Question 1

If there were not theories in psychology,the situation might be characterized as
A) lacking a consistent methodology for doing research.
B) an overwhelming collection of disconnected facts.
C) a rich array of theoretical notions regarding behavior but with few facts to support them.
D) a single, unitary approach to understanding behavior.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If there were not theories in psychology,the...

Question 2

A researcher would disseminate the results of his or her study to the scientific community during which element of the scientific method?
A) defining the problem
B) hypothesis testing
C) publishing results
D) theoretical projection

Accepted Answer

Disseminating the results of a study to the scientific community is a key part of the scientific method that occurs during the publishing results stage.

Question 3

Which section of a research report provides background information by reviewing prior studies on the same or related topics to the current one being investigated?
A) results
B) introduction
C) method
D) discussion

Accepted Answer

The introduction section of a research report provides background information and reviews prior studies on the same or related topics to the current one being investigated.

Question 4

Four developmental psychologists have been conducting separate research into the patterns of language development of deaf children.They meet in Chicago to discuss,summarize,and,hopefully,interrelate their conclusions from their published works and propose future research on this topic.Within the framework of the scientific method,these psychologists would most likely be
A) proposing a hypothesis.
B) hypothesis testing.
C) operationally defining terms.
D) theory building.

Accepted Answer

The psychologists are discussing and summarizing their published works in order to interrelate their conclusions and propose future research. This implies that they are engaged in building a theory in developmental psychology related to language development of deaf children.

Question 5

Dr.Johan read the results of the study on conversational patterns of men and women that was conducted with college student participants.He decides to repeat this experiment
Using middle-aged and older adults.Dr.Johan's study will be a(n)__________ of the
Original study.
A) operational revision
B) replication
C) confirmation bias
D) double-blind

Accepted Answer

Dr. Johan's study is a replication of the original study since it aims to repeat the experiment with a different population (middle-aged and older adults) to observe if the findings of the original study hold true or not. Replication is essential in scientific research to test whether the results of a previous study can be replicated, which increases the generalizability and validity of the findings.

Question 6

Three research assistants were assigned the task of counting the number of times a particular student exhibited inattentive behaviors during a 30-minute math class.The first research assistant counted five inattentive behaviors,the second recorded eight,and the third observed only two.Assuming the three research assistants are equally accurate in what they observed,the most likely explanation for this discrepancy in recordings would be that the inattentive behavior
A) was not the correct hypothesis.
B) was not observed for a long enough period of time.
C) was not operationally defined.
D) would require at least five observers for an accurate count.

Accepted Answer

The most likely explanation for the discrepancy in recordings is that the inattentive behavior was not operationally defined. Each research assistant may have had a different interpretation of what constitutes inattentive behavior, leading to varied counts. This highlights the importance of operational definitions in research to ensure consistency and accuracy among observers.

Question 7

A set of exact procedures that represent particular variables is called a(n)
A) abstract definition.
B) operational definition.
C) case study.
D) theory.

Accepted Answer

A set of exact procedures that represent particular variables is called an operational definition. This helps to establish clear and measurable parameters for conducting research or analyzing data. An abstract definition is a broad and general description without specific procedures, a case study is an in-depth investigation of a single individual or group, and a theory is a comprehensive explanation of how various factors interact to produce a particular phenomenon.

Question 8

Kelly is writing a paper on conformity for her psychology class.In order to find the research articles she needs for the paper,the first step for her would be to get an overview of each of the articles that come up in her computer search.She should first read which part of each article?
A) abstract
B) introduction
C) method
D) discussion review

Accepted Answer

The abstract of a research article provides a brief overview of the key findings and main points of the study. It allows Kelly to quickly determine if the article is relevant to her research topic and whether it is worth reading in full.

Question 9

The researcher stated that in his experiment,"frustration is described as any interruption of the subject before he or she finishes the timed puzzle." This description is considered to be a(n)
A) estimated value.
B) theoretical element.
C) operational definition.
D) hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

The description provided is an operational definition, which defines a concept in terms of observable and measurable procedures or operations. In this case, frustration is defined in terms of the specific situation of being interrupted while completing a puzzle.

Question 10

Your best friend passes you in the school hallway and glares at you without speaking.You think,"Now,why did she do that?" One possible explanation could be that she saw you flirting with her boyfriend.Within the framework of the scientific method,this possible explanation for your friend's behavior will remain tentative until it is tested by your asking your friend why she did not speak.Thus,this tentative,possible explanation would be considered a(n)
A) theory.
B) operational definition.
C) hypothesis.
D) relative certainty.

Accepted Answer

The tentative, possible explanation for the friend's behavior is a hypothesis, which is a testable prediction that can be investigated through research or further observation. Until the hypothesis is tested by asking the friend why she did not speak, it remains tentative and uncertain. A theory is a well-supported explanation that has been extensively researched and tested. An operational definition is a clear and concise description of how a variable in a study will be measured or manipulated. Relative certainty refers to a degree of confidence or probability, but it is not directly related to the scientific method or hypothesis testing.

Question 11

In order to permit scientific study,covert behaviors are
A) estimated.
B) not included in the analysis.
C) prevented from interfering with the experiment.
D) operationally defined in terms of overt behavior.

Accepted Answer

Covert behaviors, which cannot be directly observed, are operationally defined in terms of overt behavior. This enables scientists to measure and study them objectively.

Question 12

A system of ideas designed to interrelate concepts and facts in a way that summarizes existing data and predicts future observations is known as a(n)
A) hypothesis.
B) theory.
C) commonsense statement.
D) operational definition.

Accepted Answer

A theory is a system of ideas or concepts that summarizes existing data and predicts future observations. A hypothesis is an educated guess or tentative explanation for a phenomenon. A commonsense statement is a statement that is believed to be true without requiring evidence or scientific proof. An operational definition is a precise definition of a concept that specifies how it is measured or manipulated in a study.

Question 13

The results of psychological studies are published in professional journals because scientific information must always be
A) summarized into a principle or law.
B) converted into an operational definition.
C) validated by common sense.
D) publicly available.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is D because scientific information must always be publicly available, and publishing it in professional journals makes it accessible to other researchers and the general public. A, B, and C are not accurate responses for the reason given.

Question 14

Research reports begin with a very brief summary of the study and its findings.This is known as the
A) abstract.
B) introduction.
C) method.
D) discussion review.

Accepted Answer

The abstract is a brief summary of the study and its findings, usually no more than 250 words. It provides an overview of the research question, study design, data analysis, results, and conclusions. It is typically the first thing readers will see, and it should give them a sense of whether the study is relevant and interesting to them.

Question 15

An industrial-organizational psychologist conducts an experiment to determine whether having control over difficult tasks reduces stress for game designers and finds this explanation to be
True.Drawing on the results of similar experiments,this psychologist explains these overall
Findings by creating a
A) hypothesis.
B) testable observation.
C) theory.
D) law.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is C. The psychologist is drawing on the results of similar experiments to explain overall findings, which suggests a theory has been developed. A hypothesis is an initial explanation that is yet to be tested, a testable observation is a statement about a specific event, and a law is a description of a specific phenomenon that has been observed repeatedly.

Question 16

The results of a study become more credible when other researchers
A) define them.
B) replicate them.
C) accept them.
D) relate them to common sense.

Accepted Answer

When other researchers replicate the study and obtain the same results, it adds to the credibility of the original study.

Question 17

The researcher stated that in his experiment,aggression will be described as "the number of times a frustrated individual insults the person who prevented work on the puzzle." This description is considered to be a(n)
A) estimated value.
B) theoretical element.
C) operational definition.
D) hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

The description provided is an operational definition, as it outlines a specific set of actions that will be used to measure the concept of aggression in the context of the experiment. It is not an estimated value, theoretical element or hypothesis.

Question 18

An industrial-organizational psychologist has been asked to identify the ways in which high-stress and low-stress game designers are different.The psychologist comes up with the tentative explanation that the degree of control over one's work determines the designer's stress level.This tentative explanation,which must be tested,would constitute which step in the scientific method?
A) theory building
B) operationally defining the problem
C) proposing a hypothesis
D) gathering evidence through observations

Accepted Answer

Proposing a hypothesis involves coming up with a tentative explanation that needs to be tested. In this scenario, the psychologist's hypothesis is that the degree of control over one's work determines the stress level of game designers. This hypothesis must be tested through gathering evidence and conducting research.

Question 19

A group of researchers used an electronically activated recorder to track people's conversations,counting the number of words spoken in a day by women and men.In
Determining whether women talk more than men,these researchers used the recorder during
Which step in the scientific method?
A) gathering evidence to test the hypothesis
B) theory building
C) defining the problem
D) proposing a hypothesis

Accepted Answer

The researchers are using the recorder to gather evidence to test the hypothesis that women talk more than men, which is a key step in the scientific method.

Question 20

Theory building is important in psychology because it
A) prevents excessive reliance on empiricism.
B) reduces the need for hypothesis testing.
C) relies heavily on naturalistic observation.
D) provides explanations and guides future research.

Accepted Answer

Theory building is important in psychology because it provides explanations for observable phenomena and guides future research. It helps to organize information and observations into a coherent and testable framework, allowing for the development of testable hypotheses. It is not intended to prevent reliance on empiricism or reduce the need for hypothesis testing, and while naturalistic observation may be a component of theory building, it is not its defining feature.

Quiz 1: A: Introduction to Psychology and Research Methods

If there were not theories in psychology,the situation might be characterized as

A researcher would disseminate the results of his or her study to the scientific community during which element of the scientific method?

Which section of a research report provides background information by reviewing prior studies on the same or related topics to the current one being investigated?

Dr.Johan read the results of the study on conversational patterns of men and women that was conducted with college student participants.He decides to repeat this experiment Using middle-aged and older adults.Dr.Johan's study will be a(n) __________ of the Original study.

A set of exact procedures that represent particular variables is called a(n)

Kelly is writing a paper on conformity for her psychology class.In order to find the research articles she needs for the paper,the first step for her would be to get an overview of each of the articles that come up in her computer search.She should first read which part of each article?

The researcher stated that in his experiment,"frustration is described as any interruption of the subject before he or she finishes the timed puzzle." This description is considered to be a(n)

In order to permit scientific study,covert behaviors are

A system of ideas designed to interrelate concepts and facts in a way that summarizes existing data and predicts future observations is known as a(n)

The results of psychological studies are published in professional journals because scientific information must always be

Research reports begin with a very brief summary of the study and its findings.This is known as the

The results of a study become more credible when other researchers

The researcher stated that in his experiment,aggression will be described as "the number of times a frustrated individual insults the person who prevented work on the puzzle." This description is considered to be a(n)

A group of researchers used an electronically activated recorder to track people's conversations,counting the number of words spoken in a day by women and men.In Determining whether women talk more than men,these researchers used the recorder during Which step in the scientific method?

Theory building is important in psychology because it