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PSY3213 : exam1 Questions and Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already
Graded
A researcher has obtained preliminary data for one of her studies.
Which option best describes the attitude of the scientific community
towards preliminary data?
Ans: Preliminary data should be interpreted with caution but they are still
often presented at conferences to be reviewed and critiqued.
A researcher has recently published an article about the benefits of
a smartphone application for increasing concentration levels and
intelligence. You later find out that this researcher owns shares in the
company that developed this application. Which of the following is
now the most reasonable response to the researcher's claims?
Ans: The researcher has a vested interest in the success of the application
and might not be objective about how good it really is.
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In many cults, when prophecies do not come true, members do not
quit. Instead, they reinterpret the failure of specific predictions to
support the teachings of the cult. Which of the following best
describes this phenomenon?
Ans: Belief perseverance bias
In media reports of scientific findings, researchers are sometimes
quoted promoting a particular treatment or product. Which of the
following statements presents the claim and rational that you should
be most skeptical of?
Ans: A researcher conducts experiments for a university that are funded
by a pharmaceutical company; his claim that the company's drug is
effective is less credible because he has a vested interest.
In psychological studies, it is not uncommon for researchers to hire
assistants to conduct the actual experiment, and for these assistants
to be "blinded" to the purpose of the study. When someone is
"blinded", it means that they do not know the predicted outcome of
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the experiment. What aspect of the scientific method does this
practice serve?
Ans: Objectivity
John would like to find out whether people who spend a lot of time
on social media have lower self-esteem. Which of the following best
describes a method of evaluating this claim by searching for
converging evidence?
Ans: John looks up several articles on self-esteem and social media use.
Julie believes that she has to eat waffles every morning before an
exam to score an A. Thus, every morning before an exam she eats
waffles, and subsequently always scores an A. Which is the most
likely explanation for the link between Julie eating waffles and
scoring an A?
Ans: Causality bias
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One aspect of the scientific method is that it is consistent. Which one
of the following claims is not a result of science being conducted in
a consistent manner?
Ans: The findings are generalizable
People often over-estimate the annual number of deaths in plane
crashes, compared to the much more numerous car-accident
deaths. Jackie agrees and says it's because people are more used
to seeing reports of plane accidents and thus it is more salient than
reports on car accidents. Jackie is referring to
Ans: The availability heuristic
Replication is an important aspect of scientific research. However,
there are many instances in which replication occurs frequently
within a particular laboratory but fails when other research
laboratories attempt the experiment. One possibility is due to the
___________, as researchers are often known to have trouble
switching views. Another reason may be the ___________, since
PSY3213 : exam1 Questions and Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already
Graded
A researcher has obtained preliminary data for one of her studies.
Which option best describes the attitude of the scientific community
towards preliminary data?
Ans: Preliminary data should be interpreted with caution but they are still
often presented at conferences to be reviewed and critiqued.
A researcher has recently published an article about the benefits of
a smartphone application for increasing concentration levels and
intelligence. You later find out that this researcher owns shares in the
company that developed this application. Which of the following is
now the most reasonable response to the researcher's claims?
Ans: The researcher has a vested interest in the success of the application
and might not be objective about how good it really is.
,2 | Page
In many cults, when prophecies do not come true, members do not
quit. Instead, they reinterpret the failure of specific predictions to
support the teachings of the cult. Which of the following best
describes this phenomenon?
Ans: Belief perseverance bias
In media reports of scientific findings, researchers are sometimes
quoted promoting a particular treatment or product. Which of the
following statements presents the claim and rational that you should
be most skeptical of?
Ans: A researcher conducts experiments for a university that are funded
by a pharmaceutical company; his claim that the company's drug is
effective is less credible because he has a vested interest.
In psychological studies, it is not uncommon for researchers to hire
assistants to conduct the actual experiment, and for these assistants
to be "blinded" to the purpose of the study. When someone is
"blinded", it means that they do not know the predicted outcome of
,3 | Page
the experiment. What aspect of the scientific method does this
practice serve?
Ans: Objectivity
John would like to find out whether people who spend a lot of time
on social media have lower self-esteem. Which of the following best
describes a method of evaluating this claim by searching for
converging evidence?
Ans: John looks up several articles on self-esteem and social media use.
Julie believes that she has to eat waffles every morning before an
exam to score an A. Thus, every morning before an exam she eats
waffles, and subsequently always scores an A. Which is the most
likely explanation for the link between Julie eating waffles and
scoring an A?
Ans: Causality bias
, 4 | Page
One aspect of the scientific method is that it is consistent. Which one
of the following claims is not a result of science being conducted in
a consistent manner?
Ans: The findings are generalizable
People often over-estimate the annual number of deaths in plane
crashes, compared to the much more numerous car-accident
deaths. Jackie agrees and says it's because people are more used
to seeing reports of plane accidents and thus it is more salient than
reports on car accidents. Jackie is referring to
Ans: The availability heuristic
Replication is an important aspect of scientific research. However,
there are many instances in which replication occurs frequently
within a particular laboratory but fails when other research
laboratories attempt the experiment. One possibility is due to the
___________, as researchers are often known to have trouble
switching views. Another reason may be the ___________, since
