Name: Class: Date:
Test Bank For
Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences 7e Frederick J Gravetter, Lori-Ann B. Forzano
Chapter 1-16 Answers are at the End of Each Chapter
Chapter 1
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1. An important element of the scientific method is that research results should be made public.
a. True
b. False
2. Part of the scientific method involves using a hypothesis to make predictions.
a. True
b. False
3. In the scientific method, the process of forming a hypothesis means that you are trying to find a possible explanation for
the phenomenon that you have observed.
a. True
b. False
4. Humans who participate in a research study are properly called research subjects.
a. True
b. False
5. One critical component of the scientific method is that all answers or explanations must be demonstrated empirically.
a. True
b. False
6. One difference between a scientific answer and answers gained by other methods is that the scientific answer is more
likely to be an absolute or final answer.
a. True
b. False
7. Dallas is using the rational method when, upon seeing that birds eating certain berries do not die, concludes that the
berries are not poisonous.
a. True
b. False
8. Pseudoscience is based on objective, empirical evidence.
a. True
b. False
9. Finding information in a textbook is an example of using the rational method of inquiry.
a. True
b. False
Page 1
,Name: Class: Date:
10. A football player who knows that his performance will be better if he wears his lucky shirt is using the method of
faith.
a. True
b. False
11. You have a terrible toothache, so you visit a dentist to find out what is wrong with your tooth. This is an example of
using the method of authority.
a. True
b. False
12. If the scientific method is being used to evaluate a hypothesis predicting a specific relationship between two variables,
then it is essential that both variables can be measured.
a. True
b. False
13. In the scientific method, the actual research study is not done until after the researcher has formed a hypothesis and
made a specific prediction.
a. True
b. False
14. Research participants must be informed of all relevant aspects of the study, including any risks or dangers that may be
involved.
a. True
b. False
15. A good hypothesis should make a statement about the existence of a relationship, a difference, or a treatment effect.
a. True
b. False
16. Using a hypothesis to predict how people will behave demonstrates the use of induction.
a. True
b. False
17. Clinton is using the empirical method when he decides to eat a handful of berries to see if they are poisonous.
a. True
b. False
18. The method of intuition can be valuable when making ethical or moral decisions by doing what ―feels‖ right.
a. True
b. False
19. Based on a few students whom you know, you decide that art majors wear funky clothes and that physics majors tend
to be nerds. This is an example of inductive reasoning.
a. True
b. False
20. You have dinner reservations at 7:30 at a restaurant that is 30 minutes away and it is already 7:20, leading you to
conclude that you are going to be late. This is an example of using the empirical method.
Page 2
,Name: Class: Date:
a. True
b. False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
21. Which potential problem can occur when the rational method is used?
a. People are not necessarily very good at logical reasoning.
b. It requires hands-on experience, so it can be messy or even dangerous.
c. There is no mechanism for testing the accuracy of the claims.
d. This method requires lengthy and difficult testing.
22. Which method of acquiring knowledge is being used by students who are learning from teachers and textbooks?
a. empiricism
b. rationalism
c. method of authority
d. scientific method
23. Which of the following statements accurately describes the scientific method?
a. It involves hypotheses rather than predictions.
b. It relies solely on deductive reasoning.
c. It is a circular process that leads to a tentative answer.
d. It effectively combines intuition with empirical data.
24. Pseudoscience is based on ____.
a. testable hypotheses
b. objective evidence
c. subjective evidence
d. refutable hypotheses
25. A person who buys a lottery ticket because they just feel lucky is using the method of _____.
a. empiricism
b. Faith
c. Tenacity
d. Intuition
26. An explanation is empirical if it is based on ____.
a. widely held beliefs
b. logical deductions
c. evidence of the senses
d. respect for the source
27. Last year Tomas and his friend Jamie were both too short to ride the rollercoaster. Jamie went to the park this year and
was tall enough to ride. Because Tomas is taller than Jamie, he thinks that he will be able to ride the rollercoaster as well.
Tomas is using the ____ to answer his question.
a. method of empiricism
b. rational method
Page 3
, Name: Class: Date:
c. method of authority
d. scientific method
28. Based on observations of his own children, Jean Piaget formed a theory about the cognitive development of all
children. This is an example of ____ reasoning.
a. Inductive
b. Deductive
c. Practical
d. Predictive
29. Lowell is very concerned about his grandmother, who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. He wants to learn
more about it, and checks out the jacket quotes on some currently popular books. Which quote should reassure him that
the book is based in science rather than pseudoscience?
a. ―This book saved my wife from a lonely death in a nursing home!‖
b. ―Big Pharma does not want you to know about curing dementia!‖
c. ―From laboratory research to clinical trials: evaluating the treatment of dementia.‖
d. ―Find out what REALLY causes dementia and why health agencies do not care.‖
30. A hypothesis is a ____ statement and a prediction is a ____ statement.
a. specific; general
b. specific; specific
c. general; specific
d. general; general
31. What is meant by the saying, ―science is empirical?‖
a. Scientific answers are based on direct observation.
b. Scientific answers are based on deductive reasoning.
c. Scientific answers are based on inductive reasoning.
d. Scientific answers are made available for evaluation by others.
32. An artist tries putting a freshly painted canvas outside during a rainstorm to see how the painting will change from the
pattern of the raindrops. Which method of acquiring knowledge is she using?
a. method of empiricism
b. rational method
c. method of authority
d. scientific method
33. What kind of reasoning uses a general statement to make conclusions about specific examples?
a. Inductive
b. Deductive
c. Scientific
d. Predictive
34. A limitation of using the rational method is that ____.
a. there is no method for correcting erroneous ideas
b. there is no way to separate accurate from inaccurate knowledge
Page 4
Test Bank For
Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences 7e Frederick J Gravetter, Lori-Ann B. Forzano
Chapter 1-16 Answers are at the End of Each Chapter
Chapter 1
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1. An important element of the scientific method is that research results should be made public.
a. True
b. False
2. Part of the scientific method involves using a hypothesis to make predictions.
a. True
b. False
3. In the scientific method, the process of forming a hypothesis means that you are trying to find a possible explanation for
the phenomenon that you have observed.
a. True
b. False
4. Humans who participate in a research study are properly called research subjects.
a. True
b. False
5. One critical component of the scientific method is that all answers or explanations must be demonstrated empirically.
a. True
b. False
6. One difference between a scientific answer and answers gained by other methods is that the scientific answer is more
likely to be an absolute or final answer.
a. True
b. False
7. Dallas is using the rational method when, upon seeing that birds eating certain berries do not die, concludes that the
berries are not poisonous.
a. True
b. False
8. Pseudoscience is based on objective, empirical evidence.
a. True
b. False
9. Finding information in a textbook is an example of using the rational method of inquiry.
a. True
b. False
Page 1
,Name: Class: Date:
10. A football player who knows that his performance will be better if he wears his lucky shirt is using the method of
faith.
a. True
b. False
11. You have a terrible toothache, so you visit a dentist to find out what is wrong with your tooth. This is an example of
using the method of authority.
a. True
b. False
12. If the scientific method is being used to evaluate a hypothesis predicting a specific relationship between two variables,
then it is essential that both variables can be measured.
a. True
b. False
13. In the scientific method, the actual research study is not done until after the researcher has formed a hypothesis and
made a specific prediction.
a. True
b. False
14. Research participants must be informed of all relevant aspects of the study, including any risks or dangers that may be
involved.
a. True
b. False
15. A good hypothesis should make a statement about the existence of a relationship, a difference, or a treatment effect.
a. True
b. False
16. Using a hypothesis to predict how people will behave demonstrates the use of induction.
a. True
b. False
17. Clinton is using the empirical method when he decides to eat a handful of berries to see if they are poisonous.
a. True
b. False
18. The method of intuition can be valuable when making ethical or moral decisions by doing what ―feels‖ right.
a. True
b. False
19. Based on a few students whom you know, you decide that art majors wear funky clothes and that physics majors tend
to be nerds. This is an example of inductive reasoning.
a. True
b. False
20. You have dinner reservations at 7:30 at a restaurant that is 30 minutes away and it is already 7:20, leading you to
conclude that you are going to be late. This is an example of using the empirical method.
Page 2
,Name: Class: Date:
a. True
b. False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
21. Which potential problem can occur when the rational method is used?
a. People are not necessarily very good at logical reasoning.
b. It requires hands-on experience, so it can be messy or even dangerous.
c. There is no mechanism for testing the accuracy of the claims.
d. This method requires lengthy and difficult testing.
22. Which method of acquiring knowledge is being used by students who are learning from teachers and textbooks?
a. empiricism
b. rationalism
c. method of authority
d. scientific method
23. Which of the following statements accurately describes the scientific method?
a. It involves hypotheses rather than predictions.
b. It relies solely on deductive reasoning.
c. It is a circular process that leads to a tentative answer.
d. It effectively combines intuition with empirical data.
24. Pseudoscience is based on ____.
a. testable hypotheses
b. objective evidence
c. subjective evidence
d. refutable hypotheses
25. A person who buys a lottery ticket because they just feel lucky is using the method of _____.
a. empiricism
b. Faith
c. Tenacity
d. Intuition
26. An explanation is empirical if it is based on ____.
a. widely held beliefs
b. logical deductions
c. evidence of the senses
d. respect for the source
27. Last year Tomas and his friend Jamie were both too short to ride the rollercoaster. Jamie went to the park this year and
was tall enough to ride. Because Tomas is taller than Jamie, he thinks that he will be able to ride the rollercoaster as well.
Tomas is using the ____ to answer his question.
a. method of empiricism
b. rational method
Page 3
, Name: Class: Date:
c. method of authority
d. scientific method
28. Based on observations of his own children, Jean Piaget formed a theory about the cognitive development of all
children. This is an example of ____ reasoning.
a. Inductive
b. Deductive
c. Practical
d. Predictive
29. Lowell is very concerned about his grandmother, who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. He wants to learn
more about it, and checks out the jacket quotes on some currently popular books. Which quote should reassure him that
the book is based in science rather than pseudoscience?
a. ―This book saved my wife from a lonely death in a nursing home!‖
b. ―Big Pharma does not want you to know about curing dementia!‖
c. ―From laboratory research to clinical trials: evaluating the treatment of dementia.‖
d. ―Find out what REALLY causes dementia and why health agencies do not care.‖
30. A hypothesis is a ____ statement and a prediction is a ____ statement.
a. specific; general
b. specific; specific
c. general; specific
d. general; general
31. What is meant by the saying, ―science is empirical?‖
a. Scientific answers are based on direct observation.
b. Scientific answers are based on deductive reasoning.
c. Scientific answers are based on inductive reasoning.
d. Scientific answers are made available for evaluation by others.
32. An artist tries putting a freshly painted canvas outside during a rainstorm to see how the painting will change from the
pattern of the raindrops. Which method of acquiring knowledge is she using?
a. method of empiricism
b. rational method
c. method of authority
d. scientific method
33. What kind of reasoning uses a general statement to make conclusions about specific examples?
a. Inductive
b. Deductive
c. Scientific
d. Predictive
34. A limitation of using the rational method is that ____.
a. there is no method for correcting erroneous ideas
b. there is no way to separate accurate from inaccurate knowledge
Page 4
