PSY 355 Exam 1 UPDATED Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What are three key things that make a good theory? - CORRECT ANSWER supported by data,
falsifiable, parsimonious
What do scientists use to evaluate their theories? - CORRECT ANSWER the scientific method
Explain the difference between basic research and applied research, and describe how the two interact. -
CORRECT ANSWER The difference between basic research and applied research is basic research
is intended to contribute to the general body of knowledge, and applied directly targets real-world
problems
Harlow conducted a study where he put baby monkeys in a cage with two kinds of "mothers". What were
the differences between these mothers and what were the results of the study (what theory was
supported)? - CORRECT ANSWER one mother was solely food and provided no comfort to the
baby monkeys, and one monkey provided only comfort. The baby monkeys spent most of their time with
the comfy mother, even though she provided no food. It supported the contact comfort theory.
True or False. Scientists commonly say that their theory is proven if there is data to support it -
CORRECT ANSWER False
What is one difference between scholarly journals and magazines in the way they are published -
CORRECT ANSWER Magazines are not peer-reviewed
Which theory did Harlow's monkey-mother study support?
a. The cupboard theory
b. The contact-comfort theory
c. The comfort-and-cupboard theory - CORRECT ANSWER b. The contact-comfort theory
Which is the most important feature of a good theory, according to the text?
, a. It is supported by data.
b. It is falsifiable.
c. It is parsimonious.
d. It doesn't prove anything. - CORRECT ANSWER a. It is supported by data
The example of the "Mozart effect" illustrated how:
a. Companies might commission research to support their products
b. Music can affect our memories
c. Research on adults does not generalize to children
d. Journalists don't always tell the right story about research - CORRECT ANSWER d. Journalists
don't always tell the right story about research
Which cycle was not discussed in Chapter 1?
a. The peer-review cycle
b. The consumer-producer cycle
c. The theory-data cycle
d. The basic-applied research cycle - CORRECT ANSWER
A ________________ group enables you to compare what would happen both with and without the thing
you are interested in. - CORRECT ANSWER comparison
A potential alternative explanation for a research finding is known as a ____________. - CORRECT
ANSWER confounds
How have researchers tested the catharsis hypothesis? What groups were tested and what were the
results? - CORRECT ANSWER Bushman evaluated the catharsis hypothesis by creating two
groups: comparison (group that was not allowed to vent) vs. "treated" group (group that was allowed to
vent); 600 undergraduate students were asked to write an essay, which was then evaluated by "steve" and
he insulted them and their writing. he then split them into 3 groups: group 1 sat quietly, group 2 was told
to punch a bag for exercise, and group 3 was told to punch a bag while imagining steve's face. After, they
CORRECT Answers
What are three key things that make a good theory? - CORRECT ANSWER supported by data,
falsifiable, parsimonious
What do scientists use to evaluate their theories? - CORRECT ANSWER the scientific method
Explain the difference between basic research and applied research, and describe how the two interact. -
CORRECT ANSWER The difference between basic research and applied research is basic research
is intended to contribute to the general body of knowledge, and applied directly targets real-world
problems
Harlow conducted a study where he put baby monkeys in a cage with two kinds of "mothers". What were
the differences between these mothers and what were the results of the study (what theory was
supported)? - CORRECT ANSWER one mother was solely food and provided no comfort to the
baby monkeys, and one monkey provided only comfort. The baby monkeys spent most of their time with
the comfy mother, even though she provided no food. It supported the contact comfort theory.
True or False. Scientists commonly say that their theory is proven if there is data to support it -
CORRECT ANSWER False
What is one difference between scholarly journals and magazines in the way they are published -
CORRECT ANSWER Magazines are not peer-reviewed
Which theory did Harlow's monkey-mother study support?
a. The cupboard theory
b. The contact-comfort theory
c. The comfort-and-cupboard theory - CORRECT ANSWER b. The contact-comfort theory
Which is the most important feature of a good theory, according to the text?
, a. It is supported by data.
b. It is falsifiable.
c. It is parsimonious.
d. It doesn't prove anything. - CORRECT ANSWER a. It is supported by data
The example of the "Mozart effect" illustrated how:
a. Companies might commission research to support their products
b. Music can affect our memories
c. Research on adults does not generalize to children
d. Journalists don't always tell the right story about research - CORRECT ANSWER d. Journalists
don't always tell the right story about research
Which cycle was not discussed in Chapter 1?
a. The peer-review cycle
b. The consumer-producer cycle
c. The theory-data cycle
d. The basic-applied research cycle - CORRECT ANSWER
A ________________ group enables you to compare what would happen both with and without the thing
you are interested in. - CORRECT ANSWER comparison
A potential alternative explanation for a research finding is known as a ____________. - CORRECT
ANSWER confounds
How have researchers tested the catharsis hypothesis? What groups were tested and what were the
results? - CORRECT ANSWER Bushman evaluated the catharsis hypothesis by creating two
groups: comparison (group that was not allowed to vent) vs. "treated" group (group that was allowed to
vent); 600 undergraduate students were asked to write an essay, which was then evaluated by "steve" and
he insulted them and their writing. he then split them into 3 groups: group 1 sat quietly, group 2 was told
to punch a bag for exercise, and group 3 was told to punch a bag while imagining steve's face. After, they
