Question 1

Julie finds that the number of hours she sleeps each night is related to the scores she receives on quizzes the next day. As her sleep approaches 8 hours, her quiz scores improve; as her sleep drops to 5 hours, her quiz scores show a similar decline. Julie realizes that there is a _____ correlation between her hours of sleep and her grades.
A)negative
B)positive
C)neutral
D)causative

Accepted Answer

Both variables in the example move in the same direction (down)and, therefore, have a positive correlation.

Question 2

If we were to design an experiment to test the hypothesis that aspirin takes headaches away, the independent variable would be _____ and the dependent variable would be _____
A)headaches; aspirin.
B)aspirin; Tylenol.
C)aspirin; headaches.
D)measured; manipulated.

Accepted Answer

We would manipulate whether subjects got aspirin or not (independent variable)and measure the effect of aspirin versus no aspirin on headaches (dependent variable).

Question 3

Professor Kim's students designed an experiment to investigate whether self-esteem was affected by how often she called on them when they raised their hand in class. They planned to count the number of times each student was called on when they raised their hand, ask each student how their self-esteem was before and after the experiment, and compare their responses based on how often they were called upon. Their causal hypothesis was, "If the professor calls on you more often when you raise your hand, your self-esteem will go up." What is one significant flaw in their design?
A)They have no independent variable.
B)They have no operational definition for self-esteem.
C)They have no dependent variable.
D)They don't have a sample.

Accepted Answer

Without an operational definition of self-esteem, they can't know if they are measuring self-esteem. Each student may have a different idea about what self-esteem means and how to calculate and report it.

Question 4

Any condition or factor that can be manipulated, controlled, or measured, is a _____
A)confound.
B)variable.
C)causality.
D)bias.

Accepted Answer

A variable is a condition or factor that can be manipulated, controlled, or measured in an experiment. Confounds are variables that are not deliberately manipulated but can still affect the outcome of the experiment. Causality refers to the relationship between cause and effect, while bias refers to any factors that can affect the results of an experiment in a systematic way, such as researcher or participant bias.

Question 5

Marcy is trying to define anxiety in a way that can be measured. She is attempting to find an appropriate _____
A)independent variable.
B)operational definition.
C)causal hypothesis.
D)theory.

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions define responses in terms that allow them to be measured.

Question 6

In Lang's experiment studying the effects of alcohol and the effects of expectations on aggression there were three groups: Group 1: Expected alcohol, received only tonic.
Group 2: Expected alcohol, received alcohol mixed with tonic.
Group 3: Expected tonic, received alcohol mixed with tonic.
Which of the following is true?
A)Only Groups 2 and 3 were experimental groups.
B)Only Group 1 was an experimental group.
C)Group 1 was a control group.
D)All three groups were experimental groups.

Accepted Answer

The experimental group is exposed to the manipulation of the independent variable or variables. In this case, all three groups had their actual versus expected consumption of alcohol manipulated. There is usually, but not always, a control group in an experiment and there can be more than one experimental group.

Question 7

A prediction about a cause and effect relationship between two or more variables is a _____
A)theory.
B)experiment.
C)causal hypothesis.
D)correlational hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

A causal hypothesis specifically predicts a cause and effect relationship between variables, whereas a theory is a broader explanation of observed phenomena. An experiment is a procedure to test a hypothesis, and a correlational hypothesis predicts a relationship between variables, but not necessarily a cause and effect relationship.

Question 8

The ONLY research method that can identify cause-and-effect relationships between variables is _____
A)the experimental method.
B)naturalistic observation.
C)the correlational method.
D)the case study.

Accepted Answer

The experimental method involves manipulating one variable to observe the effect on another variable. This allows for the identification of cause-and-effect relationships between variables. The other methods listed (naturalistic observation, correlational method, and case study) do not involve manipulation of variables and therefore cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 9

A researcher has conducted an experiment in which she assigned all of her students four hours of homework the night before a test, in order to see what effect the extra stress has on test performance. The study is flawed because the researcher did not include a(n)_____
A)control group.
B)experimental group.
C)independent variable.
D)random sample.

Accepted Answer

A control group is necessary to determine whether the extra homework had any effect.

Question 10

The two kinds of variables found in every experiment are _____ and _____ variables.
A)dependent; independent
B)causal: correlational
C)extraneous; controlled
D)conditional; behavioral

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or observed, and the independent variable is the variable that is being manipulated or controlled in the experiment. These are the two main types of variables in any experimental study.

Question 11

In order to increase typing speed, Minisoft has both redesigned its keyboard and provided a chime related to typing speed. The company wants to know if these changes affect typing speed. Which of the following represents, in order, the independent and dependent variable(s)in this study?
A)the chime; typing speed
B)the speed of typing; the keyboard design and the chime
C)the keyboard design and chime; the speed of typing
D)the number of errors made; the chime and the speed of typing

Accepted Answer

The keyboard design was changed and a chime added to see if they affected typing speed, so the independent variables are the keyboard design and chime. The dependent variable-what is being measured in relation to the changes-is speed of typing.

Question 12

Bob is a participant in a study investigating the effectiveness of Ritalin in treating ADHD. Bob has ADHD, but is in a group that received a placebo (sugar pills)instead of Ritalin. Bob is in the _____ group.
A)experimental
B)random
C)control
D)observational

Accepted Answer

Participants in the control group do not get the independent variable, which in this case is Ritalin.

Question 13

In the experimental method, the _____ is sometimes referred to as the treatment.
A)independent variable
B)dependent variable
C)confounding variable
D)heuristic value

Accepted Answer

In the experimental method, the independent variable is sometimes referred to as the treatment, as it is the variable that is being manipulated or changed in order to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Question 14

James is a researcher examining the effects of vitamin D deficiency on mood. Based on everything he has read, he speculates that if an individual has a low vitamin D level, then he/she may experience changes in mood. James's speculation can also be described as a _____
A)causal hypothesis.
B)school of thought.
C)theory.
D)psychological perspective.

Accepted Answer

James is making a prediction about a cause-and-effect relationship between variables.

Question 15

In order to help separate the effects of your independent variable from the effects of chance or other random variables, you need to have _____
A)100% control over all variables.
B)a control group.
C)an experimental group.
D)a representative sample.

Accepted Answer

A control group is not exposed to the independent variable, so if they experience change in the dependent variable similar to the experimental group, it indicates your independent variable may not be the cause of the changes.

Question 16

In the Lang study, aggression was measured by the intensity and duration of "shocks" the participants chose to deliver to the researcher's accomplice. This was the _____ definition of aggression for this experiment.
A)research
B)hypothetical
C)operational
D)controlled

Accepted Answer

The operational definition specifies how a variable will be observed and measured.

Question 17

Most experiments have a _____ group for purposes of comparison. This group is not given the treatment or the same independent variable as the _____ group.
A)control; experimental
B)dependent; independent
C)experimental; control
D)inactive; active

Accepted Answer

The control group is used as a baseline to compare the results of the experimental group, which receives the treatment or independent variable. Therefore, A is the correct answer as it correctly identifies the control group and the experimental group.

Question 18

Matt's experiment was designed to find out if reading an entire chapter at once led to better test grades than reading a section at a time over several days. The dependent variable in his experimental research was _____
A)the test grade.
B)the length of the chapter.
C)reading an entire chapter.
D)reading a section at a time.

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is what is measured in order to see if it varies based on the manipulation of the independent variables (type of reading schedule).

Question 19

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has no known cause, although there are theories and hypotheses. In a situation such as this, which of the following can we do?
A)make recommendations based on correlational data
B)do experiments to determine the cause
C)do nothing
D)determine the cause based on correlations

Accepted Answer

We could not ethically do experiments with infants in this situation but we can make recommendations based on factors that correlate with increased risk, such as sleeping on their stomach or smoking around them.

Question 20

Susan wanted to know if aerobic exercise caused more weight loss than just walking. Susan had her experimental group do aerobic exercise for 20 minutes, 4 days a week. She weighed each subject before the experiment started and again 3 months into the experiment. The independent variable in her experimental research was _____
A)the subject's weight.
B)the exercise.
C)the amount of time the subject exercised.
D)the change in subject's weight at 3 months.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the one that is deliberately manipulated in order to see if it causes any change in another behavior or condition.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Psychology

If we were to design an experiment to test the hypothesis that aspirin takes headaches away, the independent variable would be _ and the dependent variable would be _

Any condition or factor that can be manipulated, controlled, or measured, is a _____

Marcy is trying to define anxiety in a way that can be measured. She is attempting to find an appropriate _____

A prediction about a cause and effect relationship between two or more variables is a _____

The ONLY research method that can identify cause-and-effect relationships between variables is _____

A researcher has conducted an experiment in which she assigned all of her students four hours of homework the night before a test, in order to see what effect the extra stress has on test performance. The study is flawed because the researcher did not include a(n) _____

The two kinds of variables found in every experiment are _ and _ variables.

In order to increase typing speed, Minisoft has both redesigned its keyboard and provided a chime related to typing speed. The company wants to know if these changes affect typing speed. Which of the following represents, in order, the independent and dependent variable(s) in this study?

Bob is a participant in a study investigating the effectiveness of Ritalin in treating ADHD. Bob has ADHD, but is in a group that received a placebo (sugar pills) instead of Ritalin. Bob is in the _____ group.

In the experimental method, the _____ is sometimes referred to as the treatment.

James is a researcher examining the effects of vitamin D deficiency on mood. Based on everything he has read, he speculates that if an individual has a low vitamin D level, then he/she may experience changes in mood. James's speculation can also be described as a _____

In order to help separate the effects of your independent variable from the effects of chance or other random variables, you need to have _____

In the Lang study, aggression was measured by the intensity and duration of "shocks" the participants chose to deliver to the researcher's accomplice. This was the _____ definition of aggression for this experiment.

Most experiments have a _ group for purposes of comparison. This group is not given the treatment or the same independent variable as the _ group.

Matt's experiment was designed to find out if reading an entire chapter at once led to better test grades than reading a section at a time over several days. The dependent variable in his experimental research was _____

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has no known cause, although there are theories and hypotheses. In a situation such as this, which of the following can we do?