Question 1

Professor Lee needs to complete a research study.She has a very small budget,needs to cover a large number of participants,and needs to complete her research within three months.Which method would BEST meet her objectives?

Accepted Answer

The survey method would best meet Professor Lee's objectives as it can cover a large number of participants within a short period of time and does not require a large budget. Additionally, it can be easily administered online, which can save time and resources.

Question 2

In-depth observation and study of a woman receiving therapy to address what appear to be multiple personalities would best fit which type of research method?

Accepted Answer

The clinical method involves in-depth observation and study of individuals receiving therapy, making it the best fit for studying a woman receiving therapy for multiple personalities. Correlational method involves studying the relationship between variables, naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in natural settings without intervention, and survey method involves collecting data through questionnaires or interviews.

Question 3

It has been reported that more intelligent people are generally more attractive than less intelligent people.This conclusion is probably based on the results of:

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests a correlation between intelligence and attractiveness, which would likely be explored through a correlational study. A correlational study would examine the relationship between intelligence and attractiveness and determine whether a positive correlation exists between the two variables.

Question 4

A researcher interested in studying the life satisfaction of adolescents versus adults would be most likely to choose which of the following methods?

Accepted Answer

The best choice for this type of research would be a survey. Surveys allow researchers to gather self-reported data from a large number of participants, making it an efficient way to compare the life satisfaction of adolescents versus adults. Clinical methods may not be appropriate as they are typically used for diagnosing and treating individual patients, rather than studying populations. Naturalistic observation may not provide enough information about participants' life satisfaction or their demographic characteristics, whereas a formal experiment may not be feasible or ethical for this type of research.

Question 5

Descriptive research data can be collected through:

Accepted Answer

Descriptive research data can be collected through all of these methods. Clinical studies involve collecting data in a controlled environment to study a specific phenomenon. Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in its natural setting without manipulation. Surveys involve collecting data through self-report measures from a targeted group of individuals. All of these methods can provide valuable data for descriptive research.

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of clinical research?

Accepted Answer

Conducting a series of interviews over a year with an anxiety-disordered student is an example of clinical research because it involves studying an individual with a mental health disorder to gain insights into their experience and potentially inform treatment approaches.

Question 7

Natalie wants to collect data about the exercise habits of dual-earner families.As a graduate student,she has little money to fund the study and she needs to collect the data as quickly as possible.Natalie should use the ____________ method.

Accepted Answer

The survey method is the best choice for Natalie because it is relatively low cost and can be conducted quickly. Surveys can also reach a large number of people, which is helpful for collecting data on the exercise habits of dual-earner families. Clinical and formal experiment methods are generally more expensive and time-consuming, and observational methods may not provide reliable data on exercise habits.

Question 8

Which of the following is a technique that would NOT fall under the survey method?

Accepted Answer

Observation is a research method that focuses on observing and recording the behavior of individuals or groups in their natural environment. It is not considered a survey method, which involves asking individuals or groups a set of standardized questions through methods such as telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, or paper and pencil questionnaires.

Question 9

In 1989,a group of researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health conducted a study involving the relationship between ____________,which is an example of the ____________ method.

Accepted Answer

Variation in moods and the time of year is an example of the survey method because it involves collecting data from a large number of people through questionnaires or interviews.

Question 10

Nancy is assisting her professor in conducting a survey on domestic violence,which involves asking adult males if they have ever been aggressive toward their partners.What is a significant disadvantage of her method of research?

Accepted Answer

The sensitive nature of the topic of domestic violence may cause participants to be dishonest about their actual behavior, preventing accurate data collection.

Question 11

When internationally known scientist Jane Goodall studies primates in Africa,she uses:

Accepted Answer

Jane Goodall's research involves observing primates in their natural habitat, which is referred to as naturalistic observation. She does not conduct any formal experimentation or laboratory observation. While she may collect data and analyze it in a systematic manner, her approach is not strictly adhering to the clinical method.

Question 12

In studies involving few individuals or rare phenomenon,researchers may use the clinical method.Which is an accurate criticism of this method?

Accepted Answer

The clinical method involves studying a small group of individuals, and the results cannot be readily generalized to the larger population. This limits the external validity of the study, making it difficult to apply the findings to a larger group. While there may be extraneous variables that cannot be controlled, this is not an inherent flaw of the clinical method, and it is possible to minimize their impact through careful study design. Scientific methods are typically used in clinical studies, so choice B is not accurate. The value of a clinical study may depend on the specific research question being addressed and its relevance to the broader population, so choice D is not accurate.

Question 13

A correlational study is used to:

Accepted Answer

Correlational studies are used to determine the relationship or association between two or more variables. It does not establish cause and effect or determine dependent and independent variables. It also does not focus on representative population, but rather on the relationship between the variables being studied.

Question 14

Dr.Jimand studies the adjustment of 20 Bosnian students to college life in the United States by living in the dorm and attending classes with them.Dr.Jimand is using:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Jimand is conducting naturalistic observation by observing the behavior of Bosnian students in their natural environment (dorm and classes). Formal experimentation involves manipulating variables and controlling the environment, which is not happening in this scenario. The survey method involves collecting data through self-reported responses, and the clinical method involves the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions, neither of which apply here.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of research using the survey method?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Frank is asking people a series of questions, which is a survey method of research. The other options describe observation (A), case studies (B), and collecting existing data (C), respectively.

Question 16

To determine gender differences in the play activities of young children,you might visit a preschool playground and use:

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation is the best choice for determining gender differences in play activities of young children. This involves actually observing children in their natural environment without interfering or influencing their behavior. It allows for a more accurate representation of how children of different genders interact and play with each other on the playground. Surveys and interviews may be subject to biases and may not provide as much detail about actual behavior, while the clinical method is intended for diagnosing and treating individuals with specific issues, and is not appropriate for studying general play behavior.

Question 17

Professor Willard watches children in a daycare center and notices that some children are never spoken to by any of the other children.Which form of data collection is he using?

Accepted Answer

Professor Willard is using naturalistic observation, which involves observing and recording behavior in natural settings without interfering or manipulating the situation.

Question 18

Which of the following is an advantage of the survey method?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an advantage...

Question 19

Professor Powers needs to have a minimum of 2,500 participants for her study.Which research method would make her study most manageable?

Accepted Answer

The survey method would make Professor Powers' study most manageable in terms of gathering a high number of participants. Surveys can be easily distributed to a large population, and participants can complete them on their own time without needing to be physically present for an experiment or observation. This method allows for quick data collection and the ability to reach a large sample size.

Question 20

In 1948 and 1953,Alfred Kinsey collected data for his studies on the sexual practices of men and women in the United States.Which research method did Kinsey use?

Accepted Answer

Kinsey used the survey method to collect data on the sexual practices of men and women in the United States. He administered extensive questionnaires to his participants, asking about their sexual behaviors and preferences.

Quiz 2: Research Methods in Psychology