Test Bank #2
Chapter 2
Studying Behavior Scientifically
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is NOT an attitude associated with scientific thinking?
a. curiosity
b. skepticism
c. open-mindedness
d. positivity
Answer: d
Book: Passer
Difficulty: Low
Page: 59
Style: Knowledge
Learning Objective: 2.1
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
5.4 Tolerate ambiguity and realize that psychological explanations are often complex and
tentative.
2. Which of the following best represents a good scientific attitude?
a. Science is a collection of facts.
b. Science can solve world problems.
c. Science is more valuable when people have a healthy skepticism.
d. Science always provides firm conclusions.
Answer: c
Page: 59
Book: Passer
Difficulty: Medium
Style: Application
Learning Objective: 2.1
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
1
,3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
5.4 Tolerate ambiguity and realize that psychological explanations are often complex and
tentative.
3. Karen tends to be curious and open-minded, but is also skeptical. Which of the
following would describe her?
a. She has a good scientific attitude.
b. She has a mediocre scientific attitude.
c. She has a poor scientific attitude.
d. These qualities tell us nothing about her scientific attitude.
Answer: a
Page: 59
Book: Passer
Difficulty: Medium
Style: Application
Learning Objective: 2.1
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
5.4 Tolerate ambiguity and realize that psychological explanations are often complex and
tentative.
4. Which of the following is NOT an application of the scientific process in Darley
and Latané’s research?
a. If an emergency occurs, then the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely they
will be to help.
b. The researchers examined whether students aided professors more in small versus large
classes.
c. The researchers developed a theory of social impact.
d. These researchers, and others, developed new hypotheses about helping.
Answer: b
Page: 60
Book: Passer
2
,Difficulty: High
Style: Application
Learning Objective: 2.2
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
2.3 Evaluate the appropriateness of conclusions derived from psychological research.
2.4 Design and conduct basic studies to address psychological questions using
appropriate research methods.
2.6 Generalize research conclusions appropriately based on the parameters of particular
research methods.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
4.2 Identify appropriate applications of psychology in solving problems, such as:
4.3 Articulate how psychological principles can be used to explain social issues and
inform public policy.
4.4 Apply psychological concepts, theories, and research findings as these relate to
everyday life.
5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
5.4 Tolerate ambiguity and realize that psychological explanations are often complex and
tentative.
5. Which of the following is the first step in the scientific process?
a. hypothesis
b. theory
c. data analysis
d. a curious observer asks “why” an event occurred
Answer: d
Page: 60
Difficulty: Low
Style: Knowledge
Learning Objective: 2.2
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
2.2 Explain different research methods used by psychologists.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
3
, 5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
6. Which of the following is the sixth and final step in the scientific process?
a. theory
b. hypothesis
c. data analysis
d. theories are used to develop new hypotheses
Answer: d
Page: 60
Book: Passer
Difficulty: Low
Style: Knowledge
Learning Objective: 2.2
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
2.2 Explain different research methods used by psychologists.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
7. Which of the following lists the selected steps of the scientific process in the
correct order?
a. question, theory, data collection, hypothesis
b. question, data collection, hypothesis, theory
c. question, hypothesis, data collection, theory
d. question, theory, hypothesis, data collection
Answer: c
Page: 60
Book: Passer
Difficulty: Low
Style: Knowledge
Learning Objective: 2.2
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
1.1 Characterize the nature of psychology as a discipline.
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
8. A(n) _____________ is a tentative explanation or prediction about some
phenomenon.
4
Chapter 2
Studying Behavior Scientifically
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is NOT an attitude associated with scientific thinking?
a. curiosity
b. skepticism
c. open-mindedness
d. positivity
Answer: d
Book: Passer
Difficulty: Low
Page: 59
Style: Knowledge
Learning Objective: 2.1
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
5.4 Tolerate ambiguity and realize that psychological explanations are often complex and
tentative.
2. Which of the following best represents a good scientific attitude?
a. Science is a collection of facts.
b. Science can solve world problems.
c. Science is more valuable when people have a healthy skepticism.
d. Science always provides firm conclusions.
Answer: c
Page: 59
Book: Passer
Difficulty: Medium
Style: Application
Learning Objective: 2.1
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
1
,3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
5.4 Tolerate ambiguity and realize that psychological explanations are often complex and
tentative.
3. Karen tends to be curious and open-minded, but is also skeptical. Which of the
following would describe her?
a. She has a good scientific attitude.
b. She has a mediocre scientific attitude.
c. She has a poor scientific attitude.
d. These qualities tell us nothing about her scientific attitude.
Answer: a
Page: 59
Book: Passer
Difficulty: Medium
Style: Application
Learning Objective: 2.1
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
5.4 Tolerate ambiguity and realize that psychological explanations are often complex and
tentative.
4. Which of the following is NOT an application of the scientific process in Darley
and Latané’s research?
a. If an emergency occurs, then the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely they
will be to help.
b. The researchers examined whether students aided professors more in small versus large
classes.
c. The researchers developed a theory of social impact.
d. These researchers, and others, developed new hypotheses about helping.
Answer: b
Page: 60
Book: Passer
2
,Difficulty: High
Style: Application
Learning Objective: 2.2
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
2.3 Evaluate the appropriateness of conclusions derived from psychological research.
2.4 Design and conduct basic studies to address psychological questions using
appropriate research methods.
2.6 Generalize research conclusions appropriately based on the parameters of particular
research methods.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
4.2 Identify appropriate applications of psychology in solving problems, such as:
4.3 Articulate how psychological principles can be used to explain social issues and
inform public policy.
4.4 Apply psychological concepts, theories, and research findings as these relate to
everyday life.
5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
5.4 Tolerate ambiguity and realize that psychological explanations are often complex and
tentative.
5. Which of the following is the first step in the scientific process?
a. hypothesis
b. theory
c. data analysis
d. a curious observer asks “why” an event occurred
Answer: d
Page: 60
Difficulty: Low
Style: Knowledge
Learning Objective: 2.2
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
2.2 Explain different research methods used by psychologists.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
3
, 5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
6. Which of the following is the sixth and final step in the scientific process?
a. theory
b. hypothesis
c. data analysis
d. theories are used to develop new hypotheses
Answer: d
Page: 60
Book: Passer
Difficulty: Low
Style: Knowledge
Learning Objective: 2.2
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
2.2 Explain different research methods used by psychologists.
3.1 Use critical thinking effectively.
3.2 Engage in creative thinking.
3.3 Use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments and other
persuasive appeals.
5.2 Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions
about causes of behavior.
5.3 Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
7. Which of the following lists the selected steps of the scientific process in the
correct order?
a. question, theory, data collection, hypothesis
b. question, data collection, hypothesis, theory
c. question, hypothesis, data collection, theory
d. question, theory, hypothesis, data collection
Answer: c
Page: 60
Book: Passer
Difficulty: Low
Style: Knowledge
Learning Objective: 2.2
Topic: Studying Behavior Scientifically
APA Learning Outcome(s):
1.1 Characterize the nature of psychology as a discipline.
2.1 Describe the basic characteristics of the science of psychology.
8. A(n) _____________ is a tentative explanation or prediction about some
phenomenon.
4
