Psy 290 Research Methods Exam #1
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
applied research - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Research whose goal is to find a solution to a
particular real-world problem.
basic research - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Research whose goal is to enhance the general
body of knowledge, without regard for direct application to practical problems.
data - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A set of observations representing the values of some
variable, collected from one or more research studies.
empiricism method - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The use of verifiable evidence as the basis
for conclusions; collecting data systematically and using it to develop, support, or challenge a
theory. Also called empirical method or empirical research.
evidence-based treatment - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A psychotherapy technique whose
effectiveness has been supported by empirical research.
falsifiability - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A feature of a scientific theory, in which it is
possible to collect data that will prove the theory wrong.
hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A statement of the specific relationship between a
study's variables that the researcher expects to observe if a theory is accurate. Also called
prediction.
journal - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A monthly or quarterly periodical containing peer-
reviewed articles on a specific academic discipline or subdiscipline, written for a scholarly
audience.
journalism - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- News and commentary published or broadcast in the
popular media and produced for a general audience.
, parsimony - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The degree to which a theory provides the simplest
explanation of some phenomenon. In the context of investigating a claim, the simplest
explanation of a pattern of data; the best explanation that requires making the fewest
exceptions or qualifications.
theory - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A statement or set of statements that describes general
principles about how variables relate to one another.
transitional research - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Research that uses knowledge derived from
basic research to develop and test solutions to real-world problems.
weight of the evidence - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a conclusion drawn from reviewing
scientific literature and considering the proportion of studies that is consistent with a theory.
availability heuristic - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The tendency to rely predominantly on
evidence that easily comes to mind rather than use all possible evidence in evaluating a
conclusion.
bias blind spot - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The tendency for people to think that compared
to others, they are less likely to engage in biased reasoning.
comparison group - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A group in an experiment whose levels on the
independent variable differ from those of the treatment group in some intended and
meaningful way.
confederate - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- An actor who is directed by the researcher to play a
specific role in a research study.
confimatory hypothesis testing - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The tendency to ask only the
questions that will lead to the expected answer.
confound - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A general term for a potential alternative explanation
for a research finding (a threat to internal validity).
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
applied research - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Research whose goal is to find a solution to a
particular real-world problem.
basic research - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Research whose goal is to enhance the general
body of knowledge, without regard for direct application to practical problems.
data - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A set of observations representing the values of some
variable, collected from one or more research studies.
empiricism method - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The use of verifiable evidence as the basis
for conclusions; collecting data systematically and using it to develop, support, or challenge a
theory. Also called empirical method or empirical research.
evidence-based treatment - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A psychotherapy technique whose
effectiveness has been supported by empirical research.
falsifiability - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A feature of a scientific theory, in which it is
possible to collect data that will prove the theory wrong.
hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A statement of the specific relationship between a
study's variables that the researcher expects to observe if a theory is accurate. Also called
prediction.
journal - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A monthly or quarterly periodical containing peer-
reviewed articles on a specific academic discipline or subdiscipline, written for a scholarly
audience.
journalism - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- News and commentary published or broadcast in the
popular media and produced for a general audience.
, parsimony - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The degree to which a theory provides the simplest
explanation of some phenomenon. In the context of investigating a claim, the simplest
explanation of a pattern of data; the best explanation that requires making the fewest
exceptions or qualifications.
theory - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A statement or set of statements that describes general
principles about how variables relate to one another.
transitional research - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Research that uses knowledge derived from
basic research to develop and test solutions to real-world problems.
weight of the evidence - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a conclusion drawn from reviewing
scientific literature and considering the proportion of studies that is consistent with a theory.
availability heuristic - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The tendency to rely predominantly on
evidence that easily comes to mind rather than use all possible evidence in evaluating a
conclusion.
bias blind spot - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The tendency for people to think that compared
to others, they are less likely to engage in biased reasoning.
comparison group - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A group in an experiment whose levels on the
independent variable differ from those of the treatment group in some intended and
meaningful way.
confederate - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- An actor who is directed by the researcher to play a
specific role in a research study.
confimatory hypothesis testing - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The tendency to ask only the
questions that will lead to the expected answer.
confound - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A general term for a potential alternative explanation
for a research finding (a threat to internal validity).
