Exam 1 answers
If two opposing theories account for the same initial observations, ____.
You should avoid doing research in that area
Both the theories are incorrect
you have a fascinating opportunity to pit the theories against each other in research
one of the theories must be logically incorrect
Which of the following statements is true of a law?
It refers to a specific implementation of a more general theoretical view.
It is an empirically verified, quantitative relationship between two or more variables.
It is a tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem.
It is more limited in scope than a hypothesis.
Scientists:
work only at universities
adopt the methods of science in their quest for knowledge
always do their research in a laboratory
are never concerned with potential applications of their findings
Confirmation of a research hypothesis often leads to refinement and retesting.
True
False
A ___ is a set of program statements that define the variables to be considered and the ways in which their values will change over the course of time or trials
computer model
matching law
functional explanation
mechanistic explanation
Experimentation without theory prevents the generation of irrelevant data.
True
False
In a correlational research design, variables are manipulated to determine their effects on other variables.
True
False
A(n) __ relationship is one in which values of variables covary in some way, but not necessarily casually.
casual
experimental
confounded
correlational
Generally, research that has recieved funding from a granting agency is better than research that has not.
True
False
The human tendency to seek out information that confirms what is already believed is known as:
cognitive dissonance
confirmation bias
disconfirmation bias
experimenter bias.
A demonstration is a kind of research design that resembles an experiment but lack one of the crucial features of a true experiment: an independent variable.
True
False
Weak inference will work only if alternative explanations generate well-defined predictions.
True
False
While casually observing the odd behavior of birds in your backyard, you get some ideas about what might be causing the behavior. This is an example of getting research ideas from:
theory
preexisting beliefs
unsystematic observation
systematic observation
Interest in the Hull-Spence theory of learning died because the theory has become too complex
True
False
A theory that generates research, even if it is later proven wring, is a parsimonious theory
True
False
The process of locating, obtaining, reading, and evaluating the research literature in an area of interest is termed a:
literature evaluation
literature analysis
literature review
literature search
__ aims at classifying behaviors ina. given research area and identifying the variables involved in explaining the behavior of interest.
Inferential statistics
Statistical analysis
Naturalistic observation
Exploratory data collection and analysis
Which of the following statements is true of hypotheses?
They are well-supported explanations for observations
They are better substantiated than theories
They are less limited in scope than are theories
They are like educated guesses to be tested
A poorly conceived hypothesis may lead to invalid results
True
False
When correlational relationships are used for prediction, the variable used to make predictions is called the criterion variable and the variable whose value is being predicted is called the predictor variable.
True
False
Theories should be developed even before a good base of empirical data exists
True
False
Research involves a scientist:
identifying a phenomenon to study.
conducting a study to collect data, analyzing the data, and disseminating the results
developing hypotheses
All of the answers are correct
After determining that you are interested in studying helping behaviot, you begin to identify the factors that might influence a person’s decision to help. This is an example of Cialdini’s notion of:
isolation
trapping
snaring
scouting
In a __ relationship, changes in one variable produce changes in another.
confounded
casual
correlational
hypothetical
You are hired by a local company to do research on improving employee morale. The research you conduct would be best classified as:
problem-oriented research
applied research
basic research
none of the answers is correct
When something is defines in terms of the operations required to measure it, we have a(n) __ definition
reliable
commonsense
operational
scientific
A theory that has been substantially verified is sometimes called a:
None of the answers is correct
descriptive theory
law
model
Which of the following is an empirical question?
Is it okay to let one man suffer to save ten men?
Are heaven and hell real?
Do men earn more than women do?
Does God care about humans?
In an experimental design, the variable whose value is observed an measured is called the dependent variable.
True
False
Dr. Smith varies the temperature of her laboratory (70oF, 80oF, or 90oF) and notices that her subjects’ aggression increases with temperature. This illustrates:
an unsystematic relationship between temperature and aggression
a casual relationship between temperature and aggression
a correlational relationship between temperature and aggression
no relationship between temperature and aggression
A research question is probably unimportant if:
None of the answers is correct.
the answer is already firmly established
it results from research that cannot be published
it will produce results that are inconsistent with a theory
Hypothesis testing normally begins:
during the preliminary exploratory stages of research
None of the answers is correct
after you have collected enough information about a behavior to begin developing supportable explanations.
when all variables affecting the behavior of interest have been identified
The best way to test theories is to use both conformational and disconfirmational strategies together
True
False
Which of the following is an obstacle in the way of drawing clear casual inferences form correlational data?
Nonresponse bias
Probability sampling
The directionality problem
The extraneous variable problem
Dr. Smith conducts an experiment to test the limits of Leon Festinger’s cognitive dissonance theory. Dr. Smith is doing:
focused research
analytical research
applied research
basic research
Hunger is defined as 24 hours of food deprivation. This is an exampel of a(n) __ definition.
commonsense
operational
scientific
circular
According to the text, unfounded but commonly accepted explanations for behavior:
are normally as good as scientific explanations
are never used as a bias for social policy
can have widespread consequences when they have become the basis for social policy
are always harmless
Which of the following would be true of the relationship between basic and applied research?
Applied research is more valid than basic research
Basic research is more valid than applied research
There is considerable overlap between basic and applied research
Basic and applied research are mutually exclusive categories of research
Research done primarily to test a theoretical position would best be classified as:
basic research
analytical research
focused research
applied research
In the context of a research study, the downside of defining variables operationally is that operational definitions:
reduce the willingness fo research participants to answer questions
reorient research questions into a nonempirical direction
reduce the meaningfulness of answers given to research questions
restrict the generality of answers obtained