Exam Questions
1. What is the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics?
Descriptive – summarize data from a sample, no inferences are made.
Inference - makes assumptions, or inferences in regards to a population.
2. In an experiment, the researcher manipulates the variable
and measures the variable.
Independent; dependent
3. In measurement, refers to consistency of answers, whereas
refers to accuracy or truth of answers.
reliability; validity
4. In a research study, Doctor Akiva assigns some participants to drink 1 cup of
coffee before doing a manual dexterity task and other participants to drink 3
cups of coffee before doing a manual dexterity task to test if caffeine affects
performance. What is the independent variable?
Amount of cups of coffee
5. Five high-school English teachers were given a grammar test. Their scores
were 17, 16, 14, 20, 20. What is the mean?
87/5 = 17.4
6. statistics summarize data from a sample, whereas
statistics allow researchers to generalize to a broader population
Descriptive; inferential
7. Compare and contrast experimental and correlational designs.
Compare: They’re both research designs to compare relationships between
variables.
Experimental include an experiment or manipulation group, and a control group
Correlational studies don’t involve manipulation.
8. In statistics, what is the difference between a sample and a population?
A population is every single member from a group, a sample is a sub-set of the
population.
9. Five high-school English teachers were given a grammar test. Their scores
were 17, 16, 14, 20, 20. What is the median?
14,16,17,20,20. The median is 17.
10. Stanley Milgram convinced participants that they were actually delivering
shocks to another person in order to test how willing people are to obey authority
figures. Based on the ethical guidelines set out by IRBs, what concerns you have if
someone wanted to do the same study today?
That participation wasn’t voluntary because they didn’t tell them they were part of
,an obedience study, they need an informed consent.
, Benefits don’t outweigh the risks, the stress is too high for the participants,
believing they’re harming a person.
11. Describe the three guidelines that govern the IRB to ensure ethical
treatment of participants.
1) Participation must be voluntary
2) Benefits must outweigh the risks
3) Assignment to groups must be random
12. In a research experiment, what is the difference between a control group
and a placebo control group? Why might researchers prefer to use a placebo
control group?
A control group isn’t given any treatment, there’s no intervention.
A placebo group is given a treatment, but the participants don’t know if it’s a
placebo or the real medication.
Researchers prefer the placebo control group because there’s such a thing as
“placebo effect” in which people believe they’ll get better just because they’re
getting treated, this way, both groups are getting some sort of treatment.
13. What are the three reasons that psychologists use surveys?
They are easy to use, efficient, participants are able to self-report their feelings,
and cost-effective.
14. Dr. Solman is a developmental psychologist who researches the physical
changes adolescents experience as they enter puberty. If she is using the bio-
psycho-social model, her research would be focused on the aspect.
Biological
15. Dr. Solman is a developmental psychologist who researches the relationship
changes adolescents experience as they enter puberty. If she is using the bio-
psycho-social model, her research would be focused on the aspect.
Social
16. Jamal was recently diagnosed with depression and is meeting with a
therapist to address how he can change his thinking. According to the bio- psycho-
social model, this approach is most focused on the factor.
Psychological
17. A psychological researcher is interested in adolescent eating disorders and
specifically investigates changes in levels of neurotransmitters that accompany
eating disorders. Referring to the bio-psycho-social model, which part of the model
is she most likely using?
Biological
18. A psychological researcher is interested in adolescent eating disorders and
thinks that the increased use of social media has changed teens’ body image,
1. What is the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics?
Descriptive – summarize data from a sample, no inferences are made.
Inference - makes assumptions, or inferences in regards to a population.
2. In an experiment, the researcher manipulates the variable
and measures the variable.
Independent; dependent
3. In measurement, refers to consistency of answers, whereas
refers to accuracy or truth of answers.
reliability; validity
4. In a research study, Doctor Akiva assigns some participants to drink 1 cup of
coffee before doing a manual dexterity task and other participants to drink 3
cups of coffee before doing a manual dexterity task to test if caffeine affects
performance. What is the independent variable?
Amount of cups of coffee
5. Five high-school English teachers were given a grammar test. Their scores
were 17, 16, 14, 20, 20. What is the mean?
87/5 = 17.4
6. statistics summarize data from a sample, whereas
statistics allow researchers to generalize to a broader population
Descriptive; inferential
7. Compare and contrast experimental and correlational designs.
Compare: They’re both research designs to compare relationships between
variables.
Experimental include an experiment or manipulation group, and a control group
Correlational studies don’t involve manipulation.
8. In statistics, what is the difference between a sample and a population?
A population is every single member from a group, a sample is a sub-set of the
population.
9. Five high-school English teachers were given a grammar test. Their scores
were 17, 16, 14, 20, 20. What is the median?
14,16,17,20,20. The median is 17.
10. Stanley Milgram convinced participants that they were actually delivering
shocks to another person in order to test how willing people are to obey authority
figures. Based on the ethical guidelines set out by IRBs, what concerns you have if
someone wanted to do the same study today?
That participation wasn’t voluntary because they didn’t tell them they were part of
,an obedience study, they need an informed consent.
, Benefits don’t outweigh the risks, the stress is too high for the participants,
believing they’re harming a person.
11. Describe the three guidelines that govern the IRB to ensure ethical
treatment of participants.
1) Participation must be voluntary
2) Benefits must outweigh the risks
3) Assignment to groups must be random
12. In a research experiment, what is the difference between a control group
and a placebo control group? Why might researchers prefer to use a placebo
control group?
A control group isn’t given any treatment, there’s no intervention.
A placebo group is given a treatment, but the participants don’t know if it’s a
placebo or the real medication.
Researchers prefer the placebo control group because there’s such a thing as
“placebo effect” in which people believe they’ll get better just because they’re
getting treated, this way, both groups are getting some sort of treatment.
13. What are the three reasons that psychologists use surveys?
They are easy to use, efficient, participants are able to self-report their feelings,
and cost-effective.
14. Dr. Solman is a developmental psychologist who researches the physical
changes adolescents experience as they enter puberty. If she is using the bio-
psycho-social model, her research would be focused on the aspect.
Biological
15. Dr. Solman is a developmental psychologist who researches the relationship
changes adolescents experience as they enter puberty. If she is using the bio-
psycho-social model, her research would be focused on the aspect.
Social
16. Jamal was recently diagnosed with depression and is meeting with a
therapist to address how he can change his thinking. According to the bio- psycho-
social model, this approach is most focused on the factor.
Psychological
17. A psychological researcher is interested in adolescent eating disorders and
specifically investigates changes in levels of neurotransmitters that accompany
eating disorders. Referring to the bio-psycho-social model, which part of the model
is she most likely using?
Biological
18. A psychological researcher is interested in adolescent eating disorders and
thinks that the increased use of social media has changed teens’ body image,
