Question 1

If a television ad tells you that a "psychic hotline" can predict your entire future for you in three half-hour sessions,
A) beware of over-simplification.
B) note the difference between observation and inference.
C) remember that correlation does not mean causation.
D) realize the authenticity of the psychic has been thoroughly checked by the TV media
Before broadcast.

Accepted Answer

The claim made by the television ad sounds too good to be true and is likely an oversimplification. It is not possible to predict an entire future accurately in just three half-hour sessions with a psychic. Therefore, it is best to beware of over-simplification.

Question 2

If students who completed a study skills course raised their grade point averages,can we conclude that the course caused their improvement?
A) Yes, because the scientific data was collected.
B) Yes, because a negative correlation exists between these students' grade point averages before and after taking the course.
C) Yes, because the course resulted in a self-fulfilling prophecy.
D) No, because there was no control group.

Accepted Answer

Without a control group, we cannot rule out alternative explanations for why the students' grades improved, such as that they were simply more motivated or had other extraneous factors affecting their academic performance. Therefore, we cannot conclude that the course caused the improvement.

Question 3

When a person remembers or notices only things that backs up his or her expectations and
forgets the rest,he or she is experiencing the confirmation bias.

Accepted Answer

This is a correct definition of confirmation bias, which refers to the tendency to favor information that confirms preexisting beliefs or assumptions.

Question 4

A researcher determines that the crime rate in a large city is related to the phases of the moon.She concludes that the gravitational pull of the moon influences human behavior.She does not understand
A) the dangers of a single example.
B) the difference between observation and inference.
C) the difference between correlation and causation.
D) that the Barnum effect occurs only in ten-year cycles.

Accepted Answer

The researcher has only observed a correlation between the phases of the moon and the crime rate, but has not proven causation. It is possible that other factors are influencing both variables, or that the correlation is simply a coincidence. It is important to understand the difference between correlation and causation in order to draw valid conclusions from research data.

Question 5

As consumption of ice cream increases during the year,so does the number of aggravated assaults.A politician advocates that ice cream be banned so that the crime rate will go down.Besides needing to be voted out of office,this politician needs to understand
A) the dangers of a single example.
B) the difference between observation and inference.
C) the difference between correlation and causation.
D) that the Barnum effect occurs only in ten-year cycles.

Accepted Answer

The politician needs to understand the difference between correlation and causation. Just because two variables (ice cream consumption and aggravated assaults) are correlated, it does not mean that one causes the other. There could be other factors that contribute to the increase in aggravated assaults. Banning ice cream would not necessarily lead to a decrease in crime.

Question 6

It is important for critical thinkers to take the word of an expert without asking questions.

Accepted Answer

Critical thinkers should not accept any claim blindly, even if it comes from an expert. They should ask questions, evaluate evidence, and consider alternative perspectives before reaching a conclusion. This is the essence of critical thinking, which requires an open-minded and skeptical approach to knowledge and ideas. Blindly accepting the word of an expert without questioning it undermines critical thinking and can lead to errors, biases, and misunderstandings.

Question 7

You caution a friend about eating so many foods that are high in fat content.Your friend replies that his grandfather ate all the bacon and cheese he wanted and he lived to be 93.Which of the following is the BEST explanation for your friend's error in reasoning?
A) the Barnum effect
B) the use of individual cases
C) the self-fulfilling prophecy
D) the fallacy of negative instances

Accepted Answer

Your friend is committing the fallacy of using individual cases, meaning he is using one specific example to draw a general conclusion that may not be applicable to everyone. Just because his grandfather lived a long life despite eating a lot of high-fat foods does not mean that everyone who eats that way will have the same result.

Question 8

Regarding the use of examples,anecdotes,single cases,and testimonials in advertising,which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) They should be viewed as valid indicators of the authenticity of the product or service.
B) They all create a courtesy bias within the customer.
C) They are all potentially deceptive because individual cases tell us nothing about what is
True in general.
D) They are all invalid due to the Barnum effect.

Accepted Answer

Examples, anecdotes, single cases, and testimonials are potentially deceptive because individual cases may not represent what is generally true about a product or service. To draw valid conclusions, we need to back up the claims with evidence from a larger and more representative sample. This is especially important when it comes to health-related products, where testimonials and anecdotes can be misleading and even dangerous. Thus, relying solely on individual cases is not a reliable way to evaluate the effectiveness or safety of a product or service.

Question 9

Phrenology involved the reading of the lines on one's palm to reveal personality and predict the future.

Accepted Answer

This statement is incorrect. Phrenology is not related to palm reading but rather involves examining the shape and contours of the skull to determine traits and abilities.

Question 10

A theater reported that their highest beverage sales this year occurred during showings of The Great African Desert.However,we cannot conclude that the film affected beverage consumption because
A) the placebo effect was not considered.
B) only a correlation can establish causation.
C) no correlation was computed.
D) there was no control group.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A theater reported that their highest beverage...

Question 11

Psychic advisers promoted in TV commercials tend to make use of the human tendency to consider personal descriptions accurate if they are stated in general terms,which is called the
A) anthropomorphic error.
B) halo effect.
C) courtesy bias.
D) Barnum effect.

Accepted Answer

The Barnum effect is the tendency for people to consider personal descriptions that are stated in general terms as accurate. This phenomenon is often exploited by psychic advisers who use vague and general statements to promote their legitimacy. The other options, anthropomorphic error, halo effect, and courtesy bias do not accurately describe this phenomenon.

Question 12

Critical thinking is a type of reflection that involves asking whether a particular belief can be supported by scientific theory and observation.

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves evaluating beliefs and claims based on evidence and logical reasoning. It is not limited to scientific theory and observation alone, but these are among the key sources of evidence for evaluating many types of claims.

Question 13

A psychologist visiting a classroom concludes that one of the children is depressed because the child is quiet and unresponsive.Actually,the child has the flu.The psychologist has made what error?
A) failure to distinguish correlation from causation
B) failure to distinguish inference from observation
C) failure to use experimental controls
D) failure to obtain a representative sample

Accepted Answer

The psychologist has made an inference (a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning) without observing all the relevant facts, in this case, the child's physical illness. The psychologist has assumed that the cause of the child's behavior is depression, rather than considering other potential causes. This is an error of inference and observation, not a failure to control variables, obtain a representative sample, or distinguish correlation from causation.

Question 14

An advertisement promising to "unlock your hidden potential in just two hours!" should be suspect because
A) it is an over-simplification.
B) it is based on single cases and testimonials.
C) the experience is not repeatable.
D) correlation does not mean causation.

Accepted Answer

Promising to "unlock your hidden potential in just two hours!" is an over-simplification and it is unlikely that complex and long-standing issues that prevent someone from reaching their full potential can be solved in such a short time frame. It's important to be careful when ads offer quick and easy solutions to complex problems.

Question 15

You meet a young lady who giggles after every sentence she says.You conclude that she is a very happy person,but you later find that her giggling is due to nervousness in meeting new
People.This story suggests that it is important to distinguish between
A) individual cases and generalizations.
B) correlation and causation.
C) control groups and experimental groups.
D) observation and inference.

Accepted Answer

The story highlights the importance of distinguishing between what is directly observed (giggling) and the inference made from it (assuming she is happy), which turned out to be incorrect.

Question 16

Remembering your social security number would be considered an overt behavior.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Remembering your social security number would be...

Question 17

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the advertising by psychic advisors?
A) No one has passed the preliminary tests set up by James Randi's Million Dollar
Challenge to demonstrate psychic abilities under controlled conditions.
B) Usually psychic advisor ads are promoted with a few testimonials and many
Unsupported claims.
C) Unlike psychic advisors, stage mentalists do not use deception with their audiences or
In advertising.
D) Psychic advisers promoted in TV commercials make use of the Barnum effect.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Stage mentalists do use deception in their performances, just like psychic advisors.

Question 18

When a personnel director uses tests and interviews to select the best candidate for the job,this selection process is illustrating the psychological goal of prediction.

Accepted Answer

The psychological goal of prediction in the hiring process is to use tests and interviews to predict which candidate will perform the best in the job. Therefore, when a personnel director uses these methods in their selection process, they are illustrating this goal.

Question 19

When reading the claims of makers of home biofeedback machines,sleep-learning devices, subliminal CDs,and the like,it is important to
A) realize that the authenticity of the report has been thoroughly checked by the media.
B) be wary of overly complex explanations.
C) consider the number of experts that are promoting the product.
D) consider whether the information is motivated by monetary gain.

Accepted Answer

It is important to consider whether the claims are motivated by monetary gain, as many of these products are marketed as a way to make money for the sellers rather than providing genuine benefits to the users. Therefore, it is necessary to approach these claims with a healthy dose of skepticism and conduct further research before investing in such products.

Question 20

Psychology is best defined as the study of personality and emotional well-being.

Accepted Answer

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, including but not limited to personality and emotion. It encompasses a wide range of topics and fields, including developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, and more.

Quiz 1: C: Introduction to Psychology and Research Methods

If a television ad tells you that a "psychic hotline" can predict your entire future for you in three half-hour sessions,

If students who completed a study skills course raised their grade point averages,can we conclude that the course caused their improvement?

When a person remembers or notices only things that backs up his or her expectations and forgets the rest,he or she is experiencing the confirmation bias.

A researcher determines that the crime rate in a large city is related to the phases of the moon.She concludes that the gravitational pull of the moon influences human behavior.She does not understand

As consumption of ice cream increases during the year,so does the number of aggravated assaults.A politician advocates that ice cream be banned so that the crime rate will go down.Besides needing to be voted out of office,this politician needs to understand

It is important for critical thinkers to take the word of an expert without asking questions.

You caution a friend about eating so many foods that are high in fat content.Your friend replies that his grandfather ate all the bacon and cheese he wanted and he lived to be 93.Which of the following is the BEST explanation for your friend's error in reasoning?

Regarding the use of examples,anecdotes,single cases,and testimonials in advertising,which of the following statements is TRUE?

Phrenology involved the reading of the lines on one's palm to reveal personality and predict the future.

A theater reported that their highest beverage sales this year occurred during showings of The Great African Desert.However,we cannot conclude that the film affected beverage consumption because

Psychic advisers promoted in TV commercials tend to make use of the human tendency to consider personal descriptions accurate if they are stated in general terms,which is called the

Critical thinking is a type of reflection that involves asking whether a particular belief can be supported by scientific theory and observation.

A psychologist visiting a classroom concludes that one of the children is depressed because the child is quiet and unresponsive.Actually,the child has the flu.The psychologist has made what error?

An advertisement promising to "unlock your hidden potential in just two hours!" should be suspect because

You meet a young lady who giggles after every sentence she says.You conclude that she is a very happy person,but you later find that her giggling is due to nervousness in meeting new People.This story suggests that it is important to distinguish between

Remembering your social security number would be considered an overt behavior.

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the advertising by psychic advisors?

When a personnel director uses tests and interviews to select the best candidate for the job,this selection process is illustrating the psychological goal of prediction.

When reading the claims of makers of home biofeedback machines,sleep-learning devices, subliminal CDs,and the like,it is important to

Psychology is best defined as the study of personality and emotional well-being.