Question 1

Which of the following best describes the main difference between a hypothesis and a theory in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a tentative and testable statement about the relationship between variables, while a theory is a well-developed set of ideas that explains observed phenomena.

Question 2

A researcher wants to study the effects of a new teaching method on student performance. She randomly assigns students to either the new method or the traditional method and compares their test scores. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

The type of teaching method used

Question 3

Which of the following is a key advantage of naturalistic observation as a research method?

Accepted Answer

It provides a realistic picture of behavior in a natural environment.

Question 4

A psychologist is interested in the relationship between hours of sleep and academic performance. She finds that as hours of sleep increase, academic performance also increases. What type of correlation is this?

Accepted Answer

Positive correlation

Question 5

Which of the following statements about correlation coefficients is correct?

Accepted Answer

A correlation coefficient ($r$) ranges from $-1$ to $1$ and indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.

Question 6

A researcher finds a strong correlation between ice cream sales and drowning incidents. What is the most likely explanation for this finding?

Accepted Answer

A confounding variable, such as temperature, is influencing both ice cream sales and drowning incidents.

Question 7

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of illusory correlation?

Accepted Answer

Believing that people act more strangely during a full moon, even though data do not support this relationship.

Question 8

In an experiment testing a new medication, the control group receives a sugar pill instead of the actual medication. What is this sugar pill called?

Accepted Answer

Placebo

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of random assignment?

Accepted Answer

Assigning participants to experimental or control groups by flipping a coin.

Question 10

A researcher wants to study changes in cognitive abilities as people age. She follows the same group of individuals and tests them every five years for 30 years. What type of research design is this?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research

Question 11

Which of the following is a potential problem with laboratory observation?

Accepted Answer

The artificial setting may result in artificial behavior that is difficult to generalize to real-world situations.

Question 12

What is the main purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

To review and approve research proposals involving human participants to ensure ethical standards are met.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the placebo effect?

Accepted Answer

People’s expectations or beliefs influence or determine their experience, even if they receive an inactive treatment.

Question 14

A researcher uses a survey to collect data on people’s attitudes toward climate change. What is a major strength of this research method?

Accepted Answer

It allows data to be collected from a large number of people quickly and efficiently.

Question 15

Which of the following is an operational definition?

Accepted Answer

Defining 'aggression' as the number of times a child hits another child during a 30-minute observation period.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the difference between reliability and validity?

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, while validity refers to whether the measure accurately assesses what it is intended to measure.

Question 17

A study finds that people who eat more vegetables tend to have lower rates of heart disease. Which of the following is a correct interpretation of this finding?

Accepted Answer

There is a negative correlation between vegetable consumption and heart disease rates.

Question 18

Which of the following is a key ethical requirement for research involving human participants?

Accepted Answer

Obtaining informed consent from all participants.

Question 19

A psychologist wants to compare the memory abilities of 20-year-olds, 40-year-olds, and 60-year-olds at the same point in time. What type of research design is she using?

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional research

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of confirmation bias?

Accepted Answer

A researcher only pays attention to data that supports her hypothesis and ignores data that contradicts it.

Psychological Research: Methods, Analysis, and Ethics

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