Question 1

Five thousand parents have been randomly selected from across the United States and will be asked a series of 20 well-chosen questions regarding their discipline techniques. These parents will be participating in which type of research study?

Accepted Answer

The description fits the survey method, which involves collecting data from a large group of people by asking them questions. This method is often used to gather information on opinions, behaviors, or characteristics of a particular group.

Question 2

Senior seminar in psychology is open only to psychology majors, and all psychology majors at this college must complete the seminar to graduate. A random sample of students in this seminar is representative of all

Accepted Answer

Since the seminar is exclusively for senior psychology majors who must complete it to graduate, a random sample from this seminar would specifically represent senior psychology majors at that college, not all students or seniors in general.

Question 3

Two researchers want to determine the opinion of the average U.S. citizen regarding gun control. One conducts his survey at a national fishing and hunting convention, while the other researcher surveys participants at an animal rights convention. Regarding the accuracy of these survey results in determining the viewpoint of the average U.S. citizen,

Accepted Answer

Both surveys are biased because they are conducted among groups of people who are likely to have strong pre-existing opinions on gun control, which may not accurately reflect the average U.S. citizen's views.

Question 4

A small, randomly selected part of a larger population that accurately reflects characteristics of the whole population is known as a

Accepted Answer

A representative sample is a subset of a population that accurately reflects the members of the entire population. It is used in statistical analysis to make inferences about the population from which it is drawn.

Question 5

A local television station conducts what they refer to as "surveys," in which they ask viewers to call in their opinions to various TOPIC (B-HEAD)s. These "surveys" are not considered a scientific poll because the television station

Accepted Answer

The key issue with the television station's "surveys" is that they are using a biased sample. This means that the survey results are likely to be skewed because they are not gathering opinions from a representative cross-section of the population. Instead, they are only collecting views from people who choose to call in, which can introduce significant bias.

Question 6

The Gallup and Harris Polls, which are reports that contain the responses of several thousand people to questions such as how good a job is the president doing with foreign affairs, are both examples of the use of the

Accepted Answer

The Gallup and Harris Polls are examples of the survey method, as they involve collecting data from a large number of respondents through questionnaires or interviews to gather opinions or behaviors.

Question 7

When conducting a survey a week after an election, more people say that they voted in the election than actually did. This most likely occurs due to a(n)

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is most likely due to courtesy bias, where respondents may say they voted to conform to what they perceive as socially desirable behavior, even if they did not actually vote.

Question 8

One of the limitations of the survey method is

Accepted Answer

Surveys often rely on self-reported data, which can be influenced by the desire of respondents to present themselves in a favorable light. This phenomenon is known as social desirability bias, where participants may answer questions in a way they think is socially acceptable rather than how they truly feel or behave.

Question 9

Concerning Internet surveys, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Web-based research is generally considered cost-effective and efficient compared to traditional methods, which can be more time-consuming and expensive. This makes statement A false.

Question 10

The town of Indianola, Mississippi wants to know what the community thinks about expanding the building and musical programs at the existing Blues Museum. Increased taxes will be used to pay for this expansion. Therefore, elected officials are mailing out questionnaires to determine public opinion about the expansion and the use of increased taxes to pay for it. Which type of research method are they using?

Accepted Answer

They are using a survey method, which involves collecting data from participants through questionnaires to gather opinions or feedback on a specific topic.

Question 11

An entire group of animals or people belonging to a particular category is called a

Accepted Answer

A population refers to the entire group of individuals or items that belong to a particular category under study.

Question 12

A researcher has surveyed several thousand introductory psychology students across the country regarding their views of dating. Because all of his participants were introductory psychology students, this researcher's findings

Accepted Answer

The findings will have limitations regarding their meaning because the sample is not representative of all college students, let alone all individuals who date, thus limiting the generalizability of the results.

Question 13

Researchers conducting web-based research have trouble controlling who actually answers their on-line questionnaires, which places limits on their research due to the possibility of

Accepted Answer

The primary issue with not being able to control who answers online questionnaires is the risk of ending up with biased samples. This means the sample may not accurately represent the broader population the researchers intend to study, leading to skewed or ungeneralizable results.

Question 14

The modern media, and especially the Internet, function as a giant "echo chamber" awash with rumors, hoaxes, half-truths, and urban legends like the one about giant alligators living in New York sewers. Therefore, as a critical thinker, you should

Accepted Answer

Being skeptical allows critical thinkers to question the validity of information, especially in an environment filled with misinformation.

Question 15

A common method for selecting representative samples is to select them

Accepted Answer

Random selection from the larger population is a common method for selecting representative samples because it helps ensure that every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen, which can help in achieving a sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the entire population.

Question 16

A subpart of a larger population that does not accurately reflect characteristics of the whole population is known as a

Accepted Answer

A biased sample is a subset of a population that does not accurately represent the entire population, often because it is not randomly selected or because it excludes certain groups.

Question 17

Regarding psychology in the media, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Most media stories regarding psychology prioritize entertainment value and audience engagement over critical thinking and scientific accuracy. This often leads to sensationalism and oversimplification of psychological concepts.

Question 18

We can draw conclusions about a larger group of people by randomly selecting a smaller group known as the

Accepted Answer

A representative sample is a smaller group selected from a larger group (population) in a way that accurately reflects the characteristics of the larger group, allowing researchers to draw conclusions about the population based on the sample.

Question 19

We can draw conclusions about a larger group of people by randomly selecting a smaller group. The entire larger group of people is known as the

Accepted Answer

The entire larger group of people from which a smaller group is randomly selected for study or analysis is known as the population.

Question 20

The tendency of persons being surveyed to give polite or socially desirable answers is known as the

Accepted Answer

Courtesy bias refers to the tendency of people to give answers that they believe are socially acceptable or polite, rather than expressing their true feelings or opinions, especially in survey or research contexts.

Quiz 1: Psychology, Critical Thinking, and Science