Research Multi Choice Question and Answers
1.The independent variable in an experiment is
a.the subject himself.
b.a measure of the subject’s behavior.
c.the variable that the experimenter chooses to manipulate.
d.any unwanted variable that may adversely affect the subject’s performance.
ANSWER: C
2.In order to summarize or organize a series of observations in some meaningful way, psychologists may develop
a.hypotheses.
b.experiments.
c.surveys.
d.theories.
ANSWER: D
3.Basic ethical guidelines for psychological researchers include
a.ensuring that participation is involuntary.
b.harming the subjects when necessary.
c.minimizing confidentiality.
d.providing results and interpretations to participants.
ANSWER: D
4.Which of the following best describes a double-blind experimental procedure?
a.All subjects get the experimental procedure.
b.Half the subjects get the experimental procedure, half the placebo; which they receive is known only to the experimenter.
c.Half the subjects get the experimental procedure, half the placebo; which they receive is not known to subjects or experimenters.
d.All subjects get the control procedure.
ANSWER: c
5.A set of exact procedures that represent particular variables is called a(n)
a.abstract definition.
b.operational definition.
c.case study.
d.defining characteristic.
ANSWER: B
6.A friend states that since he has been taking vitamin C, he has not had a single cold. His observation has little value in assessing the effects of vitamin C because
a.there was no control group for comparison.
b.he has not calculated a correlation coefficient.
c.of the effect of the observer on the observed.
d.he does not specify his dosage of vitamin C.
ANSWER: A
7. A simple experiment has two groups of subjects called
a.the dependent group and the independent group.
b.the extraneous group and the independent group.
c.the before group and the after group.
d.the control group and the experimental group.
ANSWER: D
8.An example of the “experimenter effect” would be a situation in which the experimenter
a.acts out the proper behavior for the subjects.
b.deceives the subject as to the real purpose of the experiment.
c.unknowingly hints to subjects what is expected of them.
d.overtly tells the subjects how to respond.
ANSWER: C
9.Which of the following is considered by the text to be a pseudo-psychology?
a.cognitive psychology
b.behaviorism
c.Gestalt psychology
d.astrology
ANSWER: D
10.To investigate the effects of a particular study method on student performance, two different methods are tried, each with a different group of subjects. If only the experimenter knows which method is under investigation, the procedure being used is described as
a.double-blind.
b.single-blind.
c.self-fulfilling prophesy.
d.representative sampling.
ANSWER: B
11.The results of carefully controlled observations of Clever Hans and his ability to solve math problems showed
a.he could do math.
b.he could add, but he could not subtract.
c.he was cued by the owner looking up or down.
d.none of these could be determined by observation.
ANSWER: C
12.The study of unusual events is to __________ as information from a large number of people is to __________.
a.clinical method; naturalistic observation
b.correlational method; survey method
c.experimental method; naturalistic observation
d.clinical method; survey method
ANSWER: D
13.One of the limitations of the survey method is
a.observer bias.
b.that it sets up an artificial situation.
c.that replies may not be accurate.
d.the self-fulfilling prophecy.
ANSWER: C
14.I work at a university, and my research is designed to be of immediate use in the classroom. My research would be called
a.basic.
b.applied.
c.impractical.
d.ethical.
ANSWER: B
15.In terms of critical thinking and testing, results should
a.be incredible.
b.be repeatable.
c.be subjective.
d.be meta-analytical.
ANSWER: D
16.A variable, such as the personality of a subject, that might affect the outcome of an experiment would be controlled by
a.random assignment of subjects.
b.assuming the effects of the variable are negligible.
c.manipulating the dependent variables simultaneously.
d.repeating the experiment several times until the results are consistent.
ANSWER: A
17.In my experiment, I am going to investigate how sleep affects anxiety. The number of hours of sleep the subjects have is called the __________ variable.
a.control
b.experiential
c.dependent
d.independent
ANSWER: D
18.With respect to astrology, palmistry, and phrenology, it can be said that
a.all are pseudo-psychology’s.
b.none is subject to the P. T. Barnum effect.
c.they rarely appear to “work” due to the fallacy of positive instances.
d.astrology is the only system with a scientific basis.
ANSWER: A
19.A major problem with the survey method is
a.identifying the group to be questioned.
b.obtaining a representative sample of subjects to be questioned.
c.obtaining enough information in a short amount of time.
d.that it cannot reveal very much about significant psychological events in the lives of the people tested.
ANSWER: B
20.An observation that the higher the air temperature, the lower the activity of test animals would be an example of a
a.negative correlation.
b.positive correlation.
c.causal relationship.
d.zero correlation.
ANSWER: a
21.To assess clients’ abilities, a phrenologist would want to
a.read their handwriting.
b.examine their skulls.
c.study their palms.
d.record their EEGs.
ANSWER: B
22.To replicate an experiment means to
a.use control groups and experimental groups.
b.use statistics to determine the effect of chance.
c.control for the effects of extraneous variables.
d.repeat the experiment using either identical or improved research methods.
ANSWER: D
23.The conditions that a researcher wishes to prevent from affecting the experiment are called
a.constants.
b.dependent variables.
c.extraneous variables.
d.independent variables.
ANSWER: C
24.One of the characteristics of the scientific method is
a.repeatable results.
b.top-secret information.
c.analysis measurement.
d.emotive reasoning.
ANSWER: A
25.In the simplest experiment, the two groups of subjects are treated exactly alike except for the __________ variable.
a.independent
b.dependent
c.extraneous
d.control
ANSWER: A
26.The steps involved in the scientific method include?
a.axioms
b.common sense
c.experimentation
d.hypothetical theory formulation
ANSWER: C
27._________ is an inherent part of the scientific method.
a.observation
b.common sense
c.reinforcement
d.analysis
ANSWER: A
28.The story of Clever Hans, the mathematical horse, illustrates the use of controlled observation to test a series of
a.hypotheses.
b.theories.
c.axioms.
d.learning strategies.
ANSWER: A
29.When subjects in an experiment are chosen so that each has an equal chance of being in either the experimental group or the control group, we say that the subjects have been assigned
a.alternately.
b.hypothetically.
c.randomly.
d.consecutively.
ANSWER: C
30.The survey method involves
a.an in-depth study of the opinions and attitudes of a selected individual.
b.an overview of the attitudes and backgrounds of selected groups.
c.direct observation and recording of a representative sample of behavior.
d.careful questioning of a representative sample of people.
ANSWER: D