Methods of Psychology?

Which of the following correctly lists the goals of psychology?
1. observe, interpret, correlate, replicate
2. monitor, survey, associate, experiment
3. describe, predict, explain, control
4. extract, inventory, analyze, change
Using psychology as a therapist or as a sports psychologist in order to help people would be examples of which goal of psychology?
1. description
2. prediction
3. explanation
4. control
Personality tests such as those you might find on the Internet are most likely designed to fulfill which goal of psychology?
1. change
2. description
3. experimentation
4. explanation
Dr. Haupt has discovered that often, abusive parents themselves had parents who used harsh physical punishment on them. Having discovered this will most likely allow Dr. Haupt to fulfill which goal of psychology?
1. description
2. explanation
3. prediction
4. determining the cause
Dr. Rogers has shown that doing well in high school predicts that a student will do well in college. Knowing this information, Dr. Rogers will definitely be able to:
1. explain why some students are successful in college
2. explain why some students fail in college
3. control how well students do in college
4. none of the above
Psychology is considered a science because it:
1. uses technology to conduct research
2. uses a set of rules to gather and analyze information
3. has generated a series of proven theories
4. conducts laboratory and basic research studies
Which of the following is not a step in the scientific method?
1. form a testable hypothesis
2. analyze the data
3. define and describe the issue
4. conduct an experiment
Astrology would not be considered a science because it:
1. is too general to have predictive value
2. has been shown to be invalid
3. does not use a set of rules to analyze information
4. is not accepted by the majority of scientists
Which of the following represents the correct sequence of steps in the scientific method?
1. define the issue, form a hypothesis, choose a research strategy, conduct a study, analyze the data
2. conduct a study, analyze the data, form a hypothesis, publish conclusions, obtain feedback
3. choose a research strategy, determine desired results, conduct a study, form a hypothesis, analyze data
4. develop a theory, conduct an experiment to test theory, analyze data, publish data
Psychologists are able to determine whether or not data supports a hypothesis through the use of:
1. statistics
2. intuition
3. reason
4. a polygraph
A hypothesis is:
1. a statement to describe the results of an experiment
2. the question that forms the foundation for a particular study
3. a statement of how two or more variables are related
4. a type of research method that involves experimentation
The statement, “We expect our study to show that students who sleep fewer than 5 hours the night before the exam will perform more poorly than those who sleep more than 5 hours,” would be considered a(n):
1. hypothesis
2. theory
3. conclusion
4. ultimatum
Hypotheses can fall into one of two categories:
1. analytical and anecdotal
2. accidental and purposeful
3. controllable and uncontrollable
4. predictive and causal
In order to test causal hypotheses, the researcher usually uses:
1. case studies
2. experiments
3. naturalistic studies
4. correlational studies
Dr. Lowrey is testing the hypothesis that the more education a person has, the more money he or she will earn. Dr. Lowrey is testing a _________ hypothesis.
1. true
2. causal
3. predictive
4. factual
In implementing the scientific method, Dr. Chang has just finished developing her hypothesis. Dr. Chang’s next step should be to:
1. develop her theory
2. make some predictions
3. design her study
4. analyze her data
The hypothesis, “Having an efficient digestive system will lead to obesity in rats,” is an example of a(n) ___________ hypothesis.
1. causal
2. predictive
3. factual
4. untestable
Dr. Sandburg has been collecting data for the last six months. Everyday she measures how much food her rats eat and how much they weigh. Now that she has collected all of her data, the next step in the scientific method for Dr. Sandburg is to:
1. design her study
2. formulate her hypothesis
3. decide which issue to study
4. analyze her data
What do naturalistic observations, case studies, and correlational studies all have in common?
1. They are used to test causal hypotheses
2. They do not allow the researcher to control the main variables in the study
3. They are more likely to be used by biological psychologists than by personality psychologists
4. They are all non-scientific
A case study involving a person with 53 different personalities, although valuable in some ways, would carry the disadvantage of not being:
1. accountable
2. valid
3. signficant
4. generalizable
A research study done through surveys showing that psychology faculty at 4-year colleges are more likely to be male than female would be an example of a(n):
1. case study
2. experiment
3. correlational study
4. quasi-experiment
A correlation coefficient is a number that:
1. indicates the degree of causation between one variable and another
2. indicates the amount of difference between two pieces of data
3. tells the strength of a relationship between two factors
4. is used to determine if a particular result is statistically significant or not
Which correlation coefficient would best fit a finding that as variable A increases, variable B increases almost to the same degree?
1. .80
2. -.20
3. -.80
4. .20
Which of the following is TRUE?
1. If done correctly, correlational studies can permit cause and effect conclusions
2. An experiment is the only research method that permits cause and effect conclusions
3. In psychology, it is rarely possible to determine cause and effect between variables
4. Experiments permit cause and effect conclusions, but the researchers still have to make their best guess as to which variable is the cause and which is the effect
A negative correlation describes a relationship in which:
1. one variable has no effect on another variable
2. one variable decreases while another variable increases
3. two variables increase together
4. two variables decrease together
The two main features of an experiment are:
1. hypothesis formation and data collection
2. randomization and control
3. prediction and manipulation
4. data collection and statistical analysis
If a research study involves the manipulation of one of the main variables, the study is most likely a(n):
1. correlational study
2. case study
3. experiment
4. naturalistic study
In an experiment where participants take a pill that is either a medication or a placebo, in order to determine its effects on depression, the independent variable would be:
1. any change in depression
2. the type of pill taken
3. the individual participants
4. the medical personnel supplying the pill
If participants in an experiment watch various types of TV programming and are then observed while playing a physical game with others to determine the number of times they behave aggressively, the dependent variable would be:
1. the gender of the participants
2. the game played by the participants
3. the type of TV programming watched
4. the number of aggressive acts observed
The experimental research method uses random sampling. Random sampling means:
1. the independent variable is administered randomly to the participants in the study
2. participants are chosen to participate in the study on the basis of such characteristics as their age, gender, or socioeconomic status
3. participants are taken on a volunteer basis only
4. every member of the population has an equal chance of being a participant in the study

Methods of Psychology?

Quiz