Question 1

Which of the following is a reason that a journalist may misrepresent a psychology study in a magazine?

Accepted Answer

Journalists may not have the scientific background to understand the study and may misrepresent the findings unintentionally. This can occur even if they have gone through the peer-review process and expect their readers to check the original scientific journal. It does not necessarily mean that journalists are unethical.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of basic research?

Accepted Answer

Basic research is a type of research that aims to increase the fundamental knowledge and understanding of a phenomenon or theory, without any immediate practical application or concern for solving a specific problem. The experimental psychologist who examines people's ability to perceive a "sweet" taste falls under this category.

Question 3

Which of the following is the reason that scientific journals use peer review?

Accepted Answer

The main reason scientific journals use peer review is to ensure that the studies published are of the highest quality. Peer review involves having other experts in the field review and critique a study before it is accepted for publication. This helps to ensure that the research is rigorous, accurate, and meets high scientific standards. While peer review may also encourage collaboration among researchers and help to increase efficiency in some cases, these are not the primary reasons why journals use this process.

Question 4

The quality of journalists' coverage of a science story will be determined by two factors:

Accepted Answer

The quality of journalists' coverage of a science story primarily depends on the importance and accuracy of the story. The accuracy of the story ensures that the information presented is reliable and credible, while the importance ensures that the journalist has prioritized the most relevant aspects of the story. Other factors like source, length, education, and experience are secondary and may contribute to the quality of the story, but they are not as critical as accuracy and importance.

Question 5

Nadia submits her article to a scientific journal for publication. Who makes the final decision on whether her article is published in that scientific journal?

Accepted Answer

The editor of the journal is typically the individual who makes the final decision on whether an article is accepted for publication. They may consult with a panel of experts as part of the peer review process, but ultimately it is the editor who has the final say on whether the article is published or not. Nadia, as the author of the article, does not have the authority to make the final decision on publication. The publisher may be involved in the process, but they do not typically make the final decision on whether an article is accepted for publication.

Question 6

Dr. Gonzalez is a peer reviewer for a manuscript submitted to a journal. He is likely to provide comments on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

As a peer reviewer, Dr. Gonzalez is responsible for evaluating the research methodology and ensuring that it is scientifically sound. Therefore, he is likely to provide comments on how well the research was conducted.

Question 7

According to the text, the bridge between basic and applied research is known as:

Accepted Answer

The text states that the bridge between basic and applied research is known as translational research. Therefore, option C is the correct answer. None of the other options are mentioned or related to the bridge between basic and applied research.

Question 8

Your friend Gaby loves reading articles about psychology studies in her monthly women's magazine. Which of the following would you tell her?

Accepted Answer

While some articles in women's magazines may present accurate findings, it's important to be cautious because they may not always be accurate or may present findings in a misleading way. It's often better to look for articles in reputable peer-reviewed journals, which have gone through a rigorous process of review by other experts in the field.

Question 9

Vinai learns that people with schizophrenia have a problem labeling their emotions. Using this information, he designs a research study to examine whether teaching patients with schizophrenia to label the emotions of people they see in movie clips helps them to better label their own emotions. Vinai hopes that the findings of this research could then be used to create an intervention to treat schizophrenia. Vinai's study is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Vinai's study is an example of translational research, which aims to use findings from basic research to develop interventions for practical use. His study uses knowledge about the problem of labeling emotions in schizophrenia (a finding from basic research) to explore a potential intervention that could be used clinically (applied research). The study is empirical, as it involves collecting and analyzing data.

Question 10

Which aspect of the peer-review cycle allows for the greatest amount of honesty in reviews?

Accepted Answer

The anonymity of the peer reviewers allows for the greatest amount of honesty in reviews because it removes the potential for reviewers to be influenced by their relationship with the author or their own personal biases. This allows for more objective and fair evaluations of the manuscript.

Question 11

Research that is done specifically to solve a practical problem, like increasing memory ability or decreasing symptoms of depression, is known as:

Accepted Answer

Applied research is focused on solving practical problems or addressing specific issues. It often involves using theories and knowledge gained from basic research to develop practical applications or solutions.

Question 12

Articles that could be considered journalism:

Accepted Answer

Articles that could be considered journalism are designed for a general audience and do not require specialized education to read. They are often found in newspapers, magazines, and online news outlets.

Question 13

Dr. Stewart is an editor of a psychology journal. She wants to ensure that reviewers give honest reviews of the papers they are asked to read. Which of the following could she do to increase the likelihood of honest feedback?

Accepted Answer

Making sure the peer reviewers are anonymous can increase the likelihood of honest feedback as they may feel more comfortable expressing their true opinions without fear of retaliation. Increasing the number of peer reviewers or giving them a longer amount of time to read papers may not necessarily guarantee honest feedback, and using reviewers from fields other than psychology may not be relevant or helpful for assessing the quality of psychology papers.

Question 14

Which of the following is true of the difference between basic and applied research?

Accepted Answer

Basic research focuses on gaining knowledge and understanding of a subject, while applied research focuses on solving practical problems or improving practical applications. Therefore, they have different goals. Neither is more important than the other, and the difficulty of conducting research depends on the specific topic and methodology. Applied research can be conducted by both researchers and consumers of research.

Question 15

Research that is done specifically to add to our general understanding of psychology, like distinguishing the components of extraversion or predicting the time it takes a person to determine whether an object is a face or another object, is known as:

Accepted Answer

Basic research is focused on adding to our general understanding of psychology and is not done for any specific practical purposes. Applied research, on the other hand, is focused on solving specific practical problems, while empirical research refers to research that is based on evidence from observation or experience. Translational research is focused on using basic research to develop practical applications.

Question 16

Translational research is best thought of as basic research and applied research.

Accepted Answer

Translational research is a bridge between basic research and applied research, as it aims to take the findings from basic research and apply them to real-world situations and problems. It involves the collaboration of researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry to create innovative solutions to improve health outcomes.

Question 17

Which of the following is a reason psychological scientists publish their research in scientific journals?

Accepted Answer

Psychological scientists publish their research in scientific journals to have their results reviewed by other psychologists, which helps to ensure that their work is accurate and credible. This process also allows for peer feedback and potential improvements to the research. A and D are incorrect because psychological scientists do not get paid by journals for publishing their research, and gaining attention from journalists is not typically the primary reason for publishing in scientific journals. B may be a secondary benefit of publishing in scientific journals, but it is not the main reason.

Question 18

Salma conducts a study and finds that her data do not completely support her theory. Which of the following statements should she avoid saying?

Accepted Answer

Saying "my data disprove my theory" is too definitive and conclusive. It is better to say that the data are not completely supporting the theory or that the theory needs amending. Saying "I may need to collect more data" is also a valid option as it acknowledges the possibility for further research and investigation.

Question 19

Dr. White reads about a new theory that states that depression is caused by increased levels of estrogen in the womb. To test this theory, she conducted a study comparing the level of estrogen in amniotic fluid in individuals who were later diagnosed with depression with the level of those who did not develop depression. Dr. White found no differences between the groups in estrogen levels in the amniotic fluid.
Based on these results, Dr. White should conclude that:

Accepted Answer

The fact that Dr. White did not find differences between the groups in estrogen levels in the amniotic fluid does not necessarily imply that the previous theory was disproved or that her study was flawed. It may be that there are other factors influencing the results that have not yet been examined that contributed to the results of studies on this topic. Therefore, Dr. White should conclude that there may be other factors that need to be considered and further research is needed to understand the causes of depression.

Question 20

Scientific journals and magazines are similar in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

Both scientific journals and magazines aim to inform their readers, although they do so for different audiences and with different levels of technical detail.

Quiz 1: Psychology Is a Way of Thinking