Test Bank for The World of Psychology, 8th Canadian Edition, Samuel E. Wood

TEST BANK FOR THE WORLD OF PSYCHOLOGY, 8TH CANADIAN EDITION, SAMUEL E. WOOD, ELLEN GREEN WOOD, DENISE BOYD, EILEEN WOOD, SERGE DESMARAIS Chapter 1 – Introduction to Psychology 1) According to the text, psychology is the scientific study of a. human and animal behaviour. b. thought, perception, and emotion. c. conscious and unconscious processes. d. behaviour and mental processes. Answer: d Correct: Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes. The other responses are too narrow in scope. Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Reference: 4 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.1 Define psychology. 2) An understanding of any behaviour or mental process usually begins with a. influence. b. explanation. c. prediction. d. description. Answer: d Correct: Psychological research typically begins by establishing common descriptors of specific behaviours or mental processes. The remaining three goals usually follow description. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.2 Identify and explain psychology’s four primary goals. 3) When researchers can specify the conditions under which a behaviour or event is likely to occur, they have accomplished the goal of a. explanation. b. influence. c. description. d. prediction. Answer: d Correct: Once research has established the description and explanation (that is, identified causes) of a behaviour, it is then possible to determine patterns of predictability. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.2 Identify and explain psychology’s four primary goals. 4) Understanding the conditions under which a given behaviour occurs enables researchers to state the causes of the behaviour. This is a requirement of the goal of a. influence. b. description. c. prediction. d. explanation. Answer: d Correct: Identifying causes of behaviour is part of the process of explanation. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.2 Identify and explain psychology’s four primary goals. 5) When researchers have learned how to apply a principle or change a condition in order to prevent unwanted occurrences, they have met the fundamental goal of a. description. b. influence. c. prediction. d. explanation. Answer: b Correct: Changing and preventing behaviours form part of the process of influence or control. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.2 Identify and explain psychology’s four primary goals. 6) Which of the following best reflects psychology’s goal of influence? a. Researchers have examined hundreds of cases of dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality) in order to provide a clear picture of the disorder. b. Researchers have studied how smoking habits develop so that they may develop techniques to prevent teenagers from starting the habit. c. Researchers have developed a test that shows which individuals are likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. d. Researchers have identified a gene involved in many cases of obesity. Answer: b Correct: Preventing behaviours is part of the process of influence or control. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.2 Identify and explain psychology’s four primary goals. 7) Which of the following best reflects psychology’s goal of explanation? a. Researchers have developed a test that shows which individuals are likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. b. Researchers have studied how smoking habits develop so that they may develop techniques to prevent teenagers from starting the habit. c. Researchers have identified a gene involved in many cases of obesity. d. Researchers have examined hundreds of cases of dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality) in order to provide a clear picture of the disorder. Answer: c Correct: Identifying a gene addresses the root cause, or explanation, for a behaviour or condition. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.2 Identify and explain psychology’s four primary goals. 8) Which of the following best reflects psychology’s goal of prediction? a. Researchers have developed a test that shows which individuals are likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. b. Researchers have examined hundreds of cases of dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality) in order to provide a clear picture of the disorder. c. Researchers have studied how smoking habits develop so that they may develop techniques to prevent teenagers from starting the habit. d. Researchers have identified a gene involved in many cases of obesity. Answer: a Correct: The development of a test, through research, leads to the prediction of the likelihood of the occurrence of a condition or, in this instance, a disease. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.2 Identify and explain psychology’s four primary goals. 9) Which of the following best reflects psychology’s goal of description? a. Researchers have studied how smoking habits develop so that they may develop techniques to prevent teenagers from starting the habit. b. Researchers have developed a test that shows which individuals are likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. c. Researchers have examined hundreds of cases of dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality) in order to provide a clear picture of the disorder. d. Researchers have identified a gene involved in many cases of obesity. Answer: c Correct: In this case, data has been gathered to provide information or a description of a condition that was previously less understood. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.2 Identify and explain psychology’s four primary goals. 10) The goals of psychology as a science are to a. understand human and animal behaviour fully. b. study and control human behaviour. c. compare, analyze, and control behaviour and mental processes. d. describe, explain, predict, and influence behaviour and mental processes. Answer: d Correct: The four goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and influence behaviour. The other responses are too narrow in scope. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.2 Identify and explain psychology’s four primary goals. 11) According to the text, which of the following is not a major goal of psychology? a. describing and explaining behaviour b. predicting behaviour c. influencing behaviour d. comparing human and animal behaviour Answer: d Correct: Comparing behaviours is one small part of description and therefore does not constitute one of the major goals of psychology. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.2 Identify and explain psychology’s four primary goals. 12) According to the text, which of the following is not a major goal of psychology? a. reconstruction b. influence c. prediction d. description Answer: a Correct: The four goals of psychology are description, explanation, prediction and influence. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.2 Identify and explain psychology’s four primary goals. 13) When a researcher utilizes a general principle or set of principles to explain how a number of separate facts are related to one another, the researcher is using a. a theory. b. basic research. c. a hypothesis. d. applied research. Answer: a Correct: A theory is a general principle or set of principles that links facts together. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.3 Explain what a theory is. 14) A theory enables researchers to a. find the right interpretation for the data they collect. b. describe several alternatives for what they observe. c. explain what they were not able to find proof of. d. fit many separate facts into a larger framework. Answer: d Correct: The concept of a “larger framework” is similar to a guiding principle or set of principles—or, in other words, a theory. Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.3 Explain what a theory is. 15) According to the text, which of the following is not a goal of basic research? a. Solving specific problems b. Advancing our general scientific understanding c. Pursuing knowledge for its own sake d. Seeking new knowledge Answer: a Correct: Solving problems is part of the process of controlling or influencing behaviour, which falls under the larger umbrella of applied research. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.4 Compare and contrast basic and applied research. 16) According to the text, which of the following is not a goal of applied research? a. solving specific problems b. applying new knowledge to problems in the real world c. advancing our general scientific understanding d. improving the quality of life Answer: c Correct: This is an example of explanation, which is part of basic research. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.4 Compare and contrast basic and applied research. 17) According to the text, research that is conducted in order to find solutions to specific problems is called a. controlled research. b. basic research. c. pure research. d. applied research. Answer: d Correct: Applied research is that which seeks to improve the quality of life, or provide answers to real-world problems. Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.4 Compare and contrast basic and applied research. 18) Dr. Sherkus conducts a study concerning the emotional reaction of people when they first receive the news that they have diabetes. The purpose of the research is to help people adjust quickly and positively to their situation. This type of research would be a. basic. b. standard. c. theoretical. d. applied. Answer: d Correct: Helping people adjust emotionally is a partial solution to a real-world problem, which is part of applied research. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.4 Compare and contrast basic and applied research. 19) When a study is conducted for the purpose of solving practical problems, the research would be described as a. a theory. b. applied research. c. basic research. d. a hypothesis. Answer: b Correct: The goal of applied research is to improve quality of life or provide answers to real-world problems. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.4 Compare and contrast basic and applied research. 20) When a study is conducted for the purpose of finding new knowledge or advancing scientific understanding, the research would be described as a. a hypothesis. b. a theory. c. basic research. d. applied research. Answer: c Correct: Basic research seeks to advance our understanding of behaviour and/or mental processes. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.4 Compare and contrast basic and applied research. 21) ________ is to general scientific understanding as ________ is to practical problems. a. Applied research; basic research b. Basic research; applied research c. Hypothesis; theory d. Theory; hypothesis Answer: b Correct: Basic research attempts to add to our understanding of behavioural and mental processes, while applied research attempts to help solve problems. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 5-6 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.4 Compare and contrast basic and applied research. 22) Descriptive research methods a. yield descriptions of behaviour. b. do not occur in the laboratory. c. include the experimental method and correlational methods. d. identify causes of behaviour. Answer: a Correct: Descriptive research methods seek to add to our understanding of the “what” of behaviour or mental processes. Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.5 Identify and compare the several types of descriptive research methods. 23) Naturalistic observation, laboratory observation, the case study method, and survey research share which of the following features? a. They are only used in basic research situations. b. None are successful in helping us understand behaviour. c. They all find the causal reasons for why behaviours occur. d. They describe rather than identify causes of behaviour. Answer: d Correct: All of the listed processes are part of descriptive research methods; they describe, rather than explain behaviour. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 6-7 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.6 Compare and contrast naturalistic and laboratory observations, including their advantages and limitations. 24) Which of the following statements is not true of naturalistic observation? a. Researchers using this method attempt to influence the behaviour being observed. b. This method allows the study of some phenomena that cannot be studied experimentally for ethical reasons. c. Subjects may or may not know that they are being observed. d. Behaviour studied in this way is usually more natural than behaviour studied under laboratory conditions. Answer: a Correct: Naturalistic observation seeks only to describe, not to control or influence behaviours. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.6 Compare and contrast naturalistic and laboratory observations, including their advantages and limitations. 25) Which of the following is not an advantage of the case study method? a. It can allow researchers to reach conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships. b. It provides a good source of descriptive information. c. It can provide the basis for a hypothesis to be tested later. d. It is useful in studying the behaviour patterns of animals in the wild. Answer: a Correct: The case study method only describes; cause and effect are determined by the experimental method. The case study method is not typically part of the experimental method. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.6 Compare and contrast naturalistic and laboratory observations, including their advantages and limitations. 26) Which of the following is not one of the limitations of naturalistic observation? a. The method is not useful in situations where more than a few subjects have to be observed. b. The presence of the researcher may influence the behaviour of the subjects. c. The subjects may not behave as they would naturally. d. The expectations of the researcher may distort his or her observations. Answer: a Correct: Multiple subjects may be observed in naturalistic observation, as in a classroom, for example. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.6 Compare and contrast naturalistic and laboratory observations, including their advantages and limitations. 27) In order to examine the parenting behaviour of pandas, two psychologists spent three years observing the panda in the mountainous regions of Western China. The method used by these investigators was most likely a. the survey method. b. the case study method. c. the experimental method. d. naturalistic observation. Answer: d Correct: Naturalistic observation includes watching subjects in their natural environment, and collecting data on naturally occurring patterns, such as parenting behaviours. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.6 Compare and contrast naturalistic and laboratory observations, including their advantages and limitations. 28) Sandy is interested in determining how long bear cubs stay with their mother. She spends several years studying their behaviour in Yellowstone Park, noting dates of birth and time of leaving mother for several bear families. This is an example of a. the case study method. b. the experimental method. c. the survey method. d. naturalistic observation. Answer: d Correct: Naturalistic observation includes watching subjects in their natural environment, and collecting data on naturally occurring behaviours. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.6 Compare and contrast naturalistic and laboratory observations, including their advantages and limitations. 29) Margot is interested in determining if people who play video games also socialize while playing their games. She goes to a local arcade and carefully observes the behaviour of persons in the area. Margot is collecting information with the a. laboratory observation method. b. case study method. c. naturalistic observation method. d. survey method. Answer: c Correct: Naturalistic observation includes watching subjects in their typical environments, and recording naturally occurring behaviours. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.6 Compare and contrast naturalistic and laboratory observations, including their advantages and limitations. 30) Unobtrusively observing people who are eating at a fast food restaurant in order to determine how frequently they take bites of their food is an example of a. naturalistic observation. b. the case study method. c. the survey method. d. the experimental method. Answer: a Correct: Naturalistic observation includes watching subjects in their typical environments, and collecting data on naturally occurring behaviours. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.6 Compare and contrast naturalistic and laboratory observations, including their advantages and limitations. 31) Much of our knowledge about sleep has been gained through a. naturalistic observation. b. laboratory observation. c. case studies. d. surveys. Answer: b Correct: Sleep is a behaviour best observed in a laboratory setting so that precise measures and data can be collected. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 6 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.6 Compare and contrast naturalistic and laboratory observations, including their advantages and limitations. 32) In-depth information about a single individual is the type of information gathered when psychologists use a. laboratory observation. b. the case study method. c. the survey method. d. naturalistic observation. Answer: b Correct: Case studies examine a single subject in detail over a period of time. Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 33) The purpose of a case study is to a. provide a detailed description of some behaviour or disorder. b. assess the strength of the relationship between variables. c. provide accurate information about large numbers of people. d. identify cause-and-effect relationships. Answer: a Correct: A case study examines a single subject or very few subjects over a period of time to gain detailed information about a particular condition or behaviour. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 34) The case study is not useful for a. supplying detailed descriptions of behaviour which can provide the foundation for psychological theories. b. learning about rare physical and psychological disorders. c. studying large numbers of people. d. learning the consequences of rare brain injuries. Answer: c Correct: The case study is time-consuming and can be costly. As a result, it is not ideal for studying large numbers of subjects. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 35) Which of the following statements applies to the case study method? a. It is appropriate for studying most physical or psychological disorders. b. A case study may take months or years to complete. c. It can be used to determine the cause of the behaviours observed. d. The researcher can be fairly confident that the findings may be applied to large groups or a different culture. Answer: b Correct: Because of the large quantity of detailed data that is gathered, case studies may occur over relatively long periods of time. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 36) The case study method is most useful when studying a. common behaviour. b. unique behaviour. c. highly motivated behaviour. d. animal behaviour. Answer: b Correct: In order to gain the greatest amount of information possible about a rare disorder or behaviour, case study may be the ideal option. Large amounts of data may be obtained on a small subject pool through case study. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 37) Much was learned about the biological nature of memory by observing an individual who had severe memory loss over an extended period of time. This is an example of a. the case study method. b. the laboratory method. c. naturalistic observation. d. the experimental method. Answer: a Correct: The case study method involves the study of one subject in great detail over time. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 38) Freud based his ideas about human personality on the information he acquired about his patients’ lives and especially their memories of early childhood experiences. Freud’s theory is based on a. the experimental method. b. survey research. c. the case study method. d. naturalistic observation. Answer: c Correct: The case study method involves the study of one subject in great detail over time. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 39) John interviews 10 people about their memories from the first three years of their lives. He then writes an essay about early memory in humans. Which research method did he use to collect his data? a. naturalistic observation b. controlled experiment c. correlation study d. case study Answer: d Correct: The case study method involves the study of one subject, or a small group of subjects, in great detail over time. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 40) The survey is most useful when we wish to learn about a. rare psychological and physical disorders. b. how people will respond during highly controlled conditions. c. the behaviour, beliefs, or attitudes of a large group of people. d. how people react during natural disasters. Answer: c Correct: Surveys are most practical when researchers wish to collect significant amounts of information on large groups of people, including their attitudes and beliefs. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 41) Which of the following methods has the advantage of allowing the investigator to collect large amounts of information about the attitudes, beliefs, experiences or behaviours of large groups of people? a. laboratory observation b. the case study method c. the survey method d. naturalistic observation Answer: c Correct: Surveys are most practical when researchers wish to collect significant amounts of information on large groups of people, including information on their attitudes and beliefs. Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 42) Subjects selected from a population for a survey make up a group referred to as a a. subpopulation. b. control group. c. sample. d. subgroup. Answer: c Correct: In research, a subset of the population of interest is called a sample. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 43) The entire group of interest to which the researchers intend to generalize their results is called the a. subject set. b. representative sample. c. sample. d. population. Answer: d Correct: All individuals who are the focus of interest in scientific research constitute the population. Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 44) Population is to ________ as sample is to ________. a. behaviour; opinions b. representative; biased c. people; attitudes d. whole; part Answer: d Correct: The entire group of interest in research is the population; a smaller subset of the group constitutes the subject pool and is called the sample. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 45) What is the proper term for a group of subjects selected for a survey so that important subgroups within the population are included for study in the same proportions as they are found in the larger population? a. subpopulation b. representative sample c. critical mass d. sample Answer: b Correct: Representative samples contain the same distribution of significant groups as in the entire population that is the focus of study in research. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 46) Which statement is true regarding the selection of subjects for a survey? a. Generalization to the larger population will be fairly accurate, regardless of the way the sample has been chosen. b. The sample should contain important subgroups within the population in the same proportions as they are found in the larger population. c. The most accurate surveys are those with the largest number of subjects. d. If the sample is relatively large, it need not be representative. Answer: b Correct: For research findings to be generalizable and as accurate as possible, any group of subjects selected from the population must be a representative sample. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 47) The Hockey News polled its readers to establish the television newscast preferences of Canadians. Why would scientists be skeptical about the results? a. Too large a percentage of questionnaires were returned. b. Hockey News readers probably do not represent a cross-section of Canadians who watch television newscasts. c. Some of the questionnaires could have been completed by women. d. Males would be underrepresented. Answer: b Correct: Representative sampling was not used in the data collection, as the sample of Hockey News readers would not likely include subgroups in the same proportions as they are found in the larger population. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 48) Which of the following is a challenge for gathering accurate information from an interview? a. Too few subjects can be interviewed to provide accurate information. b. The interview method does not provide detailed responses. c. Characteristics of the interviewer can influence the subject’s response. d. The interview method may not provide a representative sample. Answer: c Correct: The validity or truthfulness of responses can be affected by the interviewer’s personal characteristics, which include gender, age, heritage, religion, social class, accent, and vocabulary. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 7-8 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 49) What is an advantage of using the survey method, if properly done? a. The participants will tell you what you want to hear. b. Only a few subjects need to be used. c. It can provide highly accurate information. d. Answers are short and easy to analyze. Answer: c Correct: The personal interview can provide a large quantity of accurate information, if it is constructed and administered carefully to a representative sample. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 50) One of the difficulties with the survey method is a. the impossibility of getting a representative sample. b. the subjects may give dishonest or inaccurate responses. c. that only a relatively small number of subjects can be used. d. the inability to examine changes over time. Answer: b Correct: Various factors can affect the answers provided by the subjects of surveys, including the age, sex, ethnicity, etc., of both the subjects and the interviewer. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 51) One advantage of collecting survey responses over the internet is that a. the same person can respond more than once and provide even more data to the study. b. the subjects’ identity can never be discovered. c. it is a fast, inexpensive way to obtain large amounts of information. d. subjects can change their answers. Answer: c Correct: The internet is a very cost-efficient way to collect survey data. The other responses indicate inaccuracies or drawbacks to the use of the internet for survey administration. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 52) Concerns about internet survey distribution and collection of data include which of the following? a. The subjects’ identity can never be discovered. b. People are rarely honest about themselves when they are filling out information on the internet. c. Dishonest researchers could copy the findings. d. There is a limited portion of the population that uses the internet, thereby creating biases in this method of data collection. Answer: d Correct: Only a portion of the population uses the internet, thereby creating potentially serious limitations to the generalizability of internet survey results. The other answers are not known to be true, or are not concerns. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.7 Compare and contrast case studies and survey research, including their advantages and shortcomings. 53) A descriptive method that is used to determine the degree of relationship between two characteristics, events, or behaviours is known as the ________ method. a. coefficient b. observational c. experimental d. correlational Answer: d Correct: “Correlation” is the term used to define this type of study. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.8 Explain why researchers use correlational studies. 54) You are about to start a research project with the goal of understanding how one variable causes another variable; poverty causes HIV infection, for example. A starting point would be to demonstrate that the two variables are related. You are only hypothesising that when poverty is high, HIV infection rates are also high. You could start your project with a ________ study of these two variables. a. coincidental b. correlational c. experimental d. observational Answer: b Correct: “Correlation” is the term used to define this type of study. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.8 Explain why researchers use correlational studies. 55) A positive correlation is one in which a. variables change in the same direction. b. a strong relationship has been found. c. definite predictions can be made. d. the hypothesis has been supported. Answer: a Correct: While both variables may get smaller or larger, as long as they are both moving in the same direction, a positive correlation between the variables is indicated. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.9 Define correlation coefficient and explain how to interpret it. 56) Which of the following is not true of correlation? a. The fact that there is a correlation between two variables means that one variable causes the other, but it isn’t clear which is cause and which is effect. b. A negative correlation means that an increase in the value of one variable is associated with a decrease in the value of the other variable. c. The number in a correlation coefficient indicates the relative strength of the relationship between two variables—the higher the number, the stronger the relationship. d. Correlations are useful in making predictions. The stronger the relationship between the variables, the better the prediction. Answer: a Correct: A correlation between two variables suggests that they are connected in some way, but not necessarily by cause and effect. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.9 Define correlation coefficient and explain how to interpret it. 57) Which of the following describes a negative correlation? a. There is no relationship between the variables. b. When the value of one variable goes down, the value of the other goes down. c. When the value of one variable goes up, the value of the other goes up. d. When the value of one variable goes up, the value of the other variable goes down. Answer: d Correct: A negative correlation is found between variables that have an inverse relationship; when one increases, the other decreases. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.9 Define correlation coefficient and explain how to interpret it. 58) Which of the following describes a positive correlation? a. There is no relationship between the variables. b. When the value of one variable goes down, the value of the other goes up. c. When the value of one variable goes up, the value of the other goes up. d. When the value of one variable goes up, the value of the other variable goes down. Answer: c Correct: A positive correlation is found between variables that have a direct relationship; when one increases (or decreases), the other also increases (or decreases). Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.9 Define correlation coefficient and explain how to interpret it. 59) Which of the following correlational coefficients represents the strongest relationship between two variables? a. 0.00 b. – .59 c. + .70 d. – .76 Answer: d Correct: Negative, in this case, does not mean smaller than positive. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.9 Define correlation coefficient and explain how to interpret it. 60) Which research method is used to determine the relationship between two characteristics, events, or behaviours? a. the survey b. the correlational method c. the case study d. naturalistic observation Answer: b Correct: The primary focus of the correlational method is the relationship between two variables, events, or characteristics. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 8 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.9 Define correlation coefficient and explain how to interpret it. 61) A hypothesis is a. any condition that can be manipulated, measured or controlled. b. a variable measured at the end of the experiment. c. a prediction about a relationship between two or more variables. d. a variable manipulated by the researcher. Answer: c Correct: A hypothesis is a prediction about the cause-effect relationship between two or more variables or conditions. Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.10 Define the characteristics, process, advantages, and disadvantages of experimental research. 62) The research method that is used to explore cause and effect relationships between variables is a. the correlational method. b. naturalistic observation. c. the case study. d. the experimental method. Answer: d Correct: The experimental method is the only form of research that allows one to draw conclusions about cause-effect relationships. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.10 Define the characteristics, process, advantages, and disadvantages of experimental research. 63) Moira conducted a study to see how different levels of sleep deprivation (the lack of sleep) influenced test performance in college students. She was using the a. case study method. b. survey method. c. experimental method. d. naturalistic observation method. Answer: c Correct: Effects of sleep deprivation on test scores is a clear example of the cause-effect relationship. Experimental method is the only way to measure this. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.10 Define the characteristics, process, advantages, and disadvantages of experimental research. 64) Woloshyn, Willoughby, Wood, and Pressley’s research on study strategies found that students recalled more information when they used a. imagery and “why” questions as they reviewed the material to be learned. b. whatever method they had used in secondary school to study. c. someone else’s notes to study the material to be learned. d. repetition only when studying the material to be learned. Answer: a Correct: Results from the Woloshyn et al. study revealed that greatest recall was linked to the study method of using imagery and asking “why” questions. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.10 Define the characteristics, process, advantages, and disadvantages of experimental research. 65) The systematic variation of some factor believed to affect behaviour is an essential characteristic of which of the following methods? a. case study b. survey method c. correlational method d. experimental method Answer: d Correct: The experimental method involves careful manipulation of one or more variables (factors) and the effects of this on another variable. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.10 Define the characteristics, process, advantages, and disadvantages of experimental research. 66) Which of the following refers to an untested prediction about behaviour? a. independent variable b. correlation c. hypothesis d. dependent variable Answer: c Correct: A hypothesis is defined as a prediction about the cause-effect relationship between two or more variables or conditions. Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-1 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: hypothesis 67) A psychologist is conducting an experiment to test the influence that coloured backgrounds of pages in textbooks have on the amount of information retained by students. She has a short text printed in three versions, each with a different colour of background. After students in three separate groups read their assigned text, she tests the students’ retention. In this study, the three colours are the a. dependent variable. b. control variable. c. independent variable. d. random variable. Answer: c Correct: The independent variable is the one that the experimenter manipulates. In this case, the experimenter is manipulating the colour of the pages. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 68) A psychologist is conducting an experiment to test the influence that coloured backgrounds of pages in textbooks have on the amount of information retained by students. She has a short text printed in three versions, each with a different colour of background. After students in three separate groups read their assigned text, she tests the students’ retention. In this study, the retention of what the students read is the a. dependent variable. b. random variable. c. independent variable. d. control variable. Answer: a Correct: The dependent variable is measured at the end of a study to determine the effects (if any) of the independent variable. In this case, the variable being measured at the end is the students’ retention of information. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 69) Which of the following variables causes changes in the behaviour being studied? a. control b. independent c. random d. dependent Answer: b Correct: In the experimental method, the researcher manipulates the independent variable in hopes of effecting a change in the dependent variable. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 70) Which of the following variables is presumed to vary as a result of the researcher’s manipulation of another factor or condition? a. random b. independent c. control d. dependent Answer: d Correct: The dependent variable is measured at the end of a study to determine effects, if any, caused by manipulation of the independent variable. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 71) Independent variable is to ________ as dependent variable is to ________. a. correlation; experiment b. cause; effect c. random; control d. effect; cause Answer: b Correct: Manipulation of the independent variable causes the effect of changes in the dependent variable. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 72) A psychologist is studying the effects of fatigue on competition. She has subjects skip one, two, or three nights of sleep and then play a competitive game, noting the number of points scored by subjects in the three different conditions. In this example, the dependent variable is a. fatigue. b. the number of points scored. c. number of nights sleep was missed. d. number of games played. Answer: b Correct: The dependent variable is measured at the end of the study to determine the effects of manipulation of the independent variable. In this case, the points scored are measured after the independent variable has been manipulated (i.e., the number of nights of lost sleep). Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 73) A psychology instructor studying the effects of the order of test items on test scores gave half the class a test in which the item order reflected the order in the textbook. The other half received the same questions in random order. What was the independent variable in this experiment? a. the order of the items b. the test scores c. the difficulty of the items on the test d. the method used to assign subjects to groups Answer: a Correct: The experimenter manipulates the independent variable. In this case, the variable the experimenter changed for each group was the order of presentation of the test items. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 74) A psychology instructor studying the effects of the order of test items on test scores gave half the class a test in which the item order reflected the order in the textbook. The other half received the same questions in random order. What was the dependent variable in this experiment? a. the order of the items b. the method used to assign subjects to groups c. the difficulty of the items on the test d. scores on the test Answer: d Correct: The dependent variable is measured on conclusion of the study. In this case, the scores the students obtained was the measure taken at the end of the research. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables 75) In studying the effects of hunger on competition, a researcher has subjects skip one, two, or three meals and then play a competitive game. She notes the number of points scored by subjects in the three hunger groups. In this example, the independent variable is a. the number of points scored. b. the number of games played. c. the amount of food consumed. d. the number of meals missed. Answer: d Correct: The experimenter manipulates the independent variable. In this case, she requested that subjects skip a specific number of meals. This variation becomes the independent variable. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 76) In studying the effects of hunger on competition, a researcher has subjects skip one, two, or three meals and then play a competitive game. She notes the number of points scored by subjects in the three hunger groups. In this example, the dependent variable is a. the number of meals missed. b. the amount of food consumed. c. the number of games played. d. the number of points scored. Answer: d Correct: The number of points scored by each subject is the dependent variable, as it has presumably been influenced by the number of meals missed (the independent variable). The points are also measured after the independent variable has been manipulated. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 77) Subjects are assigned to take math tests in either a crowded classroom or an almostempty classroom. Test scores are then examined to determine whether these conditions affected performance. In this example, the independent variable is a. the test scores. b. the subjects’ mathematics skill. c. not identified. d. how crowded the classroom was. Answer: d Correct: Because the experimenter assigned subjects to a particular classroom and ensured that one was crowded and one was not, she manipulated the subjects’ exposure to this condition, which defines the independent variable. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 78) Professor Jancy did a study in which she explored the relationship between caffeine consumption and the ability to memorize words on a list. The independent variable in her study was a. the length of the word list to be remembered. b. the number of words recalled. c. the time between learning and attempting recall. d. the amount of caffeine consumed. Answer: d Correct: It is assumed that Professor Jancy asked subjects to consume varying amounts of coffee; this manipulated condition becomes the independent variable. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 79) Professor Jancy did a study in which she explored the relationship between caffeine consumption and the ability to memorize words on a list. The dependent variable in her study was a. time between learning and attempting recall. b. the length of the word list to be remembered. c. amount of caffeine consumed. d. the number of words recalled. Answer: d Correct: The effects of the independent variable are measured by the variation in scores of the dependent variable, which is measured at the conclusion of a study. This makes the number of words recalled the dependent variable. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: independent and dependent variables. 80) The group of subjects exposed to the independent variable is called a. the control group. b. the sample. c. the experimental group. d. the population. Answer: c Correct: Only the experimental group(s) is/are exposed to the condition (or independent variable) that is manipulated by the experimenter. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.11-3 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimental and control groups. 81) The group of subjects in an experiment that is exposed to the experimental environment but not given the treatment is known as a. the sample. b. the control group. c. the random sample. d. the population. Answer: b Correct: The control group is part of the experimental method to ensure that there is a comparison for the measures obtained on the dependent variable (from the experimental group or groups). Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Reference: 11 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-3 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimental and control groups. 82) Which of the following statements is not true about an experimental group? a. It should be similar to a control group. b. It is exposed only to the dependent variable. c. At the end of the experiment, it is measured on the dependent variable. d. It is exposed to the independent variable. Answer: b Correct: The dependent variable is that which is measured at the conclusion of a study. No one is “exposed to” the dependent variable, in the experimental method. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-2 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimental and control groups. 83) Which of the following statements is not true of a control group? a. At the end of the experiment, it is measured on the dependent variable. b. It should be similar to an experimental group. c. It is exposed to the independent variable. d. It is used for purposes of comparison. Answer: c Correct: The control group is part of a study as a benchmark against which experimental group behaviours or performances are measured. The control group is therefore not exposed to the independent variable. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 11 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-3 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimental and control groups. 84) In order to test the effect of praise on learning, a group of students receive verbal encouragement every time they do something correct. At the end of the semester, their grades are recorded and analyzed. What is missing from the above design? a. an independent variable b. an experimental group c. a dependent variable d. a control group Answer: d Correct: Measures obtained from the experimental group(s) are meaningless without the comparison provided by the control group. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 11 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-3 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimental and control groups. 85) A psychologist conducted a study in which she studied the relationship between caffeine consumption and the ability to store words from a list in memory. The control group in the experiment was comprised of subjects who a. remembered all the words. b. were not asked to recall the words. c. consumed no caffeine. d. were unaffected by the consumption of caffeine. Answer: c Correct: Since the independent variable in this study is caffeine consumption, the control group (that is not exposed to the independent variable) consumes no caffeine. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 11 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-3 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimental and control groups. 86) Which of the following is not a true statement? a. The results of an experiment can be influenced by either the expectations of the subject or those of the researcher. b. The experimental method is the only one that can be used to identify cause-effect relationships between variables. c. Properly conducted experiments are always free of influence of a researcher's expectations. d. Ethical considerations can sometimes prevent researchers from using the experimental method even when they want to learn about cause-effect relationships. Answer: c Correct: Even experiments that are very carefully structured and conducted may be subject to experimenter bias. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 13 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-7 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimenter bias. 87) Random assignment is used to control for a. subject bias. b. the placebo effect. c. selection bias. d. experimenter bias. Answer: c Correct: Use of random assignment ensures that no pre-existing systematic differences exist between the control group and experimental group(s) that could affect the outcome of the study. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 11 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-4, 5 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: selection bias, random assignment. 88) The procedure which guarantees that all participants in an experiment have an equal chance of being assigned to any of the groups is referred to as a. unbiased sampling. b. selection bias. c. matched samples. d. random assignment. Answer: d Correct: Use of random assignment ensures that no pre-existing systematic differences exist between the control group and experimental group(s) that could affect the outcome of the study. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 11 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-5 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: random assignment. 89) Monica has the participants for her experiment sign up on a sheet of paper. She then cuts each name out individually, and places all the names in a box. Monica then pulls the first name out of the box and writes the name on the list for the experimental group in her study. The second name from the box is written on the list for the control group. She repeats this action until all the names are listed in one of the two groups. This procedure is called a. placebo effect. b. selection bias. c. random assignment. d. experimenter bias. Answer: c Correct: The procedure described is one means for ensuring that all subjects of the study are truly randomly assigned. Pulling names out of a box eliminates possible selection bias. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 11 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-5 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: random assignment. 90) What is given to the control group in many drug experiments? a. a placebo b. a sizeable medical bill c. experimental medication d. traditional treatment Answer: a Correct: In drug experiments, though the control group is not exposed to the independent variable (some amount of the drug being studied), a placebo is given to allow for the double-blind technique to be used. In this way, neither the experimenter nor the subject know who is part of the experimental group, and findings are not influenced by the expectations of the subjects or the experimenter. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 12 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.11-6 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: the placebo effect. 91) The placebo effect occurs when a subject responds according to a. his or her expectations. b. how other subjects behave. c. the hypothesis. d. actual treatment. Answer: a Correct: In double-blind studies, subjects in the control group unknowingly take a placebo. Because they know it is possible they are taking the drug being studied, some subjects may report changes in their behaviour or thinking that could be attributed to the influence of the drug, if they were actually taking it. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 12 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.11-6 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: the placebo effect. 92) Which of the following statements is not true of experimenter bias? a. It can influence the researcher’s interpretation of experimental results. b. It does not actually influence the subjects’ behaviour. c. The researcher’s expectations become a self-fulfilling prophecy. d. It can be controlled if the researcher uses the double-blind technique. Answer: b Correct: Experimenter bias includes the possibility that the researcher treats his or her subjects differently, depending on their membership in the control or experimental groups. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 13 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-7 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimenter bias. 93) Research results can be influenced if a researcher unconsciously behaves differently toward subjects in the various groups based on his or her preconceived notions. This is called a. experimenter bias. b. demand characteristics. c. selection bias. d. the placebo effect. Answer: a Correct: Experimenter bias includes the possibility that the researcher treats his or her subjects differently, depending on their membership in the control or experimental groups. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 13 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-7 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimenter bias. 94) The phenomenon of experimenter bias shows that psychologists a. may seek out information that supports their theoretical preferences. b. must work with subjects who are eager to confirm the beliefs of the researcher. c. are drawn to any theory that has received strong research support. d. use statistical procedures that overestimate positive results. Answer: a Correct: Experimenter bias includes the possibility that researchers interpret findings in ways that support their expectations. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 13 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-7 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimenter bias. 95) Which of the following occurs when researchers’ expectations about a situation cause them to see what they expect to see or to make incorrect inferences about the behaviour they observe? a. situational bias b. experimenter bias c. inferential bias d. selection bias Answer: b Correct: Experimenter bias includes the possibility that the researcher treats his or her subjects differently, depending on their membership in the control or experimental groups. It is also possible that researchers interpret findings in ways that support their expectations, where support for those interpretations does not necessarily exist. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 13 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-7 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimenter bias. 96) The double blind technique is used to control for the effects of a. selection bias. b. experimenter bias. c. a poorly defined dependent variable. d. individual differences among subjects. Answer: b Correct: When the experimenter is unaware of which subjects are in the experimental group, and which are control subjects, there is minimal opportunity for the experimenter to behave in a biased manner toward subjects based on their group membership. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 13 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.11-7 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimenter bias. 97) When the new drug was tested, both the researcher and the patients knew who was getting the new drug and who was getting a sugar pill that looked like the drug. If possible, this researcher should have used a. the double-blind technique. b. self-fulfilling prophecy. c. random assignment. d. the single-blind technique. Answer: a Correct: When researchers and subjects know who is in the experimental group and who is in the experimental group, there is a significant risk of experimenter bias and selffulfilling prophecy. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 13 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-7 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimenter bias. 98) Who knows which subjects are in the experimental and control groups when the double-blind technique is used? a. neither the experimenter nor the subjects b. the subjects c. both the experimenter and the subjects d. the experimenter Answer: a Correct: “Double blind” refers to the fact that neither the subjects nor the researcher know who is getting the treatment and who is getting the placebo in an experiment. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 13 Topic: Conceptual Objective: 1.11-7 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimenter bias. 99) A researcher conducting a study testing the effects of caffeine on attention is concerned about experimenter bias. The way for her to reduce this problem would be to a. use random assignment. b. use the double-blind technique. c. use a placebo. d. bear in mind the potential placebo effect. Answer: b Correct: “Double blind” refers to the fact that neither the subjects nor the researcher know who is getting the treatment and who is getting the placebo in an experiment. Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Reference: 13 Topic: Applied Objective: 1.11-7 Define the following terms and explain their relationship to experimental research: experimenter bias. 100) Which of the following is not a limitation of the experimental method? a. It does not identify cause-effect relationships. b. It may inhibit the natural behaviour of subjects. c. Findings may not be generalized to the real world. d. In some cases, it may be unethical. Answer: a Correct: The experimental method does, in fact, determine cause-and-effect relationships. Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Reference: 10 Topic: Factual Objective: 1.10 Define the characteristics, process, advantages, and disadvantages of experimental research. 101) Deception in experiments has to do with a. faking experimental findings in order to be published. b. subjects providing false information about themselves. c. statistically significant results that are invalid. d. misleading subjects in order to conduct a research study. Answer: d Correct: Among other purposes