PSY 395 Midterm Questions and Answers
with Complete Solutions | New Update 2026
| Graded A+
Four Basic Canons of Science - ANSWERS -Determinism
-Empiricism
-Parsimony
-Testability
Determinism - ANSWERS Events have meaningful, systematic causes
Empiricism - ANSWERS The method of making observations
Parsimony - ANSWERS If we have two competing theories, we should choose
the simpler or more frugal of the two
Testability - ANSWERS You must be able to realistically test the theory
Positive Test Bias - ANSWERS -The tendency to seek out information that
should confirm our theory
-conversely, we do not seek out or we ignore information that might falsify our
theory.
,Falsification - ANSWERS -the line of demarcation between science and non-
science
-Show that the consequences of a theory or an idea are not empirically supported.
Belmont Report - ANSWERS -1979
-US Department of Health and Human Services
-Three ethic principals that form a basis for ethics today: Beneficence, respect for
persons (autonomy), and justice
Beneficence - ANSWERS Maximize benefits and minimizing any possible
harmful side effects to the research participants
Respect for Persons (autonomy) - ANSWERS Participants are treated as
autonomous, capable of making deliberate decisions about participating in the
research
Justice - ANSWERS -Ensure the fair distribution of costs and benefits to
potential research participants
-Need to justify excluding participants based on demographics
-In some places, a placebo may not be used in medical research if an effective
treatment is available.
Ethics in Psychological Research - ANSWERS 1) Treat participants/subjects of
research
appropriately
2) Avoid plagiarism at all costs
, 3) Be scrupulously honest in the treatment of data
Beneficence and Non-Maleficence - ANSWERS -The principal of beneficence
refers to the need for research to maximize benefits and minimize any harmful
effects of participation.
-Risk-benefit analysis
Risk-Benefit analysis - ANSWERS -Physical harm: administering drugs; denying
sleep/food
-stress: Stressful tasks; distressing events
-Loss of privacy: confidentiality; public observation
Respect for Persons - ANSWERS The principal of autonomy states that the
participants are treated as autonomous, capable of making their own decision
about participating.
-Informed consent
Informed Consent Details - ANSWERS Participants should be provided with all
information that might influence their decision to participate.
Autonomy Issues - ANSWERS 1) Special populations may lack ability to give
informed consent; example: children, mental health patients, developmental/
cognitive disabilities
2) Coercion; example: Fear of retribution if they do not participate; benefits are
too great
with Complete Solutions | New Update 2026
| Graded A+
Four Basic Canons of Science - ANSWERS -Determinism
-Empiricism
-Parsimony
-Testability
Determinism - ANSWERS Events have meaningful, systematic causes
Empiricism - ANSWERS The method of making observations
Parsimony - ANSWERS If we have two competing theories, we should choose
the simpler or more frugal of the two
Testability - ANSWERS You must be able to realistically test the theory
Positive Test Bias - ANSWERS -The tendency to seek out information that
should confirm our theory
-conversely, we do not seek out or we ignore information that might falsify our
theory.
,Falsification - ANSWERS -the line of demarcation between science and non-
science
-Show that the consequences of a theory or an idea are not empirically supported.
Belmont Report - ANSWERS -1979
-US Department of Health and Human Services
-Three ethic principals that form a basis for ethics today: Beneficence, respect for
persons (autonomy), and justice
Beneficence - ANSWERS Maximize benefits and minimizing any possible
harmful side effects to the research participants
Respect for Persons (autonomy) - ANSWERS Participants are treated as
autonomous, capable of making deliberate decisions about participating in the
research
Justice - ANSWERS -Ensure the fair distribution of costs and benefits to
potential research participants
-Need to justify excluding participants based on demographics
-In some places, a placebo may not be used in medical research if an effective
treatment is available.
Ethics in Psychological Research - ANSWERS 1) Treat participants/subjects of
research
appropriately
2) Avoid plagiarism at all costs
, 3) Be scrupulously honest in the treatment of data
Beneficence and Non-Maleficence - ANSWERS -The principal of beneficence
refers to the need for research to maximize benefits and minimize any harmful
effects of participation.
-Risk-benefit analysis
Risk-Benefit analysis - ANSWERS -Physical harm: administering drugs; denying
sleep/food
-stress: Stressful tasks; distressing events
-Loss of privacy: confidentiality; public observation
Respect for Persons - ANSWERS The principal of autonomy states that the
participants are treated as autonomous, capable of making their own decision
about participating.
-Informed consent
Informed Consent Details - ANSWERS Participants should be provided with all
information that might influence their decision to participate.
Autonomy Issues - ANSWERS 1) Special populations may lack ability to give
informed consent; example: children, mental health patients, developmental/
cognitive disabilities
2) Coercion; example: Fear of retribution if they do not participate; benefits are
too great
