Experimental Psychology 10th Edition by Barry H. Kantowitz – Test Bank

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Experimental Psychology 10th Edition by Barry H. Kantowitz – Test Bank

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Chapter 02

QUESTIONS

Answers and text page references for test questions can be found in Appendix C.

 

Multiple Choice

 

1. If all the values of one variable are about the same, and the values of a second variable are very different, then the correlation coefficient will approach
2. 1.0
3. zero
4. -1.0
5. either 1.0 or -1.0

 

ANS: C

A-Head: The Relational Approach

 

2       The validity of scientific observations is threatened by

1. reactivity.
2. errors of observation.
3. delimiting the choice of behaviors to observe.
4. all of the these.

 

ANS: D

A-Head:Naturalistic Observation

 

3. In naturalistic observation, the observer’s presence may make the measures
4. comparative
5. error free
6. correlational
7. reactive

 

ANS: D

A-Head:Naturalistic Observation

 

4. Looking for a relationship between two variables involves the _________ technique.
5. naturalistic
6. authoritative
7. a priori
8. correlational

 

ANS: D

A-Head:Introduction

 

5. Correlation coefficients vary from
6. 0.0 to 1.0.
7. -1.0 to 0.0.
8. -1.0 to 1.0
9. -10.0 to 10.0

 

ANS: C

A-Head: The Relational Approach

 

6. Deviant-case analysis attempts to minimize
7. errors of observation.
8. the difficulties of making inferences.
9. reactivity.
10. statistical bias.

 

ANS: B

A-Head:Naturalistic Observation

 

7. Which of the following is an example of a negative correlation?
8. Body weight increases as children get older.
9. The rate of heart attacks is directly proportional to yearly income.
10. Shoe size increases as height increases.
11. The likelihood of owning a baseball card collection decreases with age.

 

ANS: D

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

8. __________ occurs when a third factor varies along with one of the variables of interest, making the interpretation of the correlation between the two main variables difficult.
9. Confounding
10. Correlation
11. Confliction
12. Truncation

 

ANS: A

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

9. In making scientific observations, pure objectivity
10. is only possible with naturalistic observation.
11. is only possible with experimentation.
12. is only possible with deviant-case analysis.
13. is never possible.

 

ANS: D

A-Head:Naturalistic Observation

 

10. Low correlations
11. imply that the two variables are causally related.
12. are found only with Pearson coefficients.
13. may be produced by a restricted range of one of the variables.
14. are seldom observed in psychological research.

 

ANS: C

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

11. The correlation coefficient does not indicate
12. the association between two variables.
13. the direction of the relationship between two variables.
14. the effect of one variable on another.
15. how one factor varies with another.

 

ANS: C

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

12. An experimenter computing the correlation between age and memory span would
13. be able to show that old age produces a decrease in memory span.
14. be able to determine that a third variable was involved.
15. make an error because age and memory span are measured on different scales.
16. be able to determine whether there is a relationship between age and memory span.

 

ANS: D

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

13. Assessing the relation between two variables in correlational studies is usually made ex post facto, or
14. a priori.
15. before the data are collected.
16. after the data are collected.
17. independently of data collection.

 

ANS: C

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

14. Before calculating a Pearson correlation coefficient, it is advisable to plot the data because
15. one must be sure that the underlying relationship between the two variables is linear.
16. the diagram is more informative than the correlation coefficient regarding causality.
17. one must make sure that the data are from a truncated range.
18. the correlation coefficient cannot show the direction of the relationship.

 

ANS: A

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

15. Using a cross-lagged-panel correlational procedure, Eron, Huesmann, Letkowitz, and Walder (1972) found evidence which suggests that
16. watching violent TV programs may produce later aggression.
17. aggressive people tend to watch nonviolent TV programs.
18. people who watch violent TV programs when they are young continue to do so all of their lives.
19. aggressive third graders watch violent TV programs when they grow up.

 

ANS: A

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

16. In naturalistic observations, one can guard against reactivity by
17. making unobtrusive observations.
18. giving unobtrusive instructions.
19. making obtrusive measures.
20. eliminating confounding variables.

 

ANS: A

A-Head:Naturalistic Observation

 

17. _________ is inherent in correlational research and leads to interpretational difficulties.
18. Participant observation
19. Reactivity
20. Delimiting observation
21. Confounding

 

ANS:D

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

18. A potential problem threatening the validity of naturalistic observations is that
19. the observations are never reliable.
20. the observer is unable to predict the participant’s reaction.
21. the participant may react to being observed.
22. the observer can not statistically analyze the findings.

 

ANS:C

A-Head:Naturalistic Observation

 

19. Naturalistic observation is a valuable procedure in that
20. it allows for extensive experimental control.
21. it is easily replicated.
22. it is primarily descriptive.
23. it can define a problem area and raise further questions.

 

ANS: D

A-Head:Naturalistic Observation

 

20. Which of the following is true?
21. We can rule out the possible effects of mediating variables in correlational research.
22. As a correlation coefficient increases, we can be more sure that a causal relationship exists

between the two variables.

1. It is not possible to correlate two variables that have different scales of measurement.
2. Correlational research cannot demonstrate a causal relationship between two variables.

 

ANS: D

A-Head: The Relational Approach

 

21. Stating that a kitten is sad because it has been separated from its mother is an example of
22. naturalistic observation.
23. confounding.
24. anthropomorphizing.
25. a correlation.

 

ANS: C

A-Head:Naturalistic Observation

 

22. In a study of the social interactions of the homeless in a busy railroad station, the researcher poses as a homeless woman and keeps a daily record of all of her interactions with other people, including the homeless, commuters, public officials (e.g., police officers), and those who work in the station. This is an example of
23.  survey research
24. participant observation
25. an experiment
26. archival research

 

ANS: B

A-Head:Naturalistic Observation

 

23. A researcher studying productivity among factory workers finds that productivity declines as the outside temperature increases. This is an example of
24. a negative correlation
25. a zero correlation
26. a positive correlation
27. a confound

 

ANS: A

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

24. A researcher performing a cross-lagged procedure would
25. avoid collecting any correlations
26. obtain several correlations at one point in time
27. obtain several correlations over time.
28. refrain from determining which factors lead to other factors.

 

ANS: C

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

25. A researcher measures the number of birds belonging to each of 5 different species sighted in a particular nature preserve over a three month period. What kind of research is this?
26. correlational
27. experimental
28. relational.
29. observational

 

ANS: D

A-Head:Introduction

 

26. Which of the following correlation coefficients most likely corresponds to the pattern of data shown in the graph below?
27. 1.00
28. 0.60
29. -0.60
30. 0.10

 

ANS: D

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

27. In a contingency table, the number in each cell of the table is
28. the number of categories used to classify the participants.
29. the number of individuals in the sample who are classified in a particular category.
30. the total number of individuals in the sample.
31. the number of individuals who would be expected to belong to a particular category by chance.

 

ANS: B

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

28. A case study
29. is an intensive study of a single individual or group.
30. is a form of observational research.
31. cannot be used to test a causal hypothesis.
32. all of the these.

 

ANS: D

A-Head:Introduction

 

29. Which of the following is not true of survey research?
30. It eliminates the problem of reactivity.
31. It is a form of observational research.
32. It provides descriptive data about a population based on a random sample.
33. It can suggest hypotheses that can be tested under more controlled conditions.

 

ANS: A

A-Head:

 

30. Where there is a restricted range of values for one of two variables being measured
31. the correlation coefficient will be close to +/- 1.0.
32. the correlation coefficient may be close to zero even if the two variables are related.
33. the correlation coefficient will be negative.
34. the correlation coefficient will be positive.

 

ANS: B

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

31. A scatterplot showing the relationship between two variables
32. provides information about the data that is not reflected in the correlation coefficient.
33. can reveal problems with the data that may result in spuriously high or low correlation coefficients.
34. illustrates graphically both the strength and the direction of the relationship between them.
35. all of these

 

ANS: D

A-Head:The Relational Approach

 

 

True-False

 

1. T / F TheC² test for independence is a statistical test often used to determine the significance of the relationship between the variables in contingency research.

ANS:T

 

2. T / F The correlational method provides for better understanding of events than any other scientific method.

ANS:F

 

3. T / F Naturalistic observation occurs mostly in laboratory settings.

ANS:F

 

4. T/F A case study may involve the comparison of a few individuals.

ANS: T

 

5. T / F One difficulty associated with naturalistic observation of animals is that researchers may anthropomorphize animal behaviors.

ANS:T

 

 

6. T / F A positive correlation is observed if the values of one variable decrease as the values of another variable decrease.

ANS:T

 

7. T / F If two variables are correlated, one may predict the value of one variable given the value of the other variable.

ANS:T

 

8. T / F Possible mediation effects prevent the inference of causation from correlation.

ANS:T

 

9. T / F Confounding is a greater problem in experimental than in correlational research.

ANS:F

 

10. T / F An assumption underlying the Pearson r is that the relationship between two variables is linear.

ANS:T

 

11. T / F Correlation allows for more control of extraneous factors than does the experimental method.

ANS:F

 

12. T/F It is important to delimit the choice of behaviors to observe because of confounding factors.

ANS: F

 

13. T / F In participant observation, the researcher remains totally uninvolved in the lives of the  participants.

ANS:F

 

14. T / F Contingency research is a relational research design in which the frequencies of all combinations of two variables are assessed to determine the relationship between the variables.

ANS:T

 

15. T / F In correlational studies, a number of factors may vary together, so that the results are confounded.

ANS:T

 

16. T / F In participant observation, a research participant observes other participants so that the experimenter’s preconceived notions do not contribute to observation error.

ANS:F

 

17. T / F Unobtrusive measures are indirect observations of behavior conducted ex post facto.

 

ANS:T

 

18. T / F Relational research attempts to determine how two or more variables are related to each other.

ANS:T

 

19. T / F A negative correlation occurs when the increase in the value of one variable is associated with a corresponding decrease in another variable.

ANS:T

 

 

20. T / F A Pearson r can have a value of -.99.

ANS:T

 

21. T / F The validity of scientific observations can be threatened by reactivity.

ANS:T

 

22. T / F When making scientific observations, pure objectivity is possible only with deviant-case analysis.

ANS:F

 

23. T / F The Pearson correlation coefficient is useful only for nonlinear data.

ANS:F

 

24. T / F Naturalistic observation is a valuable procedure in that it can help to define a problem area and raise further research questions.

ANS:T

 

25. T / F A variable can be manipulated but not measured.

ANS:F

 

 

 

Essay Questions

 

1. Describe a real life situation where two variables are related nonlinearly.

 

2. Describe three different research techniques and outline the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

 

3. Describe a real life problem that is difficult or impossible to examine with the experimental method. What method would you use to investigate this problem?

 

4. A scientist is interested in investigating the claim that talking on a cell phone while driving increases the risk of having an accident. Describe how this study might be done using an observational method, a correlational method, and an experimental method. Which method do you think is best and why?

 

5. Set up a hypothetical contingency table that describes the relationship between young and older adults in some domain of interest. Try to make your table reflect what you think is the true state of affairs. Describe the relationship shown in your contingency table.

 

6. Describe a situation where naturalistic observation would be an ideal method to use. What are the positives and negatives of using this method for the situation you describe?

 

7. Give an example of a situation in which the cross-lagged-panel correlational procedure would be appropriate.

 

8. A researcher is interested in seeing whether early exposure to certain FDA approved food preservatives has a negative impact on the cognitive development of children. Clearly a controlled laboratory experiment would be difficult, if not impossible, to do and raises some ethical issues as well. What kind of study could be done that might provide evidence for a possible causal relationship between ingestion of food preservatives and cognition. Describe briefly how this study might be done.

 

9. A psychologist finds a significant negative correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and self esteem among adolescents in the US. Can we conclude that a high BMI is damaging to self esteem? Why? Offer two alternative interpretations for this correlation.

 

Kantowitz Test Bank – Chapter Four

 

1. The participant in an experiment has the right to
2. withdraw at any time.
3. withdraw only prior to the start of the experiment.
4. withdraw only if the experimenter agrees.
5. withdraw at any time only in certain types of experiments.

 

ANS:A

A-Head: Research with Human Participants

 

2. Experiments involving deception
3. should never be done on ethical grounds.
4. should be carefully considered, since aftercare of the participant would be impossible to obtain.
5. obligates the researcher to explain the true nature of the experiment after the participant has been tested.
6. should only be conducted with experiments involving pain and/or suffering.

 

ANS:C

A-Head: Research with Human Participants

 

3. The view that animal life is somehow different from human life is called
4. racism.
5. speciesism.
6. bigotry.
7. anthromorphism.

 

ANS:B

A-Head: Ethics in Research with Animals

 

 

4. A researcher using only animals has an obligation to
5. use only innocuous independent variables.
6. engage in speciesism.
7. avoid the use of deception.
8. use humane treatment.

 

ANS:D

A-Head: Ethics in Research with Animals

 

 

5. Psychologists are primarily concerned with the ethics of research involving
6. paid participants only.
7. volunteer participants only.
8. animal subjects.
9. all human and animal research subjects

 

ANS:D

A-Head: Research with Human Participants

 

6. In a high-risk study, the researcher must provide the participants with
7. a debriefing.
8. an appropriate phone number in case of problems that persist after participation in the research.
9. a guarantee of confidentiality.
10. all of these

ANS:D

A-Head: Research with Human Participants

 

7. An ethical psychologist
8. mistreats animal participants.
9. submits animal participants to undue harm.
10. ensures that all individuals using animals under their supervision have been instructed in the care of animals.
11. is not required to have specific training in the care and use of animal subjects.

 

ANS:C

A-Head: Ethics in Research with Animals

 

 

8. The Ethics Committee of the APA educates _________ about ethical issues related to psychological research.
9. psychologists
10. the public
11. students
12. all of these

 

ANS:D

A-Head: Research with Human Participants

 

9. Except in _________ research, the experimenter establishes a clear and fair agreement with research participants prior to their participation.
10. research involving no known risks
11. deceptive
12. high-risk
13. experimental

 

ANS:D

A-Head: Research with Human Participants

 

10. Which of the following is NOT considered plagiarism?
11. taking credit for someone else’s ideas, data, or words
12. using someone else’s words without quotation marks or proper citation.
13. using someone else’s ideas.
14. giving credit to someone else’s ideas without quoting him or her directly

 

ANS:D

A-Head: Scientific Fraud

 

11. Information obtained about a research participant during the course of a study
12. is not confidential.
13. is always confidential.
14. is confidential unless otherwise agreed upon in advance.
15. is confidential for a five year period only.

 

ANS:C

A-Head: Research with Human Participants

 

12. __________ means that the investigator explains the general purposes of the research and answers any questions of the participant at the end of the experiment.
13. Informed consent
14. Debriefing
15. Freedom to withdraw
16. Confidentiality

 

ANS:B

A-Head: Research with Human Participants

 

13. “Fudging” data refers to
14. refusing to comply with IRB requirements.
15. manipulating results to improve their appearance.
16. reporting observations that were not actually made.
17. failing to replicate one’s findings.

 

ANS:B

A-Head: Scientific Fraud

 

14. Which of the following is not true of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
15. An IRB reviews research with human participants for its ethical acceptability.
16. An IRB must include a member who is able to assess the legality of the research reviewed.
17. The members of an IRB must all be trained in scientific research.
18. All Federally funded research with human participants must be reviewed by an IRB.

 

ANS:C

A-Head: Monitoring Ethical Practices

 

15. When is it acceptable for a researcher to dispense with obtaining the informed consent of research participants?
16. Whenever there is no deception involved in the research
17. Whenever the risk of harm to the participants is minimal, they participate voluntarily, and their confidentiality is ensured
18. Whenever the participants are being paid for their participation
19. Whenever the research has been approved by an IRB

 

ANS:B

A-Head: Research with Human Participants

 

16. The practice of giving students course credit for participation in psychological research is considered ethically acceptable when
17. the students sign a statement of informed consent.
18. no deception is used in the research.
19. the research involves minimal risk of harm to the participants.
20. the students are free to refuse to participate or to withdraw at any time without any negative consequences.

 

ANS:D

A-Head: Research with Human Participants

 

17. Which of the following is not one of the reasons why research participants are debriefed following an experiment?
18. Any questions or misunderstandings that the participants may have about an experiment can be cleared up by the experimenter.
19. Unintended negative effects of an experimental procedure (e.g., embarrassment) can be corrected or minimized by the experimenter.
20. To provide information to participants about after-care available to them in the event that there are more lasting effects of their participation in an experiment.
21. When deception has been used, to ensure that the participants did not discover the true purpose of the experiment.

 

ANS:D

A-Head:Research with Human Participants

 

18. Which of the following is an ethical obligation of psychologists who use animal subjects?
19. To comply with all laws and professional standards for the care of animals used for research
20. To maintain the health of the animals and to minimize pain
21. To ensure that all those who use the animals have been trained in their care, use, and maintenance.
22. All of these apply

 

ANS:D

A-Head: Ethics in Research with Animals

 

19. __________ is the use of another person’s ideas, words, or data without giving that person credit for his or her work.
20. Debriefing
21. Speciesism
22. Plagiarism
23. Replication

 

ANS:C

A-Head: Scientific Fraud

 

 

20. If a research participant becomes upset in the course of a minimal-risk experiment,
21. the experimenter must notify the IRB immediately.
22. the experimenter must discard the data for that participant.
23. the participant is obligated to complete the experiment.
24. the experimenter must make an effort to ensure that the participant leaves the experiment feeling no worse than he or she did at the start of the experiment.

 

ANS:D

A-Head: Research with Human Participants

 

 

 

 

21. In a recent article, Keith-Spiegel and Koocher (2205) suggest that some researchers may be taking ethical shortcuts because
22. they perceive the IRB to be unfair.
23. they are not aware that their research must be reviewed by an IRB.
24. IRB reviews take too long.
25. IRB reviews cost too much money.

 

ANS:A

A-Head: Monitoring Ethical Practices

 

 

 

22. In their review of psychological research, the members of an IRB will NOT consider
23. the degree of risk involved in participating in the research.
24. the benefits to be gained from the research relative to any risk of harm to the participants.
25. the procedures used to ensure voluntary participation and confidentiality.
26. the cost of carrying out the research.

 

ANS:D

A-Head: Monitoring Ethical Practices

 

 

 

 

 

 

True-False

 

1. T / F Unless the participant in an experiment agrees, information relating to the participant’s taking part in the experiment is confidential.

ANS:T

 

2. T / F The ethical investigator respects the participant’s right to decline to serve in the research or to withdraw at any time, as long as the experiment does not suffer.

ANS:F

 

 

3. T / F Debriefing participants and giving them a contact phone number and an address may not be sufficient in a high-risk study.

ANS:T

 

 

4. T / F Debriefing means that the investigator sends the final results of the study to each participant.

ANS:F

 

 

5. T / F In a simple perception experiment, in which the color of symbols is the independent variable, little more than a general description of the experiment during the debriefing is probably required.

ANS:T

 

 

6. T / F The double-edged potentiality of scientific knowledge poses ethical problems for psychologists.

ANS:T

 

 

7. T / F Most universities and research institutions have peer committees that judge the ethical acceptability of proposed research.

ANS:T

 

 

8. T / F Once a study is approved by the appropriate agencies and committees, the investigator’s responsibility for ensuring ethical treatment of participants is minimized.

ANS:F

 

 

9. T / F Deception is used to control for reactivity.

ANS:T

 

 

10. T / F It is acceptable to make up data in support of a theory when you have other evidence that the theory is true.

ANS:F

 

 

11. T / F Fraud pertains to both deliberate and unintended bias by experimenters.

ANS:F

 

 

12. T / F Animals are often used to answer research questions that would be impractical to test with humans.

ANS:T

 

 

13. T / F Even ethical psychologists deliberately harm animals.

ANS:F

 

 

14. T / F Speciesism is the belief that it is acceptable to sacrifice members of other species if humans benefit.

ANS:T

 

 

Essay Questions

 

1. Describe three ethical considerations associated with research using animals.

 

2. Describe the ethical issues that an investigator should consider when designing a study that induces a feeling of despair in its participants.

 

3. What is speciesism? Outline an argument for and against speciesism.

 

4. Why is it important to debrief participants after they participate in psychological research? What kind of information should be included in the debriefing procedure?

 

5. Discuss the role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Why is it important that research institutions have an IRB?
6. Discuss whether you think it is ethical for scientists to make use of the results of research that has been found to have been done in an unethical way (e.g., the medical research done by Nazi physicians on concentration camp prisoners). Do you think that it’s OK or not? Why? Explain your answer in terms of your understanding of the ethical obligations of researchers as well as your understanding of research design.

 

7. A physician wants to know whether acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic pain. She recruits a sample of patients who suffer from chronic shoulder pain and has each participant sign a statement of informed consent. Participants are then assigned randomly to an experimental group that receives weekly acupuncture treatments or to a control group that receives a weekly placebo treatment that is known to have no effect on pain. After four weeks, she finds that the participants in the experimental group report significantly less pain than do participants in the control group. Comment on the ethical acceptability of withholding the acupuncture treatment from the control group during this experiment. Is it OK or not? Explain why.