Question 1

Your text reports a study examining the test scores of 15-year-olds in 41 countries. In all the countries, girls outscored boys in reading. In most of the countries, boys outscored girls in math. How might one interpret this finding with respect to biological and cultural explanations of the gender differences in achievement?
A) It supports the biological account rather than the cultural explanation.
B) It contradicts both the biological and cultural explanations.
C) It supports the cultural rather than the biological explanations.
D) It supports both the biological and cultural accounts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Your text reports a study examining the...

Question 2

In one study, two groups of African Americans were given the same test. Group A was told it was an intelligence test, while Group B was told that the problems on the test were not meant to assess them. The results were that __________.
A) consistent with stereotype threat claims, Group A did worse than Group B
B) consistent with stereotype threat claims, the groups did equally well
C) consistent with stereotype threat claims, Group B did worse than Group A
D) contrary to stereotype threat claims, both groups did equally well

Accepted Answer

Stereotype threat refers to the risk of conforming to stereotypes about one's social group. In this case, telling Group A that the test was an intelligence test likely activated concerns about fulfilling negative stereotypes about African Americans' intellectual abilities, leading to poorer performance compared to Group B, who did not have these concerns activated.

Question 3

In a study reported in your text (Feng, Spence, & Pratt, 2007), male and female participants played a video game for 10 hours. The researchers measured participants' spatial skills before and after the game. The spatial skills measure is the __________ variable; it should appear on the _____-axis in a graph of the study's results.
A) independent; x
B) independent; y
C) dependent; x
D) dependent; y

Accepted Answer

The spatial skills measure is the dependent variable because it is the outcome that the researchers are interested in observing how it changes in response to the intervention (playing the video game). In graphing results, the dependent variable is typically placed on the y-axis.

Question 4

The textbook illustration of mixed seeds growing in different soils demonstrates that __________.
A) genetic differences between groups can be directly assessed
B) high within-group heritability means that between-group differences are also genetically determined
C) within-group differences and between-group differences may be caused by separate factors
D) different environments tend to produce the same amount of within-group variability

Accepted Answer

The illustration of mixed seeds growing in different soils suggests that within-group differences and between-group differences may be caused by separate factors, as the same types of seeds exhibited different growth patterns in different types of soil. This suggests that environmental factors play a role in shaping differences between groups. It does not necessarily provide direct evidence of genetic differences between the groups (choice A) or high within-group heritability (choice B), nor does it suggest that different environments produce the same amount of within-group variability (choice D).

Question 5

Dr. Carter is attempting to fund a new instruction and training program to improve mathematical and visuospatial thinking among teenaged girls. Should a granting agency be enthusiastic?
A) Not really. Research shows that the "gender gap" in mathematical and spatial thinking may be lessened by instruction, but the improvement is very small.
B) Yes. Research shows that the "gender gap" in mathematical and spatial thinking may be lessened by experience, instruction, encouragement, and the like.
C) No. The 'gender gap' in mathematical and spatial thinking appears only among girls in elementary school.
D) No. The "gender gap" in mathematical and spatial thinking is largely hormonal in origin, and therefore difficult to remediate.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that there is potential for improvement in mathematical and visuospatial thinking among teenaged girls with experience, instruction, and encouragement. Therefore, a granting agency should be enthusiastic about Dr. Carter's program.

Question 6

Your text reviews biological and cultural explanations for the gender difference in performance on math and spatial tasks. Which of the following alternatives best describes the extent to which the two accounts have been supported by research?
A) The biological account has received mixed support. The cultural explanation has received more support.
B) Both accounts have received mixed support.
C) The biological account has received substantial support. The cultural explanation has received only mixed support.
D) The cultural account has been largely replaced by the biological explanation.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown mixed support for the biological explanation of gender differences in math and spatial skills, with some evidence indicating that males may have a slight advantage in these areas due to neurological and hormonal differences. However, cultural factors such as gender stereotypes and gendered socialization practices have also been shown to play a significant role in shaping these gender differences. Overall, the cultural explanation has received more support than the biological explanation.

Question 7

In the 1990s, consumers protested a popular doll that proclaimed, "Math is hard!" Was the protest justified?
A) No. Social factors such as stereotypes, encouragement or discouragement, and so on have little or no effect on girls' performance in mathematics.
B) No. The "gender gap" in mathematics performance stems from biological factors and is difficult to influence.
C) Yes. Research shows that social factors such as stereotypes, encouragement or discouragement, and so on have a substantial effect on girls' performance in mathematics.
D) Somewhat. Social factors can influence girls' performance in mathematics, but the effect is negligible and temporary.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that social factors such as stereotypes and encouragement or discouragement have a significant impact on girls' performance in mathematics. Girls who are exposed to negative stereotypes about their math abilities tend to perform worse on math tasks compared to boys or girls who are not exposed to such stereotypes. Encouragement from parents and teachers, on the other hand, has been shown to improve girls' performance in math. Therefore, the protest against the statement "Math is hard!" on a popular doll was justified, as it perpetuated the stereotype that women are not good at math.

Question 8

In a study examining race differences in IQ, SES is a(n) __________ variable.
A) independent
B) dependent
C) confounding
D) control

Accepted Answer

SES (socioeconomic status) is a confounding variable because it is related to both race and IQ, and can potentially explain the association between the two. Therefore, it needs to be controlled for in order to accurately assess the relationship between race and IQ. It is not independent (as it is not being manipulated), it is not dependent (as it is not the outcome measure), and it is not a control variable (as it is not being used to manipulate or measure the experimental condition).

Question 9

Comparative studies of the intelligence scores of the black and white populations in America indicate that __________.
A) there are no overlaps between the intelligence score distributions of these populations
B) the variability of scores within groups is greater than that between groups
C) the average of the two groups is the same, but there is more variability among white Americans
D) the average of the two groups is the same, but there is more variability among black Americans

Accepted Answer

Comparative studies have consistently shown that there is overlap in the intelligence score distributions of black and white Americans. In fact, the variability of scores within groups is typically greater than that between groups. This means that while there may be some differences in average scores between the two groups, there is a significant overlap in individual scores that makes it impossible to use intelligence scores as a definitive measure of race-based cognitive ability.

Question 10

Suppose we know that the variability of IQ scores is higher among one group of individuals than among another. What might this tell us about the heritability of IQ in the two groups?
A) Heritability should be higher among the group in which IQ scores are more variable.
B) Nothing. Heritability refers to a proportion of variability, not an amount.
C) Heritability should be higher among the group in which IQ scores are less variable.
D) Heritability is probably equivalent in the two groups.

Accepted Answer

Heritability is a measure of how much of the variation in a trait can be attributed to genetic differences, rather than differences in the environment. The statement that variability of IQ scores is higher in one group than another does not directly inform us about the proportion of that variability due to genetics versus environment, which is what heritability measures.

Question 11

A researcher gives two groups of African Americans the same test. Half the participants were told it was an intelligence test. The remainder were told that the test was not intended to assess them. The participants who were told the test was an intelligence test constitute the __________ group.
A) experimental
B) control
C) independent
D) dependent

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher gives two groups of African...

Question 12

Your text reports a study in which male and female college students took a math test. Half the students were told that the test had shown sex differences in the past. The remainder were told the test was fair. This study examined the phenomenon known as __________. The dependent variable was __________.
A) stereotype threat; test performance
B) stereotype threat; the description of the test
C) schema priming; test performance
D) schema priming; the description of the test

Accepted Answer

The study is examining stereotype threat, which refers to the negative impact that stereotypes can have on individuals' performance. The dependent variable is test performance, as the study is focused on how the stereotype threat manipulation affects the students' math test scores.

Question 13

Which of the following coefficients most closely approximates the correlation a researcher is likely to find between participants' degree of African ancestry, as determined by blood tests, and their IQ scores?
A) -.30
B) -.50
C) .50
D) .00

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that there is no direct correlation between race or ethnicity, including degrees of African ancestry, and inherent intelligence or IQ scores. The concept of intelligence is complex and influenced by a multitude of factors including but not limited to environmental, educational, and socio-economic factors, rather than genetic ancestry alone.

Question 14

Your friend has a blind date. "He's probably inarticulate," she grouses."I heard that men's verbal abilities are lower than women's." Which of the following responses is BEST supported by empirical research?
A) "Actually, men outscore women on tests of verbal abilities."
B) "There's really absolutely no difference between men and women in verbal abilities."
C) "You don't know that. Men differ more from each other than they do from the average woman."
D) "You're probably right. There's a big difference between men and women in verbal ability."

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that men and women have similar verbal abilities, but there is greater variation within each gender than between them. This means that some men may have lower verbal abilities, but it is incorrect to generalize that all men are inarticulate. Therefore, response C is the best supported by empirical research as it acknowledges the individual differences within each gender while also challenging the blanket statement made by the friend.

Question 15

Degree of African ancestry, as determined by blood tests, is __________.
A) unrelated to IQ, supporting the environmental explanation for racial differences
B) unrelated to IQ, supporting the genetic explanation for racial differences
C) negatively correlated with IQ, supporting the environmental explanation for racial differences
D) negatively correlated with IQ, supporting the genetic explanation for racial differences

Accepted Answer

The degree of African ancestry, as determined by blood tests, is unrelated to IQ, which supports the environmental explanation for racial differences in IQ scores rather than a genetic basis. This suggests that disparities in IQ scores among different racial groups are more likely due to environmental factors such as education, socioeconomic status, and access to resources rather than inherent genetic differences.

Question 16

How might one best characterize Binet's legacy in the psychological study of intelligence?
A) Binet's work is now only of historical interest in psychology.
B) Binet's work has largely been discredited by subsequent psychologists.
C) Binet's work has generally been affirmed by subsequent psychologists.
D) Binet's efforts were often misunderstood by subsequent psychologists.

Accepted Answer

Binet's work on intelligence testing has had a lasting impact on the field of psychology, and has generally been affirmed by subsequent psychologists, especially in terms of his emphasis on intelligence as a multifaceted construct rather than a single, unitary ability. His work also paved the way for the development of more sophisticated and comprehensive intelligence tests, such as the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale.

Question 17

Which of the following conclusions might be drawn from the body of research on stereotype threat?
A) The effect of stereotype threat is probably limited to only a few demographic groups.
B) Social factors such as stereotypes have little impact on the test performance of members of disadvantaged groups.
C) It is difficult to improve the test performance of members of disadvantaged groups.
D) It may not be especially difficult to produce substantial gains in test performance by members of disadvantaged groups.

Accepted Answer

The research on stereotype threat suggests that it is possible to produce substantial gains in test performance by members of disadvantaged groups through interventions that reduce stereotype threat. Therefore, option D is a likely conclusion that can be drawn from the body of research on stereotype threat. A is incorrect because stereotype threat affects a wide range of demographic groups; B is incorrect because social factors such as stereotypes can have a significant impact on test performance; and C is incorrect because interventions aimed at reducing stereotype threat have been shown to be effective.

Question 18

Suppose we know that among Caucasians in the United States, 50% of the difference in intelligence between one individual and the next is due to genetics. The textbook illustration of seeds growing in different soils is intended to suggest that __________.
A) we can assume that genetics is primarily responsible for any difference in intelligence between Caucasians and African Americans
B) we can assume that any difference in intelligence between Caucasians and African Americans is largely a matter of the environment
C) we can expect that genetics explains a similar proportion of the difference in intelligence between Caucasians and African Americans
D) we cannot assume that genetics assumes a similar proportion of the difference in intelligence between Caucasians and African Americans

Accepted Answer

The seeds growing in different soils illustration does not provide any information about the difference in intelligence between Caucasians and African Americans. Therefore, we cannot make any assumptions about the proportion of genetics that explains the difference in intelligence between these two groups. Option D correctly states that we cannot assume that genetics assumes a similar proportion of the difference in intelligence between Caucasians and African Americans.

Question 19

Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) On average, African Americans have lower socioeconomic status than white Americans.
B) Black children adopted into white, middle-class families end up with IQs higher than the national average for black children.
C) Degree of African ancestry is unrelated to IQ.
D) Within the same environments, black-white differences in IQ disappear.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that while socioeconomic factors and environmental conditions can influence IQ scores, black-white differences in IQ do not completely disappear when comparing individuals within the same environments. This suggests that the relationship between race, environment, and IQ is complex and cannot be fully explained by environmental factors alone.

Question 20

Your text reports that in college, men and women perform equivalently in their math courses. How might one interpret this finding with respect to biological and cultural explanations of the gender differences in math achievement?
A) It supports the biological account. Men and women are past puberty by this point.
B) It is completely irrelevant to either account.
C) It seems to support the cultural account. By the time they reach college, the women enrolled in math courses probably receive as much encouragement as do their male classmates.
D) It cannot be explained by either account.

Accepted Answer

This finding suggests that cultural factors play a significant role in the gender differences in math achievement, as men and women perform equivalently in college math courses. It implies that by the time women reach college, they have received enough encouragement and support to perform just as well as men in math courses. This finding does not directly support the biological account since the biological differences between males and females should still exist in college.

Quiz 11: Intelligence

In one study, two groups of African Americans were given the same test. Group A was told it was an intelligence test, while Group B was told that the problems on the test were not meant to assess them. The results were that __________.

The textbook illustration of mixed seeds growing in different soils demonstrates that __________.

Dr. Carter is attempting to fund a new instruction and training program to improve mathematical and visuospatial thinking among teenaged girls. Should a granting agency be enthusiastic?

Your text reviews biological and cultural explanations for the gender difference in performance on math and spatial tasks. Which of the following alternatives best describes the extent to which the two accounts have been supported by research?

In the 1990s, consumers protested a popular doll that proclaimed, "Math is hard!" Was the protest justified?

In a study examining race differences in IQ, SES is a(n) __________ variable.

Comparative studies of the intelligence scores of the black and white populations in America indicate that __________.

Suppose we know that the variability of IQ scores is higher among one group of individuals than among another. What might this tell us about the heritability of IQ in the two groups?

A researcher gives two groups of African Americans the same test. Half the participants were told it was an intelligence test. The remainder were told that the test was not intended to assess them. The participants who were told the test was an intelligence test constitute the __________ group.

Your text reports a study in which male and female college students took a math test. Half the students were told that the test had shown sex differences in the past. The remainder were told the test was fair. This study examined the phenomenon known as . The dependent variable was .

Which of the following coefficients most closely approximates the correlation a researcher is likely to find between participants' degree of African ancestry, as determined by blood tests, and their IQ scores?

Your friend has a blind date. "He's probably inarticulate," she grouses."I heard that men's verbal abilities are lower than women's." Which of the following responses is BEST supported by empirical research?

Degree of African ancestry, as determined by blood tests, is __________.

How might one best characterize Binet's legacy in the psychological study of intelligence?

Which of the following conclusions might be drawn from the body of research on stereotype threat?

Suppose we know that among Caucasians in the United States, 50% of the difference in intelligence between one individual and the next is due to genetics. The textbook illustration of seeds growing in different soils is intended to suggest that __________.

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Your text reports that in college, men and women perform equivalently in their math courses. How might one interpret this finding with respect to biological and cultural explanations of the gender differences in math achievement?