PSY -Research Methods & Data Analysis in
Psychology Exam #1 University of Iowa
Psychological Science ...ANSWER...________ _________ tries to understand why
people think, feel, and behave the way they do.
Producers ...ANSWER...*Individuals in this role have/are:*
- Coursework in upper-level classes.
- Typically are in graduate school in any area of science.
- Working in a research labs of academics, research institutes, or industry.
Consumers ...ANSWER...*Individuals in this role:*
- Read printed or online news stories based on research.
- Watch/listen shows, podcasts, and other media.
- Apply findings to their lives.
- Research helps shape public policy.
*Which of the following is NOT an example of being a producer of research?*
A. Administering a questionnaire of PTSD symptoms.
B. Conducting a study that involves observing the behavior of adolescents who have
been bullied on social media.
C. Attending a psychological conference.
D. Measuring where the neurotransmitter dopamine is low in brains of patients with
schizophrenia. ...ANSWER...Answer: Option C
*Students who are interested in being consumers of but not producers of research might
choose all of the following professions EXCEPT:*
A. A high-school teacher
B. A political pollster
C. An advertising executive
D. A science writer ...ANSWER...Answer: Option B
Research Methods ...ANSWER...What are the ways that psychological researchers set
up research studies in order to test hypotheses?
Statistics ...ANSWER...How do researchers organize, summarize and interpret the data
gathered from their research studies?
, 3 Main Sources of Information ...ANSWER...Authority, Rationalism, Empiricism
Authority ...ANSWER...Someone in a position of _______ tells you something is true,
thus it must be true.
Rationalism ...ANSWER...An idea makes logical sense, thus it must be true.
Empiricism ...ANSWER...Observable evidence supports an idea, so that idea must be
true. Deriving knowledge from observation and experimentation.
The Theory-Data Cycle ...ANSWER...Theory leads researchers to pose particular
Research Questions, which lead to an appropriate Research Design. In the context of
the design, researcher formulate Hypotheses. Researchers then collect and analyze
Data, which feed back into the cycle by either strengthening the theory with supporting
data or requiring revision of the theory or research design due to non-supporting data.
Theory ...ANSWER...Statement or set of statements that describes general principles
about how variables relate to one another. Build upon collected knowledge; they're not
uninformed guesses. Typically the current best explanation for a pattern of data. Can't
be proven, but data can suggest whether they should be changed/replaced.
Data ...ANSWER...A set of observations representing the values of some variable,
collected from one or more research studies.
Hypothesis/Prediction ...ANSWER...A way of stating the specific outcome that the
researcher expects to observe if the theory is accurate.
Armchair Psychology ...ANSWER...Intuitions about behavior. Can guide hypotheses,
but meaningless without data.
Inherently *atheoretical* (not based on or concerned with theory).
*Which of the following is true of the relationship between hypotheses and theories?*
A. Hypotheses are steps taken to determine if the theory is accurate.
B. Theories are used to determine if the hypotheses are accurate.
C. Multiple theories are needed to test if a hypothesis is accurate.
D. Hypotheses and theories are synonymous terms.
E. None of the above. ...ANSWER...Answer: Option A
Qualities of a Good Theory ...ANSWER...Supported by data and falsifiable.
Good Theory Data ...ANSWER...- Without support from data, there is no evidence that
the explanation accounts for something real. - A single piece of evidence is poor
support.
- Converging evidence and replication is crucial.
Psychology Exam #1 University of Iowa
Psychological Science ...ANSWER...________ _________ tries to understand why
people think, feel, and behave the way they do.
Producers ...ANSWER...*Individuals in this role have/are:*
- Coursework in upper-level classes.
- Typically are in graduate school in any area of science.
- Working in a research labs of academics, research institutes, or industry.
Consumers ...ANSWER...*Individuals in this role:*
- Read printed or online news stories based on research.
- Watch/listen shows, podcasts, and other media.
- Apply findings to their lives.
- Research helps shape public policy.
*Which of the following is NOT an example of being a producer of research?*
A. Administering a questionnaire of PTSD symptoms.
B. Conducting a study that involves observing the behavior of adolescents who have
been bullied on social media.
C. Attending a psychological conference.
D. Measuring where the neurotransmitter dopamine is low in brains of patients with
schizophrenia. ...ANSWER...Answer: Option C
*Students who are interested in being consumers of but not producers of research might
choose all of the following professions EXCEPT:*
A. A high-school teacher
B. A political pollster
C. An advertising executive
D. A science writer ...ANSWER...Answer: Option B
Research Methods ...ANSWER...What are the ways that psychological researchers set
up research studies in order to test hypotheses?
Statistics ...ANSWER...How do researchers organize, summarize and interpret the data
gathered from their research studies?
, 3 Main Sources of Information ...ANSWER...Authority, Rationalism, Empiricism
Authority ...ANSWER...Someone in a position of _______ tells you something is true,
thus it must be true.
Rationalism ...ANSWER...An idea makes logical sense, thus it must be true.
Empiricism ...ANSWER...Observable evidence supports an idea, so that idea must be
true. Deriving knowledge from observation and experimentation.
The Theory-Data Cycle ...ANSWER...Theory leads researchers to pose particular
Research Questions, which lead to an appropriate Research Design. In the context of
the design, researcher formulate Hypotheses. Researchers then collect and analyze
Data, which feed back into the cycle by either strengthening the theory with supporting
data or requiring revision of the theory or research design due to non-supporting data.
Theory ...ANSWER...Statement or set of statements that describes general principles
about how variables relate to one another. Build upon collected knowledge; they're not
uninformed guesses. Typically the current best explanation for a pattern of data. Can't
be proven, but data can suggest whether they should be changed/replaced.
Data ...ANSWER...A set of observations representing the values of some variable,
collected from one or more research studies.
Hypothesis/Prediction ...ANSWER...A way of stating the specific outcome that the
researcher expects to observe if the theory is accurate.
Armchair Psychology ...ANSWER...Intuitions about behavior. Can guide hypotheses,
but meaningless without data.
Inherently *atheoretical* (not based on or concerned with theory).
*Which of the following is true of the relationship between hypotheses and theories?*
A. Hypotheses are steps taken to determine if the theory is accurate.
B. Theories are used to determine if the hypotheses are accurate.
C. Multiple theories are needed to test if a hypothesis is accurate.
D. Hypotheses and theories are synonymous terms.
E. None of the above. ...ANSWER...Answer: Option A
Qualities of a Good Theory ...ANSWER...Supported by data and falsifiable.
Good Theory Data ...ANSWER...- Without support from data, there is no evidence that
the explanation accounts for something real. - A single piece of evidence is poor
support.
- Converging evidence and replication is crucial.
