1. The following type of method can be used in order to create a real world laboratory.
a.correlational coefficients
b.field experiment
c.case study
d.random assignment
ANSWER: B
 
2. To be confident that a cause-and-effect relationship exists, it is necessary to
a.engage in naturalistic observation.
b.develop a positive correlation.
c.perform a controlled experiment.
d.test for a negative correlation.

ANSWER: C
 
3. An experiment is performed to test the effects of sleep deprivation on rote memory. In this experiment, the dependent variable is the
a.number of hours subjects go without sleep.
b.rote memory scores.
c.number of subjects deprived of sleep in the experimental group.
d.correlation between hours of sleep and fatigue.

ANSWER: B
 
4.The fortune teller who studies your palm carefully before announcing that "great fortune lies in your immediate future" is practicing __________ psychology.
a.applied
b.commonsense
c.pseudo-
d.forensic

ANSWER: C
 
5.Research on the benefit of aspirin to prevent heart attacks used only male subjects in the sample. Both men and women are given this advice. The problem with this recommendation reflects
a.gender bias.
b.courtesy bias.
c.cultural bias.
d.age bias.

ANSWER: A
 
6.To estimate the degree of the relationship between birth order and achievement motivation, a researcher would do a(n) __________ study.
a.naturalistic
b.inventory
c.correlational
d.experimental

ANSWER: C
 
7.In the method of naturalistic observation, psychologists
a.haphazardly encounter behavior as it naturally occurs.
b.set up controlled experiments by which they uncover causal elements in behavior.
c.set out to actively observe subjects in their natural environments.
d.interview subjects at different ages.

ANSWER: C
 
8.Two variables may be said to be causally related if
a.they show a strong positive correlation.
b.all extraneous variables are controlled, and the independent variable creates consistent differences in behavior of the experimental group.
c.they are observed to co-vary on many separate occasions.
d.they have been observed in a laboratory setting.

ANSWER: B
 
9.The problems of observers seeing only what they expect to see is called
a.observer bias.
b.the experimenter effect.
c.the effects of the observer.
d.the halo effect.

ANSWER: A
 
10. Giving placebos in drug experiments is necessary to
a.counteract the random assignment of subjects.
b.counteract the side effects of the drug.
c.control for the effects of suggestion and expectation.
d.keep control subjects from knowing they have been given the drug.

ANSWER: C
 
11. Which of the following could serve as an experimental hypothesis?
a.Although 25% of U.S. drivers say that they use the seatbelts in their cars, only 14% really do.
b.A case history of multiple personality appeared to be caused by traumatic childhood experiences.
c.College women who are anxious tend to want to be together.
d.As the temperature increases, the number of hit batters in baseball increases.

ANSWER:C
 
12. Theories explain results, predict future outcomes, and
a.rely only on naturalistic observations.
b.guide research for future studies.
c.rely only on surveys.
d.rely only on case studies.

ANSWER: B
 
13. Which of the following coefficients of correlation indicates the weakest relationship between two sets of variables?
a.0.08
b.-0.29
c.0.48
d.-1.00

ANSWER: A
 
14. A correlation coefficient of -1.09 indicates a(n)
a.strong positive correlation.
b.strong negative correlation.
c.cause/effect relationship.
d.error in computation.

ANSWER: D
 
15. A representative sample is an essential element of the
a.survey method.
b.psychoanalytic method.
c.natural experiment or case study.
d.clinical method.

ANSWER: A
 
16. The effects of brain injury on personality would usually be investigated by the use of the
a.experimental method.
b.case study method.
c.naturalistic observation method.
d.survey method.

ANSWER: B
 
17. One of the limitations of the case study is that
a.there are few subjects for which it is applicable.
b.there are no control groups.
c.it is not applicable to the study of bizarre behavior.
d.it requires a large and expensive sample size.

ANSWER: B
 
18. A scientist wants to find out if there is empirical evidence for a relationship between caffeine and aggressive behavior. She would
a.interview people to get their opinions.
b.correlate newspaper accounts and the types of beverages consumed.
c.test the idea by conducting an experiment.
d.research what other experts had thought.

ANSWER: C
 
19. The essence of the experimental method is
a.accurate calculation of correlation's.
b.obtaining direct reports from subjects about their subjective experiences.
c.careful measurement and record keeping.
d.using control to identify cause-and-effect connections.

ANSWER: D
 
20. If you're trying to establish a causal relationship between a reinforcer and increased performance, you should use a(n) __________ method.
a.clinical study
b.experimental
c.survey
d.correlational

ANSWER: B
 
21. In a weight-reduction experiment, an overweight individual was given what the researcher called a new type of diet pill that would help curb the desire to eat. In fact, the pill really contained powdered milk, but ever since the individual started taking the diet pill, he has reported that his desire to eat has decreased. This illustrates the
a.curvilinear relationship.
b.effect of extraneous variables.
c.natural experiment.
d.placebo effect.

ANSWER: D
 
22. An educated guess about what is controlling some behavior is called
a.experimental control.
b.a hypothesis.
c.an experimental variable.
d.a theory.

ANSWER: B
 
23. A correlation coefficient is best characterized as a(n)
a.measure of the extent of the relationship between two variables.
b.index of the causal direction between an independent and dependent variable.
c.indication of the likelihood that an experimental finding will be replicated by others.
d.measure of the likelihood that observed differences may be attributed to chance.

ANSWER: A
 
24. In order to determine the cause of behavior, the questions we ask must be
a.tentative.
b.testable.
c.based on theory.
d.novel.

ANSWER: B
 
25. A common sense approach to psychology is
a.the most reliable.
b.often contradicted by empirical evidence.
c.the basis for most psychological theories.
d.the basis for collecting data (observed facts).

ANSWER: B
 
26. Responding to a substance like a sugar pill as if it were a drug is called
a.the placebo effect.
b.an extraneous factor.
c.variability.
d.psychosomatic illness.
ANSWER: A
 
27. The control group and the experimental group in an experiment are treated exactly the same except for the
a.dependent variable.
b.independent variable.
c.extraneous variables.
d.replication variables.

ANSWER: B
 
28. A field experiment is one that
a.uses the "real world" as a laboratory.
b.tests a field or "range" of independent variables.
c.differs little from naturalistic observation.
d.requires no measurement of dependent variables.

ANSWER: A
 
29. Characteristics of the scientific method include
a.anecdotal definition.
b.controlled observation.
c.analysis formulation.
d.adherence to inductive thinking or common sense reasoning.

ANSWER: B
 
30. A correlational study is one that determines
a.the relationship between the independent and the dependent variable.
b.the effects of the observer on the observed.
c.cause-effect relationships.
d.the relationship between two events.

ANSWER: D