Quiz 1 - The Scientific Method

Name: _____________________  Date: _________  Absolute Favorite Band:                                 

___ 1. | Which procedure helps to make sure the participants in a survey are representative of a larger population?
| A)  replication    B)  random sampling    C)  correlation    D)  naturalistic observation

___ 2. | In a drug treatment study, participants given a pill containing no actual drug are receiving a:
| A)  replication.    B)  placebo.    C)  random sample.    D)  false consensus.

___ 3. | In order to study the development of relationships, Dr. Rajiv carefully observed and recorded patterns of verbal and nonverbal behaviors among men and women in nightclubs. Which research method did Dr. Rajiv employ?
| A)  experimentation    B)  the survey    C)  naturalistic observation    D)  the case study

___ 4. | A correlation between self-esteem and annual income of  -0.75 would indicate that:
A) | lower levels of self-esteem are associated with lower levels of annual income.
B) | higher levels of annual income are associated with lower levels of self-esteem.
C) | it is impossible to predict annual income levels from knowledge of self-esteem levels.
D) | self-esteem has no causal influence on annual income.

___ 5. | Naturalistic observation is most useful for:
A) | detecting cause-effect relationships. | C) | explaining complex emotions.
B) | describing behaviors. | D) | predicting attitudes.

___ 6. | Research participants consumed either caffeinated or decaffeinated beverages in a study of the effects of caffeine on anxiety levels. Those who received the decaffeinated drinks were exposed to the ________ condition.
| A)  chill    B)  correlational    C)  control    D)  experimental

___ 7. | Which of the following research methods is most helpful for looking at how physical attractiveness is related to the frequency of dating?
| A)  multiple regression analysis    B)  case study    C)  experimentation    D)  correlation

___ 8. | Compared to nonscientific theories, the unique feature of scientific theories is that they:
A) | guide observations. | C) | are never disconfirmed.
B) | provide explanations. | D) | generate testable predictions.

___ 9. | In order to minimize any preexisting differences and reduce bias between participants who are in different conditions of an experiment, psychologists make use of:
| A)  the placebo effect.    B)  replication.    C)  correlation.    D)  random assignment.

___ 10. | A correlation coefficient can range in value from:
| A)  0 to 1.00.    B)  1 to 99.    C)  0 to 100.    D)  -1.00 to +1.00.

___ 11. | Unlike correlational studies, experiments involve:
A) | studying observable behaviors. | C) | randomly selecting participants.
B) | replication of previous research. | D) | manipulating the factors of interest.

___ 12. | Abdul has volunteered to participate in an experiment evaluating the effectiveness of aspirin. Neither he nor the experimenters know whether or not the pills he takes during the experiment contain aspirin or are merely placebos. The investigators are apparently making use of:
| A)  replication.    B)  unethical deception.    C)  the double-blind procedure.    D)  random sampling.

___ 13. | If those with low self-esteem are also likely to suffer from depression, this would not necessarily indicate that low self-esteem triggers negative emotions and sadness because:
A) | events often seem more probable in hindsight.
B) | random sequences often don't look random.
C) | correlation does not prove causation.
D) | sampling extreme cases leads to false generalizations.

___ 14. | Ethical principles developed by the American Psychological Association urge psychological investigators to:
A) | do whatever they want to their subjects as long as they are willing to do the same to their own family members.
B) | make sure that research participants give informed consent to participating in the research.
C) | fully disclose the purpose of their research before it begins so that subjects will help them prove their hypotheses.
D) | bribe subjects into participating in the research project.

___ 15. | Those who rely on the case-study method need to be especially alert to the dangers of:
| A)  hindsight bias.    B)  replication.    C)  random assignment.    D)  false generalization.

___ 16. | In order to gain further understanding of how brain malfunctions influence behavior, Dr. Mosher extensively and carefully observed and questioned a stroke victim, then wrote a paper about what he learned. Which research method did Dr. Mosher employ?
| A)  random sampling    B)  experimentation    C)  the survey    D)  the case study

___ 17. | Which of the following correlation coefficients expresses the strongest degree of relationship between two variables?
| A)  -0.67    B)  +1.89    C)  -0.10    D)  0.00    E)  +0.59

___ 18. | The survey is a research method in which:
A) | individuals are carefully observed in their natural environments.
B) | a representative sample of individuals are questioned regarding their opinions or behaviors.
C) | an individual is studied in great depth.
D) | an investigator determines the extent to which two variables influence each other.

___ 19. | The dependent variable in an experiment is the factor:
A) | that may be influenced by the experimental treatment.
B) | that causes the behavior being studied.
C) | whose effect is being studied.
D) | that is directly manipulated by the investigator.

___ 20. | A research method in which an investigator observes the potential effects of an independent variable is called a(n):
| A)  naturalistic observation.    B)  experiment.    C)  survey.    D)  case study.

Answer Key

1. | B
2. | B
3. | C
4. | B
5. | B
6. | C
7. | D
8. | D
9. | D
10. | D
11. | D
12. | C
13. | C
14. | B
15. | D
16. | D
17. | A
18. | B
19. | A
20. | B

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