Test Bank
(correct answers in red)
Chapter 1
Multiple Choice:
(1) The empiricism canon of the scientific method states that new knowledge is gained from
(a) authority figures.
(b) observations.
(c) intuition.
(d) logic.
(2) The parsimony canon of the scientific method states that
(a) the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is most likely to be correct.
(b) observation is the best way of gaining new knowledge.
(c) phenomena have observable causes.
(d) explanations of phenomena should be able to be falsified if they are incorrect.
(3) The determinism canon of the scientific method states that
(a) the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is most likely to be correct.
(b) observation is the best way of gaining new knowledge.
(c) phenomena have observable causes.
(d) explanations of phenomena should be able to be falsified if they are incorrect.
(4) The testability canon of the scientific method states that
(a) the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is most likely to be correct.
, (b) observation is the best way of gaining new knowledge.
(c) phenomena have observable causes.
(d) explanations of phenomena should be able to be falsified if they are incorrect.
(5) External validity is typically more important for ________ research than for _________
research.
(a) scientific; non-scientific
(b) non-scientific; scientific
(c) basic; applied
(d) applied; basic
(6) External validity is
(a) a type of research conducted in psychology.
(b) the degree to which a study’s results can be generalize to individuals and
situations outside of the study.
(c) the degree to which a study provides a good test of a causal prediction.
(d) both (b) and (c).
(7) The scientific method involves gaining new knowledge through
(a) deduction.
(b) intuition.
(c) authority.
(d) observation.
(8) Deciding that it must be raining because the weather person said it would rain today is
an example of which method of knowing?
(a) intuition
, (b) authority
(c) observation
(d) deduction
(9) Deciding it must be raining because you look out the window and see rain falling is an
example of which method of knowing?
(a) intuition
(b) authority
(c) observation
(d) deduction
(10) Deciding it must be raining because you felt it would rain today is an example of which
method of knowing?
(a) intuition
(b) authority
(c) observation
(d) deduction
(11) Deciding it must be raining because you hear thunder is an example of which method
of knowing?
(a) intuition
(b) authority
(c) observation
(d) deduction
(12) A psychologist investigating the research question “Which neurotransmitters affect
depressive behaviors?” is most likely conducting __________ research.
(a) basic
, (b) applied
(c) external
(d) internal
(13) A psychologist investigating the research question “Which type of therapy most
effectively reduces depressive behaviors?” is most likely conducting __________ research.
(a) basic
(b) applied
(c) external
(d) internal
(14) ______ research investigates fundamental aspects of behavior, whereas _______ research
investigates solutions for real-world problems.
(a) Internal; external
(b) External; internal
(c) Basic; applied
(d) Applied; basic
(15) A study that investigates behavior as it naturally occurs in individuals would have a
high degree of
(a) basic research.
(b) applied research.
(c) external validity.
(d) both (a) and (c).
(16) One reason that Freud’s theories of personality have not been more influential in the
field of psychology is that
(a) the theories do not specify causes for behavior.
(correct answers in red)
Chapter 1
Multiple Choice:
(1) The empiricism canon of the scientific method states that new knowledge is gained from
(a) authority figures.
(b) observations.
(c) intuition.
(d) logic.
(2) The parsimony canon of the scientific method states that
(a) the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is most likely to be correct.
(b) observation is the best way of gaining new knowledge.
(c) phenomena have observable causes.
(d) explanations of phenomena should be able to be falsified if they are incorrect.
(3) The determinism canon of the scientific method states that
(a) the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is most likely to be correct.
(b) observation is the best way of gaining new knowledge.
(c) phenomena have observable causes.
(d) explanations of phenomena should be able to be falsified if they are incorrect.
(4) The testability canon of the scientific method states that
(a) the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is most likely to be correct.
, (b) observation is the best way of gaining new knowledge.
(c) phenomena have observable causes.
(d) explanations of phenomena should be able to be falsified if they are incorrect.
(5) External validity is typically more important for ________ research than for _________
research.
(a) scientific; non-scientific
(b) non-scientific; scientific
(c) basic; applied
(d) applied; basic
(6) External validity is
(a) a type of research conducted in psychology.
(b) the degree to which a study’s results can be generalize to individuals and
situations outside of the study.
(c) the degree to which a study provides a good test of a causal prediction.
(d) both (b) and (c).
(7) The scientific method involves gaining new knowledge through
(a) deduction.
(b) intuition.
(c) authority.
(d) observation.
(8) Deciding that it must be raining because the weather person said it would rain today is
an example of which method of knowing?
(a) intuition
, (b) authority
(c) observation
(d) deduction
(9) Deciding it must be raining because you look out the window and see rain falling is an
example of which method of knowing?
(a) intuition
(b) authority
(c) observation
(d) deduction
(10) Deciding it must be raining because you felt it would rain today is an example of which
method of knowing?
(a) intuition
(b) authority
(c) observation
(d) deduction
(11) Deciding it must be raining because you hear thunder is an example of which method
of knowing?
(a) intuition
(b) authority
(c) observation
(d) deduction
(12) A psychologist investigating the research question “Which neurotransmitters affect
depressive behaviors?” is most likely conducting __________ research.
(a) basic
, (b) applied
(c) external
(d) internal
(13) A psychologist investigating the research question “Which type of therapy most
effectively reduces depressive behaviors?” is most likely conducting __________ research.
(a) basic
(b) applied
(c) external
(d) internal
(14) ______ research investigates fundamental aspects of behavior, whereas _______ research
investigates solutions for real-world problems.
(a) Internal; external
(b) External; internal
(c) Basic; applied
(d) Applied; basic
(15) A study that investigates behavior as it naturally occurs in individuals would have a
high degree of
(a) basic research.
(b) applied research.
(c) external validity.
(d) both (a) and (c).
(16) One reason that Freud’s theories of personality have not been more influential in the
field of psychology is that
(a) the theories do not specify causes for behavior.
