Question 1

"I want to know what my pancreas does. I know that my pancreas produces hormones important for digestion because that is what my high school biology teacher told me." is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

The statement acknowledges information from an authority figure (the high school biology teacher) as the source of knowledge regarding the pancreas.

Question 2

A psychologist investigating the research question "How much information can we store in short-term memory?" is most likely conducting ______ research.

Accepted Answer

The research question is focused on understanding a fundamental aspect of human cognition, and is not concerned with solving a practical problem or developing an intervention, which would be the goals of applied research. Therefore, this is an example of basic research. External and internal are not relevant terms in this context.

Question 3

When one encounters reports of research in the media, asking questions to ascertain credibility would not include ______.

Accepted Answer

The gender of the researcher(s) is not a relevant factor in determining the credibility of the research. The other options listed are important factors to consider in evaluating the credibility of research.

Question 4

A psychologist investigating the research question "What type of work environment increases productivity of employees?" is most likely conducting ______ research.

Accepted Answer

Applied research is conducted with the purpose of solving a practical problem, while basic research aims to increase fundamental knowledge in a particular field. In this case, the psychologist is investigating how to increase productivity in the workplace, which is a practical problem, indicating that they are conducting applied research. External and internal are not appropriate categories for this research question.

Question 5

Human factors professionals use research to help understand the best way to ______.

Accepted Answer

Human factors professionals use research to help design products and interfaces that are user-friendly and efficient. While they may consider work procedures and safety policy, their primary focus is on optimizing the design of products and interfaces to improve user experience and productivity. Understanding employee morale is also important, but is outside of the scope of human factors research.

Question 6

Early neuroscientists conducted ______ research studies to understand how neurons function.

Accepted Answer

Early neuroscientists conducted basic research studies to understand how neurons function, laying the foundation for more complex neurological research in the future.

Question 7

Applications of ______ research may not be obvious when it is initially conducted.

Accepted Answer

Basic research is conducted to expand knowledge and understanding of a subject, without necessarily having a clear practical application in mind. While the immediate practical applications of basic research may not be obvious, the knowledge gained from it can often be applied to a range of different fields in the future.

Question 8

"I want to know which direction I am facing. The Sun is setting to my right, and I know the Sun sets in the west, so I know that west is the direction where the Sun is setting." is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of deduction, as the person is using previous knowledge (that the Sun sets in the west) to make a logical conclusion about which direction they are facing.

Question 9

A reporter who is writing an article on an important issue may only interview experts that support their views on the issue. This is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of confirmation bias, which is the tendency to seek out and accept information that confirms or supports one's pre-existing beliefs or expectations while ignoring or rejecting information that contradicts them. In this case, the reporter is only interviewing experts who share their views on the issue, thereby selectively accepting information that supports their viewpoint.

Question 10

Relying on common sense as a means of knowing about the world is referred to as the ______ method of knowing.

Accepted Answer

Relying on common sense involves using intuition, which is a form of knowledge that is not based on reasoning or observation but instead comes from instinctive feelings or hunches. This method does not necessarily involve a logical process of deduction or relying on authority, and may not always be based on direct observation.

Question 11

Knowledge gained in ______ studies can also help basic researchers refine their theories about how behavior works.

Accepted Answer

Applied studies involve applying theories and concepts to real-world situations, which can provide practical insights and solutions. However, in doing so, applied researchers often gather data and make observations that can inform and refine basic theories about behavior. Therefore, knowledge gained in applied studies can also be useful to basic researchers.

Question 12

The ______ provide(s) a general "how to" guide for psychologists designing research studies, because they help us conduct good tests of our explanations of the causes of behaviors and further our understanding of why certain behaviors occur.

Accepted Answer

The canons of science provide a set of principles and guidelines for conducting research in psychology, which helps researchers design studies that test their explanations of behavior and gain a deeper understanding of the causes of certain behaviors.

Question 13

When we ask people to complete a survey we are using ______ to learn about behavior.

Accepted Answer

Empiricism is the process of gaining knowledge through observation and experimentation. Conducting a survey is a method of observation that allows us to learn about people's behaviors and attitudes.

Question 14

Watson is collecting data to study "Does sleeplessness cause anxiety?". This is an example of the ______ facet of the scientific method.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Watson is collecting data to study "Does...

Question 15

"I want to know if my phone is on. I decide that it is because my phone is always on." is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of deduction because the conclusion that the phone is on is based on a general premise that the phone is always on.

Question 16

The ______ canon helps scientists test their ideas more easily, because it is easier to develop a study that might falsify a simple explanation than to develop a study that might falsify a more complex explanation.

Accepted Answer

The principle of parsimony, also known as Occam's razor, states that the simplest explanation is usually the best one. This is especially useful in science because it is easier to test simple explanations than complex ones, making it easier to determine whether a hypothesis is correct or not.

Question 17

______ factors can cause us to observe a particular behavior when we observe it only once and affects our result conclusions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ______ factors can cause us to observe...

Question 18

Observation is really what sets scientific fields apart from other fields of study.

Accepted Answer

The ability to make accurate and systematic observations is a key component of the scientific method, which is the cornerstone of all scientific fields of study. Other fields, such as the humanities or social sciences, may also rely on observation, but it is not as central to their methodology or approach.

Question 19

"I want to know how much sleep on average Americans get per night. I determine this by conducting a survey of Americans to learn that most Americans get an average of 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night" is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

The statement is an example of observation, as the researcher conducted a survey to gather data about Americans' sleep habits.

Question 20

______ is not a method of empiricism used to learn about behavior.

Accepted Answer

Relying on common sense is not a reliable method of empiricism as it is subjective and can be influenced by personal biases and beliefs. The other options listed involve directly observing or collecting data from individuals in some way.

Quiz 1: Psychological Research: the Whys and Hows of the Scientific Method