- Description
PSY 245 Wk 1 – Concept Check
- Question 1
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Which of the following is not associated with use of the scientific method in psychological research?
A commitment to producing knowledge through observation and experiment
A commitment to basing knowledge exclusively on common sense and opinion
A commitment to basing knowledge on empirical evidence
A commitment to discovering truth
A commitment to ensuring that findings are correctly interpreted
- Question 2
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After reading some research on the topic of students’ attitudes toward university courses, Mark does a study to find which subject at the university is preferred by students. He finds that final-year psychology students prefer studying psychology compared to any other subject. Based on this, he concludes that psychology is the most popular subject. Jane, however, argues that this conclusion is wrong—the research actually shows that students prefer the subject of their degree.
What is the basis of Jane’s objection to Mark’s research?
The study is invalid.
The study is unreliable.
The study is non-cumulative.
The study is unparsimonious.
- Question 3
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Theory A explains phenomenon L, phenomenon M, and phenomenon N using principles J and K. Theory B explains phenomenon L, phenomenon M, and phenomenon N using only principle K. Theory C explains phenomenon L and phenomenon N using principles J and K.
Which of the following statements is true?
Theory A is the most parsimonious.
Theory B is the most parsimonious.
Theory C is the most parsimonious.
Theory A and Theory C are equally and most parsimonious.
Theory A and Theory B are equally and most parsimonious.
- Chapter 3: “Research Methods”
- Question 4
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A researcher conducts an experiment that tests the hypothesis that states, “anxiety has an adverse effect on students’ exam performance.”
Which of the following statements is true?
Anxiety is the dependent variable; exam performance is the independent variable.
Anxiety is the dependent variable; students are the independent variable.
Anxiety is the independent variable; students are the dependent variable.
Anxiety is the independent variable; exam performance is the dependent variable.
Students are the dependent variable; exam performance is the independent variable.
- Question 5
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An experimenter conducts a study in which she wants to examine the effects of altitude on psychological well-being. To do this, she randomly allocates people to two groups. She takes one group up in a plane to a height of 1000 meters and leaves the other group in the airport terminal as a control group. When the plane is in the air, she seeks to establish the psychological well-being of both groups.
Which of the following is a potential confounding variable?
The reliability of the questionnaire that she uses to establish psychological health
The size of the space in which the participants are confined
The susceptibility of the experimental group to altitude sickness
The susceptibility of the control group to altitude sickness
- Question 6
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An experimenter, Tom, conducts an experiment to determine whether accuracy of responding and reaction time are affected by alcohol consumption. To do this, Tom conducts a study in which students at University A react to pairs of symbols by saying “same” or “different” after consuming two glasses of water and students at University B react to pairs of symbols by saying “same” or “different” after consuming two glasses of wine. Tom predicts that reaction times will be slower and that there will be more errors in the responses of students who have consumed alcohol.
Which of the following statements is not true?
The experiment has two dependent variables.
Reaction time is the independent variable.
Tom’s ability to draw firm conclusions about the impact of alcohol on reaction time would be improved by randomly assigning participants to experimental conditions.
This study is actually a quasi-experiment.
- Question 7
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“Measures designed to gain insight into particular psychological states or processes that involve recording performance on particular activities or tasks.”
Which term best fits this definition?
Behavioral measures
Physiological measures
Activity measures
Performance measures
- Chapter 14: “Research Ethics”
- Question 8
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Imagine that you are conducting a psychological experiment that has been approved by your institutional ethics committee. Two participants object to answering some questions they consider to be too personal. As a result, they decide they want to cease participation in the experiment.
What are their responsibilities in this case?
To complete the experimental session; you would not ask personal questions unless they were really important for science.
To explain to you why they wish to leave so you can conduct debriefings
The participants have no responsibilities. They may cease participation at any time.
To report you to the institutional ethics committee
- Question 9
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“The ethical principle that research participants should be told enough about a piece of research to be able to make a decision about whether to participate in it.”
Which term best fits this definition?
Informed consent
Research risk
Debriefing
Experimenter bias
- Question 10
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“Ensuring that in the research process individual participants cannot be identified. This often means making sure that responses are anonymous.”
Which term best fits this definition?
Deception
Concealment
Confidentiality
The research code of silence