Psychology ch. 2

Question 1

Pfungst revealed the real basis for Clever Hans’s performance by identifying the circumstances under which Hans could and could not respond correctly to questions. Pick the concept that MOST directly illustrated this approach.
a) observer-expectancy effect.
b) subject-expectancy effect.
c) naturalistic observation.
d) observation under controlled conditions.

Answer 1

d) observation under controlled conditions.

Question 2

A psychologist uses a paper-and-pencil test to measure the creativity of art students and later correlates the scores on this test with a measure of these students’ success as professional artists. The psychologist uses the correlation of these measures to assess:
a) statistical significance.
b) criterion validity.
c) reliability.
d) subject-expectancy effects.

Answer 2

b) criterion validity.

Question 3

A psychologist is testing the effectiveness of a weight loss program. One group receives a diet and a specific counseling program. Another group receives the same diet and speaks to the counselors regularly but does not receive the specific counseling program. Participants are weighed weekly for 6 months. What is the independent variable?
a) whether or not the participants receive the counseling program.
b) the 6-month period of the weight loss program.
c) the average weekly weight loss of each participant.
d) the number of dieters in each group.

Answer 3

a) whether or not the participants receive the counseling program.

Question 4

Jeremy has a hypothesis that college students are friendlier than business people. In order to test his hypothesis, he spends one day on campus and one day on the streets of the downtown area recording how many people speak to him as they pass by. How might observer-expectancy effects play a role in the way he is testing his hypothesis?
a) Jeremy may smile more at the students on campus than the business people downtown.
b) The students on campus may go out of their way to be friendly to Jeremy.
c) The business people downtown may avoid Jeremy because he looks out of place.
d) Students on campus may smile more because they are aware of Jeremy’s hypothesis.

Answer 4

a) Jeremy may smile more at the students on campus than the business people downtown.

Question 5

Facilitated communication, in which autistic children were supposedly able to answer questions, express emotions, and describe events in their lives, provides a classic illustration of _____ effects.
a) observer-expectancy.
b) subject-expectancy.
c) observer-blindness.
d) subject-blindness.

Answer 5

a) observer-expectancy.

Question 6

A researcher is studying the effect of psychotherapy on students’ level of anxiety. The researcher randomly assigns 60 participants to one of three treatment conditions: daily sessions, weekly sessions, or no sessions. Which method might the researcher use to measure the participants’ anxiety level and why?
a) The questionnaire method, because participants might be paid and are therefore more willing to provide detailed information.
b) The questionnaire method, because it produces data about things that cannot be observed, such as thoughts and feelings.
c) The observational method, because it is useful in studies of human and nonhuman behavior.
d) The observational method, because researchers can analyze participants without bias.

Answer 6

b) The questionnaire method, because it produces data about things that cannot be observed, such as thoughts and feelings.

Question 7

Ethical issues in human psychological research involve all EXCEPT the:
a) person’s right to privacy.
b) discomfort or psychological harm that a research procedure might produce.
c) use of deception that characterizes some research designs.
d) use of invalid instruments in data gathering procedures.

Answer 7

d) use of invalid instruments in data gathering procedures.

Question 8

The standard deviation is a measure of:
a) central tendency.
b) correlation.
c) variability.
d) bias.

Answer 8

c) variability.

Question 9

In Pfungst’s experiments with Clever Hans, the dependent variable was the:
a) varying procedures by which the horse’s sensory systems were blocked.
b) people who believed that the horse could understand and answer questions correctly.
c) percentage of questions that the horse answered correctly in a given test.
d) answers to the particular questions Clever Hans was asked.

Answer 9

c) percentage of questions that the horse answered correctly in a given test.

Question 10

Which statement below BEST represents the role of statistics in the scientific field of psychology?
a) They ensure that results of a study are due to chance.
b) They are used to determine what results a study will get, before the study is run.
c) They summarize and analyze the data that have been collected in a research study.
d) They are used in psychophysics to determine just-noticeable difference.

Answer 10

c) They summarize and analyze the data that have been collected in a research study.

Question 11

Dr. Harrison is investigating the effects of two different teaching techniques on high-school students’ mathematical reasoning. He is aware that there is a wide range of difference in math ability among the students in the study. Which concept can help to ensure that the pre-existing differences in math ability do not bias the study’s results?
a) criterion validity.
b) skepticism.
c) face validity.
d) random assignment.

Answer 11

d) random assignment.

Question 12

The major advantage of a laboratory study over a field study is that the laboratory provides a(n) _____ environment.
a) artificial.
b) controlled.
c) secure.
d) natural.

Answer 12

b) controlled.

Question 13

Which statement is TRUE of bias and error in research?
a) Bias can lead a researcher to conclude that a false research hypothesis is true, and error can lead a researcher to conclude that a true research hypothesis is false.
b) Bias can lead a researcher to conclude that a true research hypothesis is false, and error can lead a researcher to conclude that a false research hypothesis is true.
c) Results due to bias and error can be corrected with the use of inferential statistics.
d) Results due to bias and error can be corrected with the use of descriptive statistics.

Answer 13

a) Bias can lead a researcher to conclude that a false research hypothesis is true, and error can lead a researcher to conclude that a true research hypothesis is false.

Question 14

What is the name for a prediction that is derived from a theory?
a) hypothesis.
b) fact.
c) correlation.
d) observation.

Answer 14

a) hypothesis.

Question 15

Which term BEST fits the definition of an idea, or a conceptual model, that is designed to explain existing facts and make predictions about new facts that might be discovered?
a) theory.
b) fact.
c) hypothesis.
d) bias.

Answer 15

a) theory.

Question 16

One way to keep observer-expectancy and subject-expectancy effects from occurring in an experiment is to:
a) let only the participants know to which groups they are being assigned.
b) let only the experimenters know to which groups the participants are being assigned.
c) let both participants and experimenters know to which groups the participants are being assigned.
d) let neither participants nor experimenters know to which groups the participants are being assigned.

Answer 16

d) let neither participants nor experimenters know to which groups the participants are being assigned.

Question 17

What type of statistics helps to summarize sets of data?
a) descriptive statistics.
b) inferential statistics.
c) manipulative statistics.
d) biased statistics.

Answer 17

a) descriptive statistics.

Question 18

A study shows that as the number of churches in a town increases, the rate of crime also increases. Which statement below is TRUE regarding the study’s findings?
a) They are correlational. The two variables might be caused by a third variable.
b) They are descriptive. The experimenter is just explaining the types of buildings and the level of crime in a town.
c) They are factual. The increase of crime causes an increase in churches.
d) They are experimental. If a town built more churches, there would be more violence.

Answer 18

a) They are correlational. The two variables might be caused by a third variable.

Question 19

A researcher is studying the effect of psychotherapy on students’ level of anxiety. The researcher randomly assigns 60 participants to one of three treatment conditions: daily sessions, weekly sessions, or no sessions. Which method might the researcher use to measure the participants’ anxiety level and why?
a) The questionnaire method, because participants might be paid and are therefore more willing to provide detailed information.
b) The questionnaire method, because it produces data about things that cannot be observed, such as thoughts and feelings.
c) The observational method, because it is useful in studies of human and nonhuman behavior.
d) The observational method, because researchers can analyze participants without bias.

Answer 19

b) The questionnaire method, because it produces data about things that cannot be observed, such as thoughts and feelings.

Question 20

Which does NOT increase the likelihood that the observed difference between two means will be statistically significant?
a) an increase in the difference between the two means.
b) an increase in the number of participants.
c) a larger standard deviation of each group.
d) a larger number of observations.

Answer 20

c) a larger standard deviation of each group.

Question 21

The psychologist Oskar Pfungst discovered the source of Clever Hans’s intellectual abilities by:
a) comparing the behavior of Clever Hans to that of other horses.
b) calling in several experts in animal behavior.
c) conducting experiments in which he controlled what the horse could and could not see.
d) convincing the horse’s owner to reveal the truth.

Answer 21

c) conducting experiments in which he controlled what the horse could and could not see.

Question 22

Claudia asks participants to rate two samples of apple juice. One sample is a store brand apple juice and the other sample is a brand name apple juice. If participants favored a particular brand and were notified of the samples’ contents, the experiment would be influenced by _____ effects.
a) observer-expectancy.
b) double-blind.
c) subject-expectancy.
d) placebo.

Answer 22

c) subject-expectancy.

Question 23

Which method is used for helping researchers determine how confident they can be in drawing general conclusions from specific sets of data?
a) inferential statistics.
b) descriptive statistics.
c) experimental statistics.
d) reliability.

Answer 23

a) inferential statistics.

Question 24

Which statement is FALSE regarding the relationship between the independent and dependent variables?
a) The variables are both manipulated.
b) The variables are seen in experimental procedures.
c) The independent variable affects the dependent variable.
d) There can be multiple independent variables.

Answer 24

a) The variables are both manipulated.

Question 25

Arzu hypothesized that highly stressful childhood experiences are associated with mental distress in adulthood. To test this hypothesis, she identified a group of people who had suffered such experiences and a group who had not, and then determined how many in each group had experienced a period of severe mental distress in adulthood, as defined by inpatient psychiatric treatment for two weeks or longer. This study is an example of a(n): a) experiment. b) correlational study. c) descriptive study. d) psychoanalytic study.

Answer 25

b) correlational study.

Question 26

When psychologists say the probability that results could be caused by chance is small, they mean that there is a good chance the study is: a) statistically significant. b) biased. c) valid. d) correct.

Answer 26

a) statistically significant.

Question 27

In the study by DiMascio on the effects of different methods of treatment (drug therapy, psychotherapy, both types of therapy, or no therapy) on patients suffering from major depression, the independent variable was the _____ and the dependent variable was the _____. a) measured level of depression; type of treatment. b) type of treatment; measured level of depression. c) number of treatment groups; type of treatment. d) type of treatment; number of treatment groups.

Answer 27

b) type of treatment; measured level of depression.

Question 28

Scores on a pre-employment test and subsequent ratings of job performance were calculated and were found to indicate a correlation coefficient of –1.25. Based on this correlation coefficient, a researcher would be justified in telling the company that: a) the test is a poor predictor of job success. b) the test is a good predictor of job success. c) the employees at this company are underachieving. d) the correlation coefficient calculated is incorrect.

Answer 28

d) the correlation coefficient calculated is incorrect.

Question 29

Dr. Gonzales is interested in how the presence of others affects people's willingness to help a stranger in an emergency. Dr. Gonzales decides to stage an accident and record how many people approach the scene to help. Dr. Gonzales is using _____ as a data-collection method. a) self-report. b) naturalistic observation. c) a test. d) statistics.

Answer 29

c) a test.

Question 30

Which statement below BEST represents the role of statistics in the scientific field of psychology? a) They ensure that results of a study are due to chance. b) They are used to determine what results a study will get, before the study is run. c) They summarize and analyze the data that have been collected in a research study. d) They are used in psychophysics to determine just-noticeable difference.

Answer 30

c) They summarize and analyze the data that have been collected in a research study.

Question 31

Ethical issues in human psychological research involve all EXCEPT the: a) person's right to privacy. b) discomfort or psychological harm that a research procedure might produce. c) use of deception that characterizes some research designs. d) use of invalid instruments in data gathering procedures.

Answer 31

d) use of invalid instruments in data gathering procedures.

Question 32

Lack of validity in a measurement procedure is a source of concern because it can lead to: a) error. b) placebo effects. c) variability. d) bias.

Answer 32

d) bias.

Question 33

If results have a value of p that is less than _____, the results are considered statistically significant. a) 50. b) 5.0. c) 0.05. d) 0.5.

Answer 33

c) 0.05.

Question 34

Morgan is interested in exploring the kinds of behaviors that people engage in at their gyms. She observes and records how much time they spend on aerobic activity, how much on resistance training, and how much on activities other than exercise, such as conversation or resting. She is conducting a(n): a) descriptive study. b) correlational study. c) experiment. d) test.

Answer 34

a) descriptive study.

Question 35

Ashtad, a psychology professor, is investigating the effect on exam grades of a note-taking strategy. Which statement is an example of a between-groups experimental approach to this research question? a) He teaches the strategy to all the students and compares the exam scores of students who did not want to learn it with those who did. b) He divides the exam questions into two groups—those for which the note-taking strategy should have aided learning and those for which it should not have helped. c) He teaches one group of randomly selected students the note-taking strategy and the other students are given general instructions to “take good notes.” d) He compares performance on the first exam, in which students were given general instructions, to that of the second exam, in which students used the note-taking strategy.

Answer 35

c) He teaches one group of randomly selected students the note-taking strategy and the other students are given general instructions to “take good notes.”

Question 36

The horse named Clever Hans correctly answered the questions he was asked because he: a) was trained with flash cards and other mechanistic teaching devices. b) learned to respond to the secret signals he was deliberately taught. c) learned to respond to movements made unconsciously by his questioner and the audience. d) was an exceptional animal whose unusual intelligence could never be explained scientifically.

Answer 36

c) learned to respond to movements made unconsciously by his questioner and the audience.

Question 37

When a researcher is using inferential statistics to compare the scores of two different groups, the results will be MOST statistically significant if (1) the difference between the means is _____, (2) the number of individual subjects or observations within each group is _____, and (3) the variability within each group is _____. a) large; large; large. b) small; large; large. c) large; small; large. d) large; large; small.

Answer 37

d) large; large; small.

Question 38

Dr. Jacobs assigned her students the task of conducting some type of field study. The student who correctly carried out the assigned task: a) compared the relationship among people who have romantic partners and their GPAs. b) went around campus asking students if they prefer the fall or spring semester. c) watched a nest of birds, recording everything that happened while being careful to not disturb the birds. d) recorded the reaction of random people after asking them the location of the nearest bathroom.

Answer 38

c) watched a nest of birds, recording everything that happened while being careful to not disturb the birds.

Question 39

A study is run on the number of pets in the household of married couples with no children, the number of pets collected were as follows: 2, 4, 3, 2, 1, 5. What is the median of this data set? a) 1. b) 2.5. c) 3.5. d) 5.

Answer 39

b) 2.5.

Question 40

In Pfungst's experiments with Clever Hans, the dependent variable was the: a) varying procedures by which the horse's sensory systems were blocked. b) people who believed that the horse could understand and answer questions correctly. c) percentage of questions that the horse answered correctly in a given test. d) answers to the particular questions Clever Hans was asked.

Answer 40

c) percentage of questions that the horse answered correctly in a given test.

Question 41

If an experiment has the correlation coefficient of –.85, this means that when one variable decreases, while the other variable ________: a) decreases. b) increases. c) stays the same. d) changes due to chance.

Answer 41

b) increases.

Question 42

Nancy is placed in a placebo group and Jon is placed in a group that receives an active drug. They are most likely a part of a: a) biased sample. b) descriptive study. c) double-blind experiment. d) correlational study.

Answer 42

c) double-blind experiment.

Question 43

All other things being equal, the results of a study are less likely to be statistically significant when there is a: a) smaller difference between group means. b) smaller number of subjects. c) smaller number of groups. d) greater difference between group means.

Answer 43

a) smaller difference between group means.

Question 44

Which research study brings the subjects to a specially designed area that has been set up to facilitate the researcher's collection of data or control over environmental conditions? a) field study. b) laboratory study. c) observational study. d) artificial study.

Answer 44

b) laboratory study.

Question 45

Claudia asks participants to rate two samples of apple juice. One sample is a store brand apple juice and the other sample is a brand name apple juice. If participants favored a particular brand and were notified of the samples' contents, the experiment would be influenced by _____ effects. a) observer-expectancy. b) double-blind. c) subject-expectancy. d) placebo.

Answer 45

c) subject-expectancy.

Question 46

Which statement is TRUE of bias and error in research? a) Bias can lead a researcher to conclude that a false research hypothesis is true, and error can lead a researcher to conclude that a true research hypothesis is false. b) Bias can lead a researcher to conclude that a true research hypothesis is false, and error can lead a researcher to conclude that a false research hypothesis is true. c) Results due to bias and error can be corrected with the use of inferential statistics. d) Results due to bias and error can be corrected with the use of descriptive statistics.

Answer 46

a) Bias can lead a researcher to conclude that a false research hypothesis is true, and error can lead a researcher to conclude that a true research hypothesis is false.

Question 47

If Karen wanted to use one number to represent the typical scene in her set of data, she should use: a) measures of central tendency. b) correlation coefficients. c) measures of variability. d) inferential statistics.

Answer 47

a) measures of central tendency.

Question 48

Morgan is interested in exploring the kinds of behaviors that people engage in at their gyms. She observes and records how much time they spend on aerobic activity, how much on resistance training, and how much on activities other than exercise, such as conversation or resting. She is conducting a(n): a) descriptive study. b) correlational study. c) experiment. d) test.

Answer 48

a) descriptive study.

Question 49

An experiment is conducted in which different groups of people are given stress tests under varying conditions of temperature. One group takes the test with a high temperature (95 degrees), one with a moderate temperature (75 degrees), and one with a low temperature (55 degrees). The noise, lighting conditions, and other environmental factors are the same for each group. In this experiment, the independent variable is the: a) temperature level. b) score on the stress test. c) age of the participants. d) intelligence of the participants.

Answer 49

a) temperature level.

Question 50

As a technical term, error refers to: a) nonrandom effects caused by extraneous factors. b) increased randomness in results. c) the use of improper statistical procedures. d) bias from observer-expectancy and subject-expectancy effects.

Answer 50

b) increased randomness in results.

Question 51

Which method is used for helping researchers determine how confident they can be in drawing general conclusions from specific sets of data? a) inferential statistics. b) descriptive statistics. c) experimental statistics. d) reliability.

Answer 51

a) inferential statistics.

Question 52

Samples of participants who are not representative of the larger population are known as _____ samples. a) reliable. b) diverse. c) popular. d) biased.

Answer 52

d) biased.

Question 53

When running a study, it is important for the experimenters to not convey their beliefs and expectations to the participants because the participants may: a) perceive them and behave unsuitably. b) disagree with those beliefs. c) observe them and act accordingly. d) deviate from the experiment.

Answer 53

c) observe them and act accordingly.

Question 54

The MOST direct way to test a hypothesis about a cause-effect relationship is through a(n): a) correlational study. b) descriptive study. c) experiment. d) self-report.

Answer 54

c) experiment.

Question 55

The greater the average difference between each score and the mean, the greater the: a) statistical significance. b) correlation. c) reliability. d) standard deviation.

Answer 55

d) standard deviation.

Question 56

Brennan notices that the subjects in his experiment modify or improve an aspect of their behavior because they know they are being studied. This phenomenon is called: a) naturalistic observation. b) the Hawthorne effect. c) introspection. d) habituation.

Answer 56

b) the Hawthorne effect.

Question 57

Nancy is placed in a placebo group and Jon is placed in a group that receives an active drug. They are most likely a part of a: a) biased sample. b) descriptive study. c) double-blind experiment. d) correlational study.

Answer 57

c) double-blind experiment.

Question 58

Which term BEST fits the definition of an idea, or a conceptual model, that is designed to explain existing facts and make predictions about new facts that might be discovered? a) theory. b) fact. c) hypothesis. d) bias.

Answer 58

a) theory.

Question 59

A researcher is studying the effect of psychotherapy on students' level of anxiety. The researcher randomly assigns 60 participants to one of three treatment conditions: daily sessions, weekly sessions, or no sessions. Which method might the researcher use to measure the participants' anxiety level and why? a) The questionnaire method, because participants might be paid and are therefore more willing to provide detailed information. b) The questionnaire method, because it produces data about things that cannot be observed, such as thoughts and feelings. c) The observational method, because it is useful in studies of human and nonhuman behavior. d) The observational method, because researchers can analyze participants without bias.

Answer 59

b) The questionnaire method, because it produces data about things that cannot be observed, such as thoughts and feelings.

Question 60

Ashtad, a psychology professor, is investigating the effect on exam grades of a note-taking strategy. Which statement is an example of a between-groups experimental approach to this research question?a a) He teaches the strategy to all the students and compares the exam scores of students who did not want to learn it with those who did. b) He divides the exam questions into two groups—those for which the note-taking strategy should have aided learning and those for which it should not have helped. c) He teaches one group of randomly selected students the note-taking strategy and the other students are given general instructions to “take good notes.” d) He compares performance on the first exam, in which students were given general instructions, to that of the second exam, in which students used the note-taking strategy.

Answer 60

c) He teaches one group of randomly selected students the note-taking strategy and the other students are given general instructions to “take good notes.”

Question 61

The major advantage of a laboratory study over a field study is that the laboratory provides a(n) _____ environment. a) artificial. b) controlled. c) secure. d) natural.

Answer 61

b) controlled.

Question 62

A _____, which is commonly used to visualize results of a(n) _____ study, allows researchers to show each participant's scores on two variables as a single point on the graph. Correct! a) scatter plot; correlational. b) scatter plot; observational. c) standard deviation; correlational. d) standard deviation; observational.

Answer 62

a) scatter plot; correlational.

Question 63

A psychologist is testing the effectiveness of a program to help people stop smoking. One group uses a nonprescription drug and a comparable group receives a placebo. Participants are asked to record the number of cigarettes smoked daily for 3 months. The dependent variable is the: a) participant's approach to the program. b) 3-month period that the program lasts. Correct! c) average daily number of cigarettes smoked. d) initial degree of addiction.

Answer 63

c) average daily number of cigarettes smoked.

Question 64

Dalton wants to determine whether the lighting level in a room affects test performance. He has one group of students take a test in a brightly lit room, and a second group of students take the same test in a dimly lit room. In this experiment, the _____ is the independent variable and the _____ is the dependent variable. a) brightly lit room; dimly lit room. b) level of brightness; test score. c) test score; brightness of the light. d) group of students; test score.

Answer 64

b) level of brightness; test score.

Question 65

If a research participant's answers to interview questions are affected by the preconceived notions of the interviewer, the answers are biased by: a) the observer-expectancy effect. b) the placebo effect. c) the double-blind effect. d) the criterion validity.

Answer 65

a) the observer-expectancy effect.

Question 66

What is the best way to eliminate observer-expectancy effects? a) Keep the experimental participants blind. b) Keep the person who is testing the participant’s blind. c) Use a measurement technique that is highly reliable. d) Use a measurement technique that has high criterion validity.

Answer 66

b) Keep the person who is testing the participant’s blind.

Question 67

The MOST direct way to test a hypothesis about a cause-effect relationship is through a(n): a) correlational study. b) descriptive study. c) experiment. d) self-report.

Answer 67

c) experiment.

Question 68

In science, skepticism encourages one to: a) refuse to believe a claim that contradicts prior evidence. b) look for alternative explanations that could disprove claims. c) make careful observations and record them accurately. d) have no personal biases or beliefs.

Answer 68

b) look for alternative explanations that could disprove claims.

Question 69

Latonia has developed a new treatment to help people quit smoking. 52 % of the participants assigned to her program quit successfully, whereas 34 % of participants assigned to a no-treatment condition quit successfully. If Latonia wanted to rule out the possibility that her treatment's results were due to chance, she should use _____ statistics. a) inferential. b) descriptive. c) naturalistic. d) correlational.

Answer 69

a) inferential.

Question 70

Lisa is handing out surveys assessing recycling habits to her fellow students. What type of data-collection method is she MOST likely employing? a) naturalistic observation. b) self-reporting. c) direct observation. d) tests.

Answer 70

b) self-reporting.

Question 71

_____, or nonrandom effects caused by factors outside of the research hypothesis are problematic to researchers. a) Error. b) Reliability. c) Validity. d) Bias.

Answer 71

a) Error.

Question 72

A survey investigating public opinion regarding drug abuse and addiction in the United States is carried out by telephone with calls made Monday–Friday between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. This study is flawed, due to: a) subject-expectancy effects. b) biased sampling. c) observer-expectancy effects. d) poor reliability.

Answer 72

b) biased sampling.

Question 73

Which statement BEST expresses the relationships among facts, hypotheses, theories, and experimental testing in science? a) facts -> theories -> hypotheses -> tests -> more facts. b) hypotheses -> theories -> facts -> tests -> observations. c) theories -> tests -> predictions -> hypotheses -> facts. d) facts -> tests -> observations -> theories -> hypotheses.

Answer 73

a) facts -> theories -> hypotheses -> tests -> more facts.

Question 74

Observer-expectancy effects can influence the: a) participant's perception of the observer's behavior. b) observer's perceptions of the participant's behavior. c) observer's perception of his or her own behavior. d) participant's perception of his or her own behavior.

Answer 74

b) observer's perceptions of the participant's behavior.

Question 75

What elements go into a test of statistical significance? a) size of observed effect; number of subjects or observations; variability of data within each group. b) size of error; size of bias effects; variability of data within each group. c) reliability of measures; number of subjects or observations; variability of data within each group. d) reliability of measures; size of bias effects; size of observed effect.

Answer 75

a) size of observed effect; number of subjects or observations; variability of data within each group.

Question 76

A basketball coach wants to know the variability between each individual player's height and the team's average height. Which statistic would give this information? a) correlation coefficient. b) median. c) mean. d) standard deviation.

Answer 76

d) standard deviation.

Question 77

A measure is reliable if it: a) yields similar results each time it is used. b) measures or predicts what it is expected to measure. c) appears to be a good measure. d) correlates with what it is intended to measure.

Answer 77

a) yields similar results each time it is used.

Question 78

Murad is testing to see if an energy drink increases athletic performance. On one day, he has the participants drink an energy drink before playing a game. On another day, he has the participants drink nothing before the game. In this situation, athletic performance is the _____, and whether or not they had an energy drink is the _____. a) dependent variable; independent variable. b) independent variable; dependent variable. c) biased sample; criterion. d) criterion; biased sample.

Answer 78

a) dependent variable; independent variable.

Question 79

In an experiment, the variable hypothesized to be the cause is called the _____, and the variable hypothesized to be affected is called the _____. a) independent variable; dependent variable. b) dependent variable; independent variable. c) experimental variable; independent variable. d) constant; variable.

Answer 79

a) independent variable; dependent variable.

Question 80

In Pfungst's experiments with Clever Hans, the dependent variable was the: a) varying procedures by which the horse's sensory systems were blocked. b) people who believed that the horse could understand and answer questions correctly. c) percentage of questions that the horse answered correctly in a given test. d) answers to the particular questions Clever Hans was asked.

Answer 80

c) percentage of questions that the horse answered correctly in a given test.

Question 81

A psychologist uses a paper-and-pencil test to measure the creativity of art students and later correlates the scores on this test with a measure of these students' success as professional artists. The psychologist uses the correlation of these measures to assess: a) statistical significance. b) criterion validity. c) reliability. d) subject-expectancy effect

Answer 81

b) criterion validity.

Question 82

Dr. Reese conducts an experiment to examine the effects of different antidepressants on individuals with depression. She has each individual take drug A for 3 months, drug B for 3 months, and no antidepressant for 3 months. She measures the participants' feelings of sadness daily and calculates their average for each 3-month period. Dr. Reese's experiment is a _____ experiment. a) correlational. b) within-subject. c) naturalistic. d) between-groups.

Answer 82

b) within-subject.

Question 83

Which concept is explicitly designed to help a researcher decide how much confidence to place in a specific, data-based conclusion? a) descriptive statistics. b) inferential statistics. c) measures of central tendency. d) correlation coefficients.

Answer 83

b) inferential statistics.

Question 84

A scientific theory is a(n): a) objective statement, usually based on direct observation, that reasonable observers agree is true. b) concept in psychology that usually takes the form of particular behaviors in animals or humans. c) idea or a conceptual model designed to explain existing facts and make specific predictions. d) specific prediction based on facts that have already been determined.

Answer 84

c) idea or a conceptual model designed to explain existing facts and make specific predictions.

Question 85

Why might researchers want to utilize laboratory settings for their research? a) They allow for the most control over variables. b) They create more distractions for the participant. c) They are preferred by most participants. d) They ensure that participants will act naturally.

Answer 85

a) They allow for the most control over variables.

Question 86

What is the median of the numbers 8, 7, 5, 9, 12? a) 5. b) 8. c) 8.2. d) 9.

Answer 86

b) 8.

Question 87

What is the best way to eliminate observer-expectancy effects? a) Keep the experimental participants blind. b) Keep the person who is testing the participant’s blind. c) Use a measurement technique that is highly reliable. d) Use a measurement technique that has high criterion validity.

Answer 87

b) Keep the person who is testing the participant’s blind.

Question 88

Which statement BEST describes the role of data in laboratory studies? a) data are collected using the observational method rather than the self-report method. b) data are analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. c) data are collected from participants in an area specifically designed to provide controlled conditions. d) data are collected from participants who are exposed to one or more manipulated dependent variables.

Answer 88

c) data are collected from participants in an area specifically designed to provide controlled conditions.

Question 89

A researcher has two groups of participants, one that has been taught a problem-solving technique and one that has not. Both groups are given a set of 10 problems to solve in 20 minutes. What is the dependent variable? a) the set of problems that participants are given. b) the number of correct solutions given by the participants. c) the problem-solving technique the participants have been taught. d) the highest level of education the participant has attained.

Answer 89

b) the number of correct solutions given by the participants.

Question 90

Jake travels to Africa to study the parenting behavior of chimpanzees in their jungle habitat. The data-collection method he is using is called: a) a test. b) self-report. c) description. d) naturalistic observation.

Answer 90

d) naturalistic observation.

Question 91

Facilitated communication, in which autistic children were supposedly able to answer questions, express emotions, and describe events in their lives, provides a classic illustration of _____ effects. a) observer-expectancy. b) subject-expectancy. c) observer-blindness. d) subject-blindness.

Answer 91

a) observer-expectancy.

Question 92

Which statement is FALSE about correlational studies? a) no variables are manipulated. b) cause and effect are determined. c) several variables are measured. d) they can identify relationships between variables.

Answer 92

b) cause and effect are determined.