Question 1

If a researcher's data are reliable,

Accepted Answer

The reliability of data refers to the consistency and stability of measurements. However, this does not necessarily ensure validity, which refers to the accuracy and truthfulness of the data. Even if the data are reliable, there may still be systematic errors, such as bias or confounding variables, that affect the data's accuracy.

Question 2

Suppose a researcher studying social anxiety in children uses a measure of "fidgeting" that indexes hyperactivity instead of social anxiety.What type of validity is this measure lacking?

Accepted Answer

The measure is lacking construct validity because it is not measuring what it is supposed to measure, i.e. social anxiety. Instead, it is measuring hyperactivity, which is a different construct altogether.

Question 3

Suppose a researcher studying the effect of having a pet on elderly people's subjective well-being does NOT use a control group in his study.What type of validity is this measure lacking?

Accepted Answer

The study is lacking internal validity, which refers to the extent to which the researcher can confidently claim that the changes observed in the dependent variable (in this case, subjective well-being) are due to the manipulation of the independent variable (having a pet) and not some other variable or confound. By not using a control group, the researcher cannot be sure if any changes in subjective well-being are due to having a pet or other factors such as a placebo effect or natural fluctuations.

Question 4

Suppose you just found out that you are required to participate in research as part of your psychology class, but you feel uncomfortable about it.What should you do?

Accepted Answer

It is important to communicate your feelings to your professor, but it is also important to explore alternative options that may be available to you. Asking about alternative assignments can help you fulfill the requirement without participating in research if that is what makes you uncomfortable. It's always better to be proactive and seek out a solution that works for you rather than just going through with something that makes you uneasy.

Question 5

When data collected in research are not useful in addressing the issue that the investigator is studying, we say that the data are NOT

Accepted Answer

Validity refers to the accuracy of measuring what the researcher intended to measure. If the data collected are not useful in addressing the issue being studied, then they lack validity. Reliability refers to the consistency or stability of the measurements, systematic refers to the structured and consistent approach used in collecting the data, and statistically significant refers to the probability that the findings are not due to chance. While these factors are important in research, they do not address the issue of the usefulness of the data in addressing the research question at hand.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT an ethical principle for research participants in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Deception is only permissible in research studies if it is absolutely necessary and cannot be substituted with other methods. However, participants must still be informed of the true nature of the study as soon as possible after their participation has ended. Therefore, research participants should not knowingly be deceived during a study. This is not an ethical principle.

Question 7

Ashley is an undergraduate research assistant in a lab investigating preschool children's science knowledge.She is examining the items on the science knowledge assessments to ensure that they actually measure science, and not some other concept.What type of validity is she addressing?

Accepted Answer

Ashley is addressing construct validity, which refers to whether a measure actually assesses the construct (in this case, science knowledge) that it is intended to measure.

Question 8

If a researcher finds that a participant produces different scores on a task each time the participant engages in that task, a researcher can conclude that

Accepted Answer

If a participant produces different scores on a task each time they engage in it, then the measurements are not reliable. Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of measurements over time. In this case, the scores are not consistent, which means they cannot be relied upon as accurate representations of the participant's abilities or performance on the task.

Question 9

In which of the following ways are conducting research with humans versus animals different?

Accepted Answer

Certain research procedures are acceptable in animals, but not in humans. While there are limits to what researchers can do with animals and the use of animals in research is subject to oversight and ethical considerations, there are certain procedures that are deemed acceptable in animals but would be unethical to perform on humans. For example, invasive surgeries or administering toxic substances may be acceptable in animal studies but would be deemed unethical for human research.

Question 10

Suppose a research study does a good job at making sure the results generalize to the real world, but does NOT do a good job preventing confounds.This research study

Accepted Answer

This study has external validity because the results generalize to the real world. However, it does not have internal validity because confounds were not prevented, which means that any observed effects could be due to factors other than the independent variable.

Question 11

Why would researchers choose to use animal models for research?

Accepted Answer

Researchers may choose to use animal models in research if they want to study important brain or genetic changes that would be unethical to induce in humans, such as severe genetic abnormalities or fatal diseases. Animal models also allow researchers to manipulate and control certain variables in a way that would not be possible with human subjects. It is important to note, however, that there are limits to how much we can generalize findings from animal models to humans.

Question 12

Suppose a researcher intended to study people's levels of happiness by monitoring how often they smile or laugh when watching a movie.If this measurement truly indicates level of happiness, psychologists would say that the data are

Accepted Answer

Validity refers to the accuracy of a measure in assessing what it is intended to measure. In this case, the researcher intends to measure people's levels of happiness, and if smiling or laughing truly indicates happiness, then this measurement is valid. Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, and systematic and event-related are not relevant concepts to this question.

Question 13

In which of the following ways are conducting research with humans versus animals similar?

Accepted Answer

Ethics are a fundamental consideration in both human and animal research, ensuring that studies are conducted responsibly and with respect for the subjects involved.

Question 14

If a participant always shows fast reaction times on a visual task not because she is good at the task but because she can hear the experimenter start the presentation and can get ready for the stimulus, her data will show a high level of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of systematic error, also known as a measurement bias. The participant's response is consistently influenced by an extraneous variable (in this case, auditory cues) and does not reflect their true ability on the task.

Question 15

The ethical treatment of animals is important to consider for

Accepted Answer

The ethical treatment of animals should be considered for any study using animals, regardless of the number of animals involved or the type of animals used. It is important to ensure that animals are treated with respect and care to minimize their pain and suffering.

Question 16

Jose is interested in manipulating genes that are linked to Alzheimer's disease in mouse embryos.What must he consider before beginning his research?

Accepted Answer

Jose must consider the ethical implications of using animals in research, ensuring that the potential benefits justify the use of animals.

Question 17

When researchers study multiple groups and report the means for each group, they are reporting

Accepted Answer

Reporting the means for each group is a way to describe the central tendency of each group, which is a type of descriptive statistics. Median values, variability, and standard deviations are all also types of descriptive statistics, but only reporting the means fits the given description.

Question 18

In what way are internal validity and external validity different?

Accepted Answer

External validity refers to the extent to which the findings of a study can be generalized to other populations or settings. Internal validity, on the other hand, concerns the degree to which the study design controls for alternative explanations of the results. Therefore, external validity relates to generalization, while internal validity relates to experimental control.

Question 19

Miranda is participating in a research study for class.She arrived for the study on time, signed the consent form, and began the experiment.Midway through, Miranda's phone begins to vibrate with text messages from a friend.What should she do?

Accepted Answer

Miranda should try to minimize distractions and maintain the integrity of the experiment. If it is possible to pause the experiment, she should do so and turn off her phone to eliminate the distraction. If she cannot turn off her phone, she could at least put it on silent or airplane mode to avoid any interruptions. It is important for the results of the experiment to be accurate, so any distractions should be minimized.

Question 20

According to the text, animal models may be considered ethical for psychological research if

Accepted Answer

The text states that animal models may be considered ethical for psychological research if concern for animals' lives is balanced with concern for humanity's future. This suggests that ethical considerations should take both animals and humans into account, and that some form of benefits for humanity is required to justify the use of animals in research. Options A and B are partially correct, but they do not capture the full ethical framework that the text is advocating. Option C is not mentioned in the text, and it is not clear how including an equal number of human subjects would justify the use of animals, especially if the same experiment could be conducted exclusively with human subjects.

Quiz 2: Research Methodology