PSCH 242 EXAM 1-3 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Behaviorism is primarily associated with - Answer -Empiricism
Science is characterized by - Answer -A combination of empiricism and rationalism
The independent variable - Answer -is the variable that is expected to have an effect on
the dependent variable
The main problem(s) of rationalism is/are - Answer -Ideas are not systematically tested
against reality
Modern psychology is a science because - Answer -- It generates a set of
unquestionable facts
- It uses fMRI to directly measure brain processes
- It relies on rational thinking and systematic observation
Which of the following is true of a scientific hypothesis? - Answer -- It must be testable
- It is always considered tentative, regardless of how much evidence supports it
- In the face of inconsistent evidence the hypothesis is questioned
A statement that specifies in concrete terms, the procedures for manipulating and/or
measuring variable is: - Answer -An operational definition
All of the following are characteristics of Naturalistic Observation except:
a. Noninterference
b. The researcher has little control over the setting
c. There is an emphasis on overall patterns
d. It sheds light on causal relationships - Answer -d. It sheds light on causal
relationships
A good scientific theory should be:
a. Parsmonious
b. Falsifiable
c. Generative
d. All of the above - Answer -d. All of the above
The two types of deception that may be used in research are: - Answer -Active and
passive
_________ provides a framework for explaining complex phenomena - Answer -A
theory
In which of the following phases does the researcher define variables and plan each of
the research? - Answer -Procedures design phase
, A researcher wants to test the hypothesis that drinking milk increases muscle mass.
500 UIC undergraduates are recruited and they are all instructed to drink 16 ounces of
milk per day and follow weight training regimen. After 6 weeks, each student is asked to
rate how much he/she has improved muscularity over the past six weeks. This study is
NOT a true experiment because - Answer -There was no control group
Common sense is oftentimes non-scientific because - Answer -it is based on available
cases
Which of the following research designs allow researchers to make a causal claim? -
Answer -Experimental
Dr. Girumlig suggested that those who were good in a prior life will be rewarded with
wealth this lifetime. This theory cannot be considered a scientific theory because -
Answer -it is not testable
People's ethnic background would be measured on a(n) ____ scale. - Answer -Nominal
Inductive thinking is a reasoning process that involves: - Answer -Going from
hypothesis to observation
A person's age is generally measured on a(n) ______ scale. - Answer -Ratio
The notion that if we have competing theories that explain a phenomenon equally well,
should defer to the simpler of the two explanations is referred to as: - Answer -
Parsimony
Consider this: As people become more tired their quality of driving goes down. What
type of correlation does this describe? - Answer -A negative correlation
A variable is - Answer -Any characteristic that can take more than one value
A dependent variable - Answer -Is not manipulated by the experimenter
In order for psychological research to be published in a professional journal, it must first
- Answer -Pass peer review
The informed consent procedure primarily serves to ensure that research is in line with
the ethical principle of - Answer -Autonomy
Biological sex is always a(n) - Answer -Categorical variable
Random error reduces a measure's - Answer -Reliability
Convergent validity is an important aspect of - Answer -Construct validity
Behaviorism is primarily associated with - Answer -Empiricism
Science is characterized by - Answer -A combination of empiricism and rationalism
The independent variable - Answer -is the variable that is expected to have an effect on
the dependent variable
The main problem(s) of rationalism is/are - Answer -Ideas are not systematically tested
against reality
Modern psychology is a science because - Answer -- It generates a set of
unquestionable facts
- It uses fMRI to directly measure brain processes
- It relies on rational thinking and systematic observation
Which of the following is true of a scientific hypothesis? - Answer -- It must be testable
- It is always considered tentative, regardless of how much evidence supports it
- In the face of inconsistent evidence the hypothesis is questioned
A statement that specifies in concrete terms, the procedures for manipulating and/or
measuring variable is: - Answer -An operational definition
All of the following are characteristics of Naturalistic Observation except:
a. Noninterference
b. The researcher has little control over the setting
c. There is an emphasis on overall patterns
d. It sheds light on causal relationships - Answer -d. It sheds light on causal
relationships
A good scientific theory should be:
a. Parsmonious
b. Falsifiable
c. Generative
d. All of the above - Answer -d. All of the above
The two types of deception that may be used in research are: - Answer -Active and
passive
_________ provides a framework for explaining complex phenomena - Answer -A
theory
In which of the following phases does the researcher define variables and plan each of
the research? - Answer -Procedures design phase
, A researcher wants to test the hypothesis that drinking milk increases muscle mass.
500 UIC undergraduates are recruited and they are all instructed to drink 16 ounces of
milk per day and follow weight training regimen. After 6 weeks, each student is asked to
rate how much he/she has improved muscularity over the past six weeks. This study is
NOT a true experiment because - Answer -There was no control group
Common sense is oftentimes non-scientific because - Answer -it is based on available
cases
Which of the following research designs allow researchers to make a causal claim? -
Answer -Experimental
Dr. Girumlig suggested that those who were good in a prior life will be rewarded with
wealth this lifetime. This theory cannot be considered a scientific theory because -
Answer -it is not testable
People's ethnic background would be measured on a(n) ____ scale. - Answer -Nominal
Inductive thinking is a reasoning process that involves: - Answer -Going from
hypothesis to observation
A person's age is generally measured on a(n) ______ scale. - Answer -Ratio
The notion that if we have competing theories that explain a phenomenon equally well,
should defer to the simpler of the two explanations is referred to as: - Answer -
Parsimony
Consider this: As people become more tired their quality of driving goes down. What
type of correlation does this describe? - Answer -A negative correlation
A variable is - Answer -Any characteristic that can take more than one value
A dependent variable - Answer -Is not manipulated by the experimenter
In order for psychological research to be published in a professional journal, it must first
- Answer -Pass peer review
The informed consent procedure primarily serves to ensure that research is in line with
the ethical principle of - Answer -Autonomy
Biological sex is always a(n) - Answer -Categorical variable
Random error reduces a measure's - Answer -Reliability
Convergent validity is an important aspect of - Answer -Construct validity
