Methods Final - MCQ's

Dr. Paul S26

When you draw a wrong conclusion due to your cognitive/motivational biases, it is because you relied too heavily on

a. logic b. tenacity c. authority d. intuition

It is not uncommon for people to accept without question anything they learn from government officials or religious figures. This reflects to heavy a reliance on

a. skepticism b. authority c. intuition d. tenacity

When we come to accept knowledge that was derived from direct and systematic observations, we are essentially relying on

a. fanaticism b. didacticism c. empiricism d. skepticism e. All of the above

When you see a study in a top-tier journal, it was first evaluated by experts in the field. This is what is meant by

a. peer-review b. the adversarial nature of science c. the falsifiability criterion d. scientists are never alone

Some claims use the language of science yet have no scientific basis. Such claims should be classified as

a. parapsychology b. antiscience c. prescience d. pseudoscience

The four goals of scientific research on behavior are to describe, _______, determine, and _______ behavior. a. prescribe; eliminate b. predict; explain the causes of c. analyze; establish the effects of d. understand; modify

b

To conclude that playing war-based video games results in aggressive behavior among high schoolers, researchers must show that high schoolers who play war-based video games behave aggressively and that high schoolers who don't play such video games do not behave aggressively. This is called

a. elimination of alternative explanations b. covariation of cause and effect c. temporal precedence d. illusory correlation e. None of the above

To identify the causes of a behavior, there are three types of evidence needed

(1) Temporal precedence, (2) Covariation of cause and effect, and (3) _______. a. elimination of alternative explanations b. construct validity c. internal consistency reliability d. falsifiability

Although we use the terms "basic" and "applied" research, in truth

a. applied research answers fundamental questions about behavior that basic research never will b. the distinction between them is best viewed as a continuum rather than discrete differences c. applied research is widely considered to be the superior approach d. basic research studies are only possible due to what was learned using applied research outcomes

When we use science to acquire knowledge we should NOT rely solely upon

a. observation b. theoretical explanation c. tenacity and intuition d. evaluation and interpretation e. None of the above - ALL are relied upon in the scientific acquisition of knowledge

A researcher observed that a certain grade school has a high rate of obesity among its students. She conducts a study to determine if the students would increase their levels of activity if a skateboard park were built on the school grounds. This type of research is best described as

a. applied research b. replication research c. non-empirical research d. basic research

When we rely on habit or superstition as a method of knowing, we are relying on

a. authority b. empiricism c. tenacity d. logic

The extent to which a measurement or manipulation represents the variable being studied is what is meant by

a. face validity b. external validity c. construct validity d. internal validity

An important benefit to using operational definitions is that it

a. enables researchers to discuss concrete concepts using abstract terms b. ensures accuracy of any conclusions regarding cause and effect c. enables scientists to generalize their findings to other settings d. helps scientists to clearly communicate their ideas with others

The degree to which a measurement accurately represents a variable is what is meant by

a. construct reliability b. construct validity c. external validity d. scientific control

When researchers use the term _______ they are referring to the idea that there is randomness in all events. a. constancy b. uniformity c. reliability d. uncertainty

d

When collecting data from volunteers it is expect that there will be random variability because relationships among variables

a. can only be positive or negative b. are curvilinear c. are rarely perfect d. can only be monotonic

Strong inferences that one variable caused changes in another variable may only occur among studies demonstrating high _______ validity. a. inferential b. construct c. internal d. All of the above

c

A psychologist observes that the more physical distance there is between a child and a parent shopping in a department store, the more likely shoplifting will occur. The research used here involved a _______ method. a. confounded b. nonexperimental c. covert d. curvilinear

b

A description of some observable event in terms of the specific process or manner by which it was observed or measured is called

a. an independent variable b. a research hypothesis c. a statistic d. an operational definition

A conceptual variable that is known to exist but cannot be directly observed, is called

a. a hypothesis b. an operation c. a construct d. a concept

The difference between nonexperimental and experimental methods is that

a. nonexperimental methods involve operational definitions, while experimental methods involve simple observations b. nonexperimental methods result in clear results, but experimental methods give only broad views of the issues studied c. experimental methods use random variables, while nonexperimental methods use controlled variables d. experimental methods manipulate and control variables, while nonexperimental methods involve observing relationships among nonmanipulated variables

An example of experimental control is

a. keeping all extraneous variables constant b. using a control group as a standard to measure against c. generating careful operational definitions d. making sure that the intended outcomes occur

The goal of random assignment of participants to conditions is to

a. ensure that extraneous variables are equally likely to affect all groups in the study about the same b. ensure that extraneous variables do not affect any groups in the study at all c. eliminate any possibility that researcher bias can affect the study d. make sure that the results will be equally random so that the statistical program will be able to establish significance

A difference between an independent and a dependent variable is that independent variables

a. are internal variables, while dependent variables are external variables b. are considered to be the cause, whereas dependent variables are the effect c. yield positive linear relationships, but dependent variables yield negative linear relationships d. All of the above except (B) are true

Personal attributes such as sex, race, height, and eye-color are called _______ variables. a. internal b. subject c. confounding d. situational

b

The extent to which a study's outcomes can generalize to other populations and settings is what is meant by _______ validity. a. linear b. construct c. external d. internal

c

When we talk about the consistency or stability of a measure, we are talking about

a. validity b. reliability c. reactivity d. confounds

A good way to increase the _______ of a research study is to increase the number of appropriate test items in the survey used. a. predictivity b. reliability c. reactivity d. All of the above

b

A correlation coefficient of +0.47, when using a Pearson product-moment correlation, shows that the two variables are

a. positively related b. negatively related c. not related d. strongly related

With regard to a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, the closer a correlation coefficient is to -1.00, the _______ the relationship between the two variables. a. more indirect b. weaker c. more subtle d. stronger

d

One disadvantage of trying to establish alternate forms reliability is that

a. the reliability of the test is low because the same test is given to different individuals b. it employs different raters to assess the performance of an individual in different tests c. it assesses reliability by measuring individuals at only one point in time d. creating a second equivalent measure may take considerable time and effort

If you measure the same individual at two points in time, you are checking for _______ reliability. a. test-retest b. interrater c. alternate forms d. split-half

a

Researchers use split-half reliability to assess

a. curvilinear relationships b. discriminant validity c. internal consistency d. convergent validity

Alice and Fiona are foodies who write restaurant reviews for a popular website. After trying the same new restaurant, they both rate 5 stars for their meals. Based on their ratings, it is safe to conclude that in this example there is

a. high test-retest reliability b. high interrater reliability c. low reactivity d. low convergent validity

Which of the following is true of the concept of face validity? a. It can only be used with living participants (i.e., those with faces) b. It is not considered to be particularly sophisticated c. It is the best method to establish that a measure is valid d. It is used to describe the same thing as content validity

b

Which of the following statements most accurately differentiates face validity from discriminant validity? a. Face validity

The measure appears to measure what it is supposed to measure. Discriminant validity

Content validity and face validity are similar in that both

a. focus on scores that are unrelated to other measures when they are theoretically different b. focus on measures that are related to other measures of the same construct c. focus on assessing how well a measure reflects the meaning of the construct being measured d. are important to determine how well measures improve researchers' predictions

Rick finds that his shyness score has a high correlation with his score on introversion. In the context of construct validity, this is an example of

a. convergent validity b. discriminant validity c. face validity d. predictive validity e. All of the above

Sigmund has developed a measure of a person's ability to notice subtle changes to a photo. He finds that scores on his test are not related to a person's ability to perform math in their head (i.e., an unrelated construct). This is an example of

a. convergent validity b. discriminant validity c. face validity d. concurrent validity

Reactivity can be reduced by

a. testing participants as quickly as possible b. giving participants a chance to become used to being observed c. using tests that take a very long time to measure d. recording outcomes directly rather than remotely e. All of the above

Categorizing people as either Coke drinkers or Pepsi drinkers is an example of using _______ scale. a. a ratio b. an ordinal c. an interval d. a nominal

d

A sorority rates their pledges according to a number of characteristics (height, weight, beauty, charm, GPA, etc.). Each pledge is given a rating of up to 5 stars (5 = excellence in all categories, 0 = minimal excellence in the categories). This is an example of using _______ scale. a. a nominal b. an ordinal c. an interval d. a ratio

b

When a researcher measures the amount (in ounces) of food each participant eats at a buffet, she is using _______ scale of measurement. a. a nominal b. an ordinal c. an interval d. a ratio

d

Your doctor wants you to track some of your daily activities. She asks you to indicate the amount of time you spend sitting, being physically active, and sleeping. This would be an example of _______ approach to describing your behavior. a. an intrinsic b. a quantitative c. a qualitative d. an extrinsic

b

After seeing a movie, a researcher stops you on your way out of the theater to ask you your reaction to the film you just saw. The researcher wants you (and some others who were in the theater with you) to discuss what you enjoyed as well as what you did not enjoy about the movie. This researcher is using _______ approach to data collection. a. an intrinsic b. a quantitative c. a qualitative d. an extrinsic

c

Naturalistic observation is used to

a. test hypotheses developed prior to the study b. conduct research under experimental conditions rather than relying on real environments c. get rapid answers to multiple theoretical questions d. provide as complete and accurate a picture as possible of what occurred in a particular setting

The type of data typically collected using naturalistic observation are primarily

a. quantitative b. qualitative c. disruptive d. objective

Researchers understand that concealed observation

a. is ideal from an ethical standpoint b. can result in greater reactance than overt observation c. may directly influence and possibly alter the behaviors under observation d. can sometimes lead to an invasion of privacy for participants

Cindy will be using naturalistic participant observation to study the different behavioral patterns displayed by members of her family during the upcoming 10-year reunion. Which of the following will most likely be true? a. She might lose the objectivity necessary to conduct a scientific observation of her family b. She will be unable to support her study with multiple confirmations c. She will collect quantitative data rather than qualitative data d. All of the above are equally likely

a

The careful observation of one (or more) specific behaviors in a specific setting is what is meant by

a. archival research b. content analysis c. systematic observation d. experimental analysis

Students in a classroom act wildly and loudly when they are by themselves. When the teacher enters the classroom, they all settle down and return to their seats. In this example, the students' behavior is best described as due to

a. contiguity b. reactivity c. proximity d. reliability

A researcher examines the purchasing records of Chi Chi's restaurant over its final four years to form a detailed understanding of their buying patterns in order to determine if these patterns contributed to the restaurant's ultimate closing. This is an example of a _______ research method. a. systematic observation b. concealed observation c. field experiment d. case study

d

When a researcher doesn't collect original data but instead analyzes existing data, this approach is called

a. a psychobiography b. field experiment c. archival research d. statistical reporting

Dr. Fischer examines chess tournament records to determine whether more fingers are broken by robots or by other living players. Which archival research approach is Dr. Fischer using here? a. Survey archives b. Statistical records c. Self-report d. Anthropological data

b

When researchers systematically analyze existing documents (e.g., automotive magazines from the 1950's), they are engaged in

a. quantitative research b. transactional analysis c. content analysis d. a case study

When a participant tends to respond to survey questions using a particular perspective/strategy rather than providing answers directly related to the questions, this is called

a. a response set b. researcher bias c. selection bias d. All of the above

In the context of the previous example (question 1), research volunteers who try to present themselves in a positive way while answering a questionnaire are demonstrating

a. cognitive dissonance b. social desirability c. the carryover effect d. a self-serving bias

When a survey asks participants to include their age, sex, and marital status, it is collecting

a. attitudes and beliefs b. facts and demographics c. behaviors d. objectives

When a survey asks participants to questions such as, "Are you satisfied with the emergency services in your city?" it is collecting

a. attitudes and beliefs b. facts and demographics c. behaviors d. objectives

When an RMU survey came out, it asked students to respond to the _______ question, "Don't you think it is time to slightly increase the absurdly low tuition rates at RMU?" a. double-barreled b. confusing c. loaded d. simplistic

c

An advantage to closed-ended questions over open-ended questions is that they

a. let people answer with anything they want b. take more time to categorize responses c. cost more to create and score d. are easier to code

If this quiz was a survey, it would be a fair example of using _______ questions. a. loaded b. open-ended c. closed-ended d. double-barreled

c

If you were asked to evaluate the internet services provided by RMU using 7-point scales with bipolar adjectives such as fast-slow and unreliable-reliable you would be answering questions with _______ scales. a. graphic rating b. comparative rating c. semantic differential d. behavioral measurement

c

It is a common strategy for researchers to place the most interesting and important questions _______ their surveys. a. at the beginning of b. in the middle of c. at the end of d. scattered randomly throughout

a

While asking a student some questions the researcher nods his head and smiles whenever the student provides an answer that he likes. The researcher's behavior is most probably an example of

a. carryover effect b. social desirability c. sampling bias d. interviewer bias

Researchers should use _______ sampling when they want to use the results of their survey to make precise statements about a specific population. a. haphazard b. quota c. probability d. purposive

c

When the administration was looking for feedback from students about which presidential candidate to hire at RMU they classified students by major, class, and whether they were commuters or lived on campus. They then randomly selected students from each subgroup according to its proportion to the overall student population. All this work was needed in order to use a sampling technique called _______ sampling. a. quota b. haphazard c. simple random d. stratified random

d

Claire wanted to know how many students at RMU are interested in developing and joining a horticulture club. She stands near the entrance of ROMO's and asks students passing by about their views and interests in horticulture. Claire's sampling technique is an example of

a. cluster sampling b. stratified random sampling c. convenience sampling d. quota sampling

A researcher stands outside the RMU library and asks only female students if they feel safe on campus. The type of sampling technique being used is

a. simple random sampling b. stratified random sampling c. cluster sampling d. purposive sampling

When two or more independent variables are simultaneously manipulated such that the results cannot be unambiguously attributed to any independent variable, _______ has occurred. a. a confound b. an experiment c. a correlation d. a quasi-experiment

a

Researchers concerned with good internal validity must ensure that only the _______ variable could have caused the results obtained. a. dependent b. independent c. confounding d. nuisance

b

In order for a researcher to be able to claim that the independent variable in her experiment caused the results, she must

a. prove that the experiment has high external validity b. eliminate competing, alternative explanations c. eliminate experimental control and randomization d. keep the dependent variable constant

To increase the likelihood of good internal validity in an experiment with random assignment of participants to conditions, researchers should

a. remove confounding variables b. use a pretest c. use experimental control d. Both (A) and (C)

To determine the effect of types of music listened to while studying, Cleo uses two equivalent groups, one exposed to Trip-Hop music, the other exposed to Big Beat music. After studying history while listening to their assigned music styles, the participants complete a brief multiple-choice exam about the material studied. The type of experimental design employed in this example was a

a. pretest-posttest design b. pretest-only design c. four-group posttest design d. posttest-only design

What happens if the participant groups in an experiment are not equivalent? a. The results are likely to be affected by ethnocentrism b. The experiment will high external validity, but low internal validity c. Replicating the experiment will be nearly impossible d. It will not be possible to determine that the independent variable caused the results

d

William completed a study testing the effects of wall color on learning advanced physics. He tested students on the first day of class in two different physics classrooms (one pink and the other orange). William then tested the students half way through the semester, an again on the final day of classes. He found that the classes were about the same up through the second test, but differed significantly on the final test (pink outperformed orange). William also observed that 71 percent of the students in the orange classroom had dropped the class before taking the last exam. In this example, what is a likely alternative explanation for the results? a. Maturation b. Attrition c. Statistical regression d. Diffusion of treatment

b

An advantage of using a pretest-posttest design compared with using a posttest-only design is that it

a. can establish whether the groups are equivalent b. helps participants figure out what the study is about c. requires less time and effort on the part of the researcher d. effectively eliminates demand characteristics and researcher bias

When an experiment has a high mortality rate it means that participants

a. have cheated on the response measures b. engaged in intragroup conflict c. dropped out of the study d. prevented other participants from responding honestly

When using a Solomon four-group design, if there is no influence of the pretest, researchers will observe that

a. posttest scores will be different for all groups b. pretest scores will be different for all groups c. posttest scores will be the same for all groups d. posttest scores will not be affected by the treatment

In a _______ design, every participant is exposed to, and provides data for, all of the experimental conditions. a. matched sets b. independent groups c. within-subjects d. between-subjects

c

Sam wants to conduct an experiment to find out if putting apple seeds in people's ears will help treat their tinnitus. If she uses an independent groups design, she would manipulate the independent variable by

a. randomly requiring half of the participants with tinnitus to put apple seeds in their ears and the other half to participate without apple seeds in their ears b. having all participants first respond with apple seeds in their ears, and then later respond without apple seeds in their ears c. having all participants first respond without apple seeds in their ears, and then later respond with apple seeds in their ears d. allowing participants to choose whether to have apple seeds placed in their ears or not

Ted wants to conduct an experiment to find out if putting apple seeds in people's ears will help treat their tinnitus. If Ted uses a between-subjects design, He would manipulate the independent variable by

a. randomly requiring half of the participants with tinnitus to put apple seeds in their ears and the other half to participate without apple seeds in their ears b. having all participants first respond with apple seeds in their ears, and then later respond without apple seeds in their ears c. having all participants first respond without apple seeds in their ears, and then later respond with apple seeds in their ears d. allowing participants to choose whether to have apple seeds placed in their ears or not

One issue that almost always concerns researchers when they employ a repeated measures design is that the order of presentation of conditions will affect performance in addition to the independent variables. This is known as

a. carryover effects b. incomplete counterbalancing c. indifference effects d. systematic counterbalancing

When researchers observe an improvement in performance due to repeated exposure to a task, this is called a _______ effect. a. reactive b. fatigue c. nonreactive d. practice

d

When researchers observe a decline in performance due to repeated exposure to a task, this is called a _______ effect. a. reactive b. fatigue c. nonreactive d. practice

b

To control for order effects in a repeated measures design, researchers should make use of

a. counterbalancing techniques b. independent groups designs c. reversal designs d. short time intervals between conditions e. All of the above

A technique to control for order effects that does not require using all possible orders is called a

a. pretest-only design b. partial randomization design c. complete counterbalancing design d. balanced Latin square design

A researcher is most likely to use a matched pairs design when

a. the sample size used is very large b. both the matching and dependent variables are unrelated c. only a small number of participants is available for the study d. using naturally paired volunteers (e.g., romantic couples, twins, business partners, etc.)

Which of the following is a good reason why researchers design experiments with more than two levels of an independent variable? a. Two levels of an independent variable only provide linear information. More levels are needed to get a more exact form of the relationship between independent and dependent variables b. The relationship between an independent and dependent variable cannot be described with a straight line with only two levels to an independent variable c. Experiments with only two levels of an independent variable can only show positive relationships. More levels are needed in case there are negative relationships d. Designs using two levels of an independent variable can only detect curvilinear relationships between independent and dependent variables

a

Factorial designs involve

a. more than one independent variable b. specifying the overall effect of a dependent variable c. having multiple dependent measures d. using one independent variable or factor e. All of the above

The simplest factorial design described below is the one with

a. six conditions and three possible main effects b. one independent variable with three levels c. four possible interactions and eight conditions d. two independent variables with two levels each

An experiment was conducted in which food quality was measured under self-serve vs. waiter served conditions. Participants in each group were randomly assigned to either a hot or a cold meal. The independent variable(s) in this study

a. was food quality b. were food preference and food temperature c. were serving method and food temperature d. were food quality, serving method, and food temperature

An advantage of factorial designs, and a reason they are so often used is because

a. few variables tend to affect behavior b. they represent the real-world better than single factor studies c. multiple variables cannot operate simultaneously d. more variables in a single study is always a less expensive option than single variables across multiple studies

In factorial designs, main effects are the effect each _______ variable has by itself. a. independent b. dependent c. confounded d. measured

a

A researcher studies the effect of room color (red, white, blue) and room cleanliness (tidy, untidy) on algebra performance. How many main effects are possible? a. 1 b. 2 c. 5 d. 6

b

A researcher studies the effect of room color (red, white, blue) and room cleanliness (tidy, untidy) on algebra performance. How many interactions are possible? a. 1 b. 2 c. 5 d. 6

a

An interaction occurs whenever

a. the differences among the differences are different b. the effect of one independent variable changes across levels of a second independent variable c. what is concluded about performance across the levels of one independent variable depends on the levels of another independent variable d. All of the above

In factorial designs, main effects are the

a. outcomes of one independent variable at each level of another independent variable b. outcomes of one independent variable averaged over the levels of the other independent variables c. only (or primary) effects of interest d. effects of the dependent variable on any single independent variable

Line graphs are more likely to be used than bar graphs whenever

a. the dependent variables are infinite b. the levels of the independent variable are quantitative c. there are more than one dependent variables d. independent variables represent different categories of measurement