expectations is known as confirmation bias. Sid's focus on the dreams that have come true and forgetting about those that didn't is an example of confirmation bias. The Barnum Effect refers to the tendency to interpret vague, general statements as personally relevant and accurate, while the observer effect refers to changes in behavior that occur when individuals are aware they are being observed. Critical thinking is a broader cognitive process that involves analyzing information carefully and considering multiple perspectives.

Question 5

To be scientific,our observations must be
A) systematic.
B) intuitive.
C) haphazard.
D) related to common sense.

Accepted Answer

In order for observations to be scientific, they must be systematic, meaning they follow a structured and organized approach. Intuitive observations, which rely on personal feelings or opinions, may not be objective or reliable. Haphazard observations are random and lack structure, which may result in inaccurate or incomplete data. Observations related to common sense may not be based on empirical evidence or scientific principles. Therefore, systematic observations are the best choice for scientific inquiry.

Question 6

Which of the following is a form of critical thinking based on a careful collection of evidence,accurate descriptions and measurements,precise definitions,controlled observations,and repeatable results?
A) intuitive analysis
B) the introspective method
C) the scientific method
D) theoretical projection

Accepted Answer

The description matches the characteristics of the scientific method, which is a systematic approach to acquiring knowledge through observation, data collection, and analysis. The other options do not fit the description. Intuitive analysis relies on hunches and personal judgment, the introspective method tends to focus on personal experience and reflection, and theoretical projection is more speculative and hypothetical.

Question 7

When people read their horoscopes,they often believe these flattering descriptions of themselves,a tendency referred to as
A) the Barnum effect.
B) astrologer's dilemma.
C) the confirmation bias.
D) uncritical acceptance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When people read their horoscopes,they often believe...

Question 8

If one reads all 12 of the daily horoscopes found in newspapers for several days,one will find that the predictions made are so general that they will fit events that happen everyday as well as being applicable to anybody regardless of their sign.This illustrates the
A) Guilford effect.
B) phenologist's fallacy.
C) Barnum effect.
D) Gall fallacy.

Accepted Answer

The Barnum effect, also known as the Forer effect, refers to the tendency for people to accept general personality descriptions as accurate and specific to themselves, even though the same description can apply to many people. This is often seen in horoscopes, where the predictions are so general that they could apply to anyone, yet people tend to believe them to be specific to their own sign.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT one of the six elements of the scientific method?
A) making observations
B) intuitive analysis
C) proposing a hypothesis
D) theory building

Accepted Answer

The six elements of the scientific method are making observations, proposing a hypothesis, collecting data, analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and communicating results. Intuitive analysis is not a part of the scientific method as it relies on personal opinions and feelings rather than evidence and data.

Question 10

Lindsay's friend answered a magazine ad that claimed that her personality could be analyzed by a computer using her birth sign.She tells Lindsay that her computer-generated profile was very accurate and that Lindsay should send in her money and her birthdate to the company.Lindsay should
A) write the company and request the names of satisfied customers in her area.
B) find a good phrenologist instead.
C) know that good astrological readings cannot be done by computers.
D) consider that her friend may have been taken in by a confirmation bias.

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias is the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories, which may explain why Lindsay's friend found the profile accurate.

Question 11

The six steps of the scientific method include observation,defining a problem,proposing a hypothesis,testing they hypothesis,publishing the results,and
A) cost-benefit analysis.
B) anecdotal analysis.
C) theory building.
D) consensus review.

Accepted Answer

The final step of the scientific method is theory building, where the results of multiple experiments and studies are analyzed and synthesized to formulate a general theory or principle. Cost-benefit analysis and anecdotal analysis are not part of the scientific method, and consensus review may be a component of publishing results but is not a standalone step.

Question 12

With respect to astrology,palmistry,and phrenology,it can be said that
A) all are pseudopsychologies.
B) none is subject to the Barnum effect.
C) they rarely appear to work due to the confirmation bias.
D) astrology is the only system with a scientific basis.

Accepted Answer

All three systems - astrology, palmistry, and phrenology - are not based on scientific evidence and are considered to be pseudopsychologies. They lack empirical support and rely on subjective interpretation of vague or general statements, leading to the Barnum effect, where people believe the statements are highly accurate descriptions of themselves.

Question 13

Many television viewers are impressed by "psychic mediums" who pretend to communicate with the deceased friends and relatives of audience members. Typically,the viewers will
Remember the apparent "hits," or correct statements made by the "mediums," while ignoring
The "misses," or incorrect statements.This tendency is referred to as
A) the Barnum effect.
B) the confirmation bias.
C) the astrologer's dilemma.
D) uncritical acceptance.

Accepted Answer

The tendency to remember hits and ignore misses is a clear example of confirmation bias, which is the tendency to seek out and remember information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs and hypotheses. The Barnum effect refers to the phenomenon where people believe that generic or vague personality descriptions apply specifically to them, while the astrologer's dilemma is a concept from astronomy where the position of planets and stars can be difficult to determine accurately. Uncritical acceptance refers to the uncritical acceptance of improbable or unsupported claims.

Question 14

The scientific method is NOT based on which of the following?
A) a careful collection of evidence
B) accurate descriptions and measurements
C) repeatable results
D) theoretical projection and intuitive analysis

Accepted Answer

The scientific method is not based on theoretical projection and intuitive analysis, but instead on empirical evidence gathered through observation and experimentation.

Question 15

After the psychologist makes his or her initial observations regarding the stress experienced by game designers,the second step in the scientific method involves
A) theory building.
B) defining the problem.
C) testing the hypothesis.
D) critiquing anecdotal evidence.

Accepted Answer

After making initial observations, the next step in the scientific method is to clearly define the problem to be studied before moving on to hypothesis testing, theory building, or critiquing anecdotal evidence.

Question 16

When a person remembers or notices only things that back up his or her expectations and forgets the rest,he or she is experiencing
A) the Barnum Effect.
B) the confirmation bias.
C) astrologer's dilemma.
D) uncritical acceptance.

Accepted Answer

The description given matches the confirmation bias, which is the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or expectations. The other options do not fit the given scenario. The Barnum Effect is the tendency to believe that vague and general descriptions about personality apply specifically to oneself, the astrologer's dilemma is not a recognized term, and uncritical acceptance describes a lack of skepticism or critical thinking towards information, rather than selective perception.

Question 17

The predicted outcome of an experiment or an educated guess about what is controlling a behavior is called a(n)
A) theory.
B) law.
C) hypothesis.
D) experiment.

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction about the outcome of an experiment or behavior. A theory is a well-supported explanation for a phenomenon, and a law is a descriptive statement about how something behaves in nature. The option "experiment" is not a correct answer as it refers to the procedure or method followed to test a hypothesis.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT one of the six elements of the scientific method?
A) defining a problem
B) gathering evidence
C) publishing results
D) consensus review

Accepted Answer

The six elements of the scientific method are defining a problem, gathering evidence, forming a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, analyzing the results, and drawing conclusions. Consensus review is not one of the elements.

Question 19

Which of the following is one of the six elements of the scientific method?
A) publishing results
B) critiquing anecdotal evidence
C) consensus review
D) survey analysis

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is one of...

Question 20

In a comparison of pseudopsychologies and valid psychological principles,which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) Pseudopsychologies are more of a nuisance and rarely do any harm.
B) Valid psychological principles are based on observation and evidence, not opinions.
C) Astrology's popularity shows that many people have difficulty separating valid psychology from systems that seem valid but are not.
D) The pseudopsychology of graphology has been used to determine who is hired, given bank credit, or selected for juries.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Pseudopsychologies have the potential to do harm by leading people to make decisions based on faulty or unproven principles. For example, someone may make important life decisions based on the advice of an astrologer, rather than seeking professional help from a trained psychologist.

Quiz 1: A: Introduction to Psychology and Research Methods

The more general the prediction a fortune teller or palmist makes,the more believable are the results.This fact has been called the

An elderly lady is greatly impressed by an astrologer who describes her as physically vigorous,innovative,and artistically creative.Her reaction to this flattering description is an example of

An industrial-organizational psychologist is studying video game designers.This psychologist carefully questions game designers about how much stress they experience.These interviews Would constitute the first step in the scientific method referred to as

Sid believes his dreams forecast the future.He describes all the dreams that came true in the last month.His friend Joey asks him about all the times his dreams did not come true.Sid's tendency to remember the times his dreams came true and forget the times they did not is known as

To be scientific,our observations must be

Which of the following is a form of critical thinking based on a careful collection of evidence,accurate descriptions and measurements,precise definitions,controlled observations,and repeatable results?

When people read their horoscopes,they often believe these flattering descriptions of themselves,a tendency referred to as

If one reads all 12 of the daily horoscopes found in newspapers for several days,one will find that the predictions made are so general that they will fit events that happen everyday as well as being applicable to anybody regardless of their sign.This illustrates the

Which of the following is NOT one of the six elements of the scientific method?

Lindsay's friend answered a magazine ad that claimed that her personality could be analyzed by a computer using her birth sign.She tells Lindsay that her computer-generated profile was very accurate and that Lindsay should send in her money and her birthdate to the company.Lindsay should

The six steps of the scientific method include observation,defining a problem,proposing a hypothesis,testing they hypothesis,publishing the results,and

With respect to astrology,palmistry,and phrenology,it can be said that

The scientific method is NOT based on which of the following?

After the psychologist makes his or her initial observations regarding the stress experienced by game designers,the second step in the scientific method involves

When a person remembers or notices only things that back up his or her expectations and forgets the rest,he or she is experiencing

The predicted outcome of an experiment or an educated guess about what is controlling a behavior is called a(n)

Which of the following is NOT one of the six elements of the scientific method?

Which of the following is one of the six elements of the scientific method?

In a comparison of pseudopsychologies and valid psychological principles,which of the following statements is FALSE?