What do you call a variable other than the independent variable that appears to have
influenced the dependent variable in a study?
A) univariate
B) extraneous variable
C) redundant variable
D) covariate
Ref page 51
Give this one a try later!
Extraneous variable
Micheal is a graduate student whose major area of interest is social psychology. In
which of the following would you expect that micheal is most interested?
A) how people relate to and influence one another
B) the internal factors that lead people to act constantly across a variety of situations
,C) the ways in which physical or genetic factors influence and determine behaviour
D) the ways in which behaviour and mental processes change over a lifetime
Ref page 26
Give this one a try later!
how people relate to and influence one another
NASA wanted to know if extended periods of weightlessness would have an impact
on long-term circulatory function. The agency located seven former astronauts who
had spent more than one month in space under conditions of weightlessness, and
tested all aspects of their cardiovascular function. What sort of research did NASA
conduct in this situation?
A) experimental research
B) survey research
C) case study research
D) correlational research
Ref page 56
Give this one a try later!
Case study research
Dr. Spielberg, a prison psychologist, wanted to identify the differences between
prisoners who applied for parole and those who did not. He gave a standardized
personality questionnaire to 50 prisoners who had applied for parole and 50 who had
not bothered to apply. When Dr. Spielberg examine the results, he found significant
differences between the two groups. Those who applied for parole were less
neurotic, less psycho pathic, and less selfish. He wondered whether he could use this
questionnaire to identify those individuals who are more likely to be rehabilitated.
, Give this one a try later!
This is an example of distortions in self-reported data. The prisoners may
not answer the questions on the questionnaire honestly, resulting in a false
or distorted reading. The group that claimed to be less neurotic, less
psychopathic, and less selfish, may in fact be the opposite. The group of
prisoners may lie on the questionnaire, in order to sway the experimenter
into believing that they are rehabilitated, stable and safe to be out on
parole. Thus, increasing their chances of being paroled and/reducing the
amount of time they must spend in prison.
A group of researchers wanted to determine whether people are more likely to follow
directions if the person giving the directions is in a uniform. Half the participants are
directed to a parking spot by a uniformed security guard; the other half are directed
to a parking spot by an individual wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt. In this study, what is
the dependant variable?
A) the gender of the person driving into the parking lot
B) the number of participants who park in the spot they are directed to
C) the type of clothing worn by the person giving the directions
D) the distance between the parking spot and the entrance
Ref page 49
Give this one a try later!
The number of participants who park in the spot they are directed to
A group of students are administered a series of written questions designed to assess
their attitudes, options, and behaviour related to studying. What is this method called?
A) a psychological test
B) a questionnaire
C) a paper based interview
D) a direct written observation
influenced the dependent variable in a study?
A) univariate
B) extraneous variable
C) redundant variable
D) covariate
Ref page 51
Give this one a try later!
Extraneous variable
Micheal is a graduate student whose major area of interest is social psychology. In
which of the following would you expect that micheal is most interested?
A) how people relate to and influence one another
B) the internal factors that lead people to act constantly across a variety of situations
,C) the ways in which physical or genetic factors influence and determine behaviour
D) the ways in which behaviour and mental processes change over a lifetime
Ref page 26
Give this one a try later!
how people relate to and influence one another
NASA wanted to know if extended periods of weightlessness would have an impact
on long-term circulatory function. The agency located seven former astronauts who
had spent more than one month in space under conditions of weightlessness, and
tested all aspects of their cardiovascular function. What sort of research did NASA
conduct in this situation?
A) experimental research
B) survey research
C) case study research
D) correlational research
Ref page 56
Give this one a try later!
Case study research
Dr. Spielberg, a prison psychologist, wanted to identify the differences between
prisoners who applied for parole and those who did not. He gave a standardized
personality questionnaire to 50 prisoners who had applied for parole and 50 who had
not bothered to apply. When Dr. Spielberg examine the results, he found significant
differences between the two groups. Those who applied for parole were less
neurotic, less psycho pathic, and less selfish. He wondered whether he could use this
questionnaire to identify those individuals who are more likely to be rehabilitated.
, Give this one a try later!
This is an example of distortions in self-reported data. The prisoners may
not answer the questions on the questionnaire honestly, resulting in a false
or distorted reading. The group that claimed to be less neurotic, less
psychopathic, and less selfish, may in fact be the opposite. The group of
prisoners may lie on the questionnaire, in order to sway the experimenter
into believing that they are rehabilitated, stable and safe to be out on
parole. Thus, increasing their chances of being paroled and/reducing the
amount of time they must spend in prison.
A group of researchers wanted to determine whether people are more likely to follow
directions if the person giving the directions is in a uniform. Half the participants are
directed to a parking spot by a uniformed security guard; the other half are directed
to a parking spot by an individual wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt. In this study, what is
the dependant variable?
A) the gender of the person driving into the parking lot
B) the number of participants who park in the spot they are directed to
C) the type of clothing worn by the person giving the directions
D) the distance between the parking spot and the entrance
Ref page 49
Give this one a try later!
The number of participants who park in the spot they are directed to
A group of students are administered a series of written questions designed to assess
their attitudes, options, and behaviour related to studying. What is this method called?
A) a psychological test
B) a questionnaire
C) a paper based interview
D) a direct written observation
