Question 1

Which of the following choices requires inferential statistics?

Accepted Answer

Option B requires inferential statistics as it involves making inferences or generalizations about a larger population based on data from a smaller sample (one fourth-grade classroom). The other options involve descriptive statistics or basic calculations without inference.

Question 2

To decide whether first-year students given study skills training have a better grade point average (GPA) at the end of the year than students without training, researchers will need to determine the _______ of GPA differences between the two groups.

Accepted Answer

Statistical significance is used to determine the likelihood that any differences observed between the two groups are not due to chance. It is the most appropriate measure to determine whether the difference in GPA between the two groups is meaningful or not. Standard deviation, variance, and frequency distribution are not directly relevant to determining the significance of the difference between the two groups.

Question 3

Effect size

Accepted Answer

Effect size refers to the magnitude of the difference between groups. It is often used in addition to statistical significance to help interpret the practical significance of study results. It is not identical to statistical significance or sample size, and it does not refer to the variance within a control group.

Question 4

The main purpose of inferential statistics is to

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics is used to make predictions or estimations about a population based on a sample. Option A is not the main purpose of inferential statistics, although it can be a useful application. Option B is a characteristic of descriptive statistics, not inferential statistics. Option C deals with data cleaning and preprocessing, which is not the main purpose of inferential statistics.

Question 5

A health researcher measured the weight of third-grade girls. In a group of ten girls, weights in pounds were 53, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62, 65, and 66. The range is _______, and the sample _______ appear to have clear outliers.

Accepted Answer

The range is calculated by subtracting the smallest value from the largest value (66 - 53 = 13), and there are no clear outliers as the weights increase gradually.

Question 6

Reliability refers to whether your measurement tool _______ and validity to whether it _______.

Accepted Answer

Reliability in research refers to the consistency of a measurement tool or method—whether it can produce the same results under the same conditions repeatedly. Validity, on the other hand, concerns whether the tool or method actually measures what it is intended to measure.

Question 7

A measure of conscientiousness produces very similar scores each time a person repeats the exercise, but it doesn't predict whether a person is reliable in everyday life. This measure appears to be

Accepted Answer

The measure of conscientiousness produces very similar scores each time a person repeats the exercise, which indicates that it is reliable. However, the measure does not predict whether a person is reliable in everyday life, which suggests that it is not valid. Therefore, the measure is reliable but not valid.

Question 8

In a depression-treatment study, neither the participants nor the researcher know who is taking medication and who is taking a sugar pill. This is an example of a

Accepted Answer

This study is an example of a double-blind trial because both the participants and the researcher are unaware of who is receiving the medication and who is receiving the placebo. This helps to eliminate bias and increase the validity of the study.

Question 9

In an experiment treating spider phobia, half of the participants get eight hours of cognitive-behavioral treatment. The other half get eight hours of attention from a therapist but no active treatment. Both groups report a statistically significant reduction in their fear of spiders. This is evidence that

Accepted Answer

The fact that there was a statistically significant reduction in fear of spiders in both groups suggests that the placebo effect can be significant. The group that received no active treatment could have experienced this reduction due to the attention and support they received from the therapist, rather than the specific intervention provided in the cognitive-behavioral therapy group.

Question 10

In a test of a new medication for schizophrenia, doctors allow patients to decide if they want to take the new medication or stick with their current medication. This is problematic because it creates an issue with

Accepted Answer

Allowing patients to choose their medication can lead to differences between the groups that are not related to the medication's effectiveness, compromising group equivalence. This can introduce biases and confounding variables, making it difficult to attribute differences in outcomes directly to the medication being tested.

Question 11

A researcher is testing the hypothesis that an herbal supplement improves concentration. Before taking a concentration test, the first group gets the supplement. Which of the following reflects the highest quality research design for this hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

Option D ensures a double-blind setup where neither the participants nor the researchers directly interacting with them know who received the supplement or the placebo, reducing bias and increasing the reliability of the results.

Question 12

Ethical principles require researchers to

Accepted Answer

Providing information about potential risks to participants before they begin a study is an ethical principle that ensures participants have informed consent and are not subjected to harm or discomfort without their knowledge. The other choices are not ethical principles that are universally applied in research.

Question 13

The Tuskegee syphilis study is famous because

Accepted Answer

The Tuskegee syphilis study is famous because researchers failed to inform participants that they had a treatable disease. The participants, who were mostly poor and uneducated African American men, were not given adequate information about the study or their own medical conditions. This led to serious ethical violations and harm to the participants.

Question 14

Deception in psychological research

Accepted Answer

Deception in psychological research is occasionally allowed, but only if it is justified by the study's importance and cannot be avoided. If deception is used, the participants must be thoroughly debriefed afterward to ensure that they understand the true nature of the study and to minimize any potential harm or misunderstanding. The use of deception must also be approved by an ethics committee before the study can proceed.

Question 15

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee is responsible for all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is responsible for evaluating the use of animals in research, ensuring that researchers have minimized animal stress and pain, and inspecting animal care facilities to ensure that animals are being cared for in a humane manner. However, the IACUC is not responsible for collecting blood and tissue samples from research animals; this is generally the responsibility of the research team.

Question 16

In taste tests, people prefer Coke to Pepsi when they drink labeled samples but prefer Pepsi to Coke when they drink unlabeled samples. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

The answer of In taste tests, people prefer Coke to...

Question 17

Although very few people would admit to a belief that men make better hires than women, several experiments show that men are more likely to be hired than women with identical résumés. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of unconscious bias, where individuals may hold biases without even realizing it. In this case, the bias is leading to different hiring outcomes for men and women despite identical qualifications.

Question 18

A meta-analysis of published and unpublished tests of SSRI medications revealed that

Accepted Answer

The meta-analysis found that SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are significantly more effective than placebos primarily for severe levels of depression, indicating that their efficacy is more pronounced in more serious cases.

Question 19

There is some evidence that children and adults who watch violent television shows tend to be more aggressive in their behavior. This does not prove that violent shows increase aggressive behavior because _______ does not prove _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There is some evidence that children and...

Question 20

The best way to demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship is through _______ research.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The best way to demonstrate a cause-and-effect...

Quiz 2: Psychology As a Science