Question 1

In her dissertation research,a graduate student finds a correlation of +0.95 between two of the variables being studied.How should she interpret this correlation coefficient?

Accepted Answer

A correlation coefficient of +0.95 indicates a strong, positive relationship between the two variables. The closer the correlation coefficient is to +1, the stronger the relationship between the variables.

Question 2

Your psychology professor refers to a research study and says the results were "statistically significant." Which step in the scientific does this apply?

Accepted Answer

The term "statistically significant" is used when analyzing the results of gathered evidence in order to determine if it supports the hypothesis or not, and drawing conclusions is the step in the scientific process where researchers analyze their data and draw conclusions based on the evidence they have gathered.

Question 3

In an experiment,the factor that changes in response to some other factor is referred to as the

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable that is being observed or measured in response to changes in the independent variable. Therefore, it is the variable that changes in response to some other factor.

Question 4

A factor that varies in an experiment is called a

Accepted Answer

A factor that varies in an experiment is called a variable.

Question 5

In a study of the effects of various brands of ice cream on weight gain,type of ice cream consumed represents the

Accepted Answer

The type of ice cream consumed is being manipulated by the researchers to observe its effects on weight gain. Therefore, it is the independent variable in this study. The dependent variable would be the weight gain and the control variable may refer to factors that are kept constant, such as the amount of ice cream consumed, duration of the study, etc. Placebo and random variables are not relevant to this study.

Question 6

A statistical measure of the association between two variables is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A correlation coefficient is a measure of the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two variables. It ranges from -1 to 1, with values closer to -1 or 1 indicating a stronger relationship and values closer to 0 indicating a weaker relationship. Choice A (independent variable) and B (dependent variable) refer to the variables themselves, not the measure of their association. Choice C (control variable) is a variable that is held constant in an experiment and does not necessarily relate to the association between two variables. Choice E (placebo) is a substance or treatment that has no therapeutic effect and is unrelated to the measure of association between two variables.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of correlational research?

Accepted Answer

Correlational research cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships, as it only examines the relationship between two variables without manipulating them.

Question 8

Your psychology professor refers to a research study and says the results were "statistically significant." What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

When results are described as "statistically significant," it means that the findings were unlikely to have been due to chance or any other random factors. In other words, the results suggest that the relationship or effect observed in the study is likely to be real and replicable. However, it does not necessarily mean that the results can be generalized to the population or that the hypothesis is proven beyond doubt.

Question 9

Developmental psychologist Arthur Chang watches children in a day-care center through a one-way mirror.Chang is utilizing which form of research?

Accepted Answer

Chang is utilizing naturalistic observation, which involves observing subjects in their natural environment without any interference or manipulation by the researcher. He is watching the children in a day-care center through a one-way mirror, allowing him to observe their behavior without disturbing or affecting their actions.

Question 10

In an experiment,the ______ group receives the manipulation of the independent variable.

Accepted Answer

The experimental group receives the manipulation of the independent variable in order to determine its effect on the dependent variable. The control group serves as a baseline for comparison and does not receive the manipulation. The independent variable is the variable that is intentionally manipulated by the researcher, while the dependent variable is the outcome that is measured to determine if the manipulation had an effect. The terms "random" is not relevant to the question.

Question 11

The use of the survey method is limited by which types of biases?

Accepted Answer

The survey method is limited by social desirability bias, which occurs when participants respond in a way they think is socially acceptable, and volunteer bias, which occurs when individuals who volunteer for the survey have different characteristics than those who do not.

Question 12

You see a journal article entitled,"Injection of Happystuff causes a reduction in symptoms of depression in adult males." This tells you that the independent variable

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the factor that is being manipulated in the study. In this case, it is the injection of Happystuff.

Question 13

In survey research,_______ are segments of the total group who are the subject of interest to the researcher.

Accepted Answer

Samples are segments of the total group who are the subject of interest to the researcher in survey research. A population is the entire group being studied, volunteers are individuals who choose to participate (but not necessarily the specific group being studied), control groups are a comparison group used in experiments, and committees are groups of individuals tasked with specific responsibilities within an organization.

Question 14

Which of the following correlations represents two variables with the strongest relationship?

Accepted Answer

The closer the correlation coefficient is to -1 or 1, the stronger the relationship between the variables. Therefore, -0.95 represents the strongest negative correlation.

Question 15

Dr.Wilmington is a social psychologist who studies the topic of love.He goes to a variety of places where couples are found and watches how they interact with each other.Which research method is Dr.Wilmington using for his study?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Wilmington is using naturalistic observation as his research method. He is going to different places where couples are found and observing their interactions in their natural setting without influencing or interfering with their behavior.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is NOT true of a correlation?

Accepted Answer

This statement is not true. Negative correlations can indicate strong relationships, but in the opposite direction. A correlation of -1.0 indicates a strong negative relationship, while a correlation of 0 indicates no relationship at all.

Question 17

Social desirability bias and volunteer bias are problems typically associated with which research method?

Accepted Answer

Social desirability bias occurs when participants give responses they believe are socially acceptable or desirable, while volunteer bias occurs when participants who volunteer for a study are different in some way from those who do not. Both of these biases are common in survey research, which involves asking participants to self-report their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Therefore, the best choice is E (surveys).

Question 18

Dr.Chen finds in her study of people's charitable habits that individuals overestimate the amount of money they give to their churches and private schools.Dr.Chen's results may reflect

Accepted Answer

Social desirability bias occurs when individuals respond in a way that they believe is socially acceptable or desirable, even if it is not entirely truthful. In this case, individuals may feel pressure to overestimate their charitable giving to appear more charitable to others or to themselves. This bias could be especially strong in the context of churches and private schools, which are often associated with altruism and generosity.

Question 19

Which of the following relationships would most likely have the weakest correlation?

Accepted Answer

The number of fingers on a person's hand and intelligence are not directly related in a way that would suggest a strong correlation. Other options (A, B, D, E) describe relationships where one variable is likely to influence the other to some degree.

Question 20

A correlation coefficient of 0.00 means

Accepted Answer

A correlation coefficient of 0.00 means that there is no linear relationship between the variables. In other words, there is no association between the variables that can be described by a straight line.

Quiz 1: The Science of Psychology