QUESTIONS
Answers and text page references for test questions can be found in Appendix C.
Multiple Choice
1. According to the diffusion of responsibility theory, _________ could eliminate social loafing.
a. measuring group performance
b. measuring individual performance in group situations
c. rewarding positive behavior
d. insisting that workers follow authority figures
ANS: B
A-Head: Making Sense of the World
2. When a person’s word is believed to be true without examination, a belief has been formed via the
method of
a. science.
b. tenacity.
c. authority.
d. a priori.
ANS: C
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
3. Choosing to believe some material in this course because your instructor told you that it is correct
information most likely represents which system for the fixation of beliefs?
a. tenacity
b. authority
c. a priori
d. scientific method
ANS: B
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
4. If two theories can explain the same data, then
a. the simpler theory is the better theory.
b. the theory that is unfalsifiable is the better theory.
c. the more complex theory is the better theory.
d. the least parsimonious theory is the better theory.
ANS: A
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
5. The inductive scientist
a. believes that explanation will become obvious once enough data are collected.
b. uses theory to guide research.
c. is concerned with testing between conflicting predictions made by different theories.
d. does not collect data.
ANS: A
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
6. Gathering data within a guiding theoretical framework describes
a. induction.
b. deduction.
, c. parsimony.
d. falsifiability.
ANS: B
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
7. Intervening variables are abstract concepts that link _________ to _________.
a. control variables; dependent variables
b. independent variables; control variables
c. independent variables; dependent variables
d. basic research; applied research
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
8. The scientific method
a. relies upon empirical observation.
b. has no mechanism for discarding outdated theories.
c. emphasizes the importance of theory over data.
d. emphasizes the role of data over theory.
ANS: A
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
9. A theory that explains a wide variety of occurrences with very few explanatory concepts is said to
a. be correct.
b. have high heuristic value.
c. be parsimonious.
d. be precise.
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
10. A theory whose predictions are misinterpreted from one researcher to the next is said to
a. be testable.
b. be parsimonious.
c. lack precision.
d. be provable.
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
11. In a laboratory setting, the psychologist is more concerned that the ______ are the same and less
concerned that the physical situation is the same.
a. experimenters
b. underlying processes
c. participants
d. independent variables
ANS: B
A-Head: The Science of Psychology
12. Theory in psychology serves to both organize data and to
a. Generate prediction for untested situations.
b. allow psychology to be termed a natural science.
c. validate psychological findings.
Answers and text page references for test questions can be found in Appendix C.
Multiple Choice
1. According to the diffusion of responsibility theory, _________ could eliminate social loafing.
a. measuring group performance
b. measuring individual performance in group situations
c. rewarding positive behavior
d. insisting that workers follow authority figures
ANS: B
A-Head: Making Sense of the World
2. When a person’s word is believed to be true without examination, a belief has been formed via the
method of
a. science.
b. tenacity.
c. authority.
d. a priori.
ANS: C
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
3. Choosing to believe some material in this course because your instructor told you that it is correct
information most likely represents which system for the fixation of beliefs?
a. tenacity
b. authority
c. a priori
d. scientific method
ANS: B
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
4. If two theories can explain the same data, then
a. the simpler theory is the better theory.
b. the theory that is unfalsifiable is the better theory.
c. the more complex theory is the better theory.
d. the least parsimonious theory is the better theory.
ANS: A
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
5. The inductive scientist
a. believes that explanation will become obvious once enough data are collected.
b. uses theory to guide research.
c. is concerned with testing between conflicting predictions made by different theories.
d. does not collect data.
ANS: A
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
6. Gathering data within a guiding theoretical framework describes
a. induction.
b. deduction.
, c. parsimony.
d. falsifiability.
ANS: B
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
7. Intervening variables are abstract concepts that link _________ to _________.
a. control variables; dependent variables
b. independent variables; control variables
c. independent variables; dependent variables
d. basic research; applied research
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
8. The scientific method
a. relies upon empirical observation.
b. has no mechanism for discarding outdated theories.
c. emphasizes the importance of theory over data.
d. emphasizes the role of data over theory.
ANS: A
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
9. A theory that explains a wide variety of occurrences with very few explanatory concepts is said to
a. be correct.
b. have high heuristic value.
c. be parsimonious.
d. be precise.
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
10. A theory whose predictions are misinterpreted from one researcher to the next is said to
a. be testable.
b. be parsimonious.
c. lack precision.
d. be provable.
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
11. In a laboratory setting, the psychologist is more concerned that the ______ are the same and less
concerned that the physical situation is the same.
a. experimenters
b. underlying processes
c. participants
d. independent variables
ANS: B
A-Head: The Science of Psychology
12. Theory in psychology serves to both organize data and to
a. Generate prediction for untested situations.
b. allow psychology to be termed a natural science.
c. validate psychological findings.
