Experimental Psychology Final

Front 1

A researcher discovers that a clock used to measure reaction times consistently increases the actual reaction time by 20 milliseconds. It is concluded that the clock is:

Back 1

reliable

Front 2

The variable that is being manipulated by the researcher is called the _________, whereas the variable that is being measured is called the __________.

Back 2

Independent Variable, Dependent Variable

Front 3

Which of the following is a reason that scientists use controlled conditions?

Back 3

It promotes valid and reliable results

Front 4

Dr. Vandalay is conducting an experiment on the amount of time it takes college freshman to correctly solve a puzzle involving a number of abstract puzzle pieces. One of the groups is given verbal praise from an experimenter while they work on the puzzle.
The other group is given no verbal praise while working on the puzzle. Which of the following best represents the Independent Variable and the Dependent variable of Dr. Vandalay’s experiment?

Back 4

Independent Variable = verbal praise and the Dependent Variable = the amount of time it takes to complete the puzzle

Front 5

If psychologists discovered that older people are more satisfied with their marriage than younger people, this would indicate that age and marital status are:

Back 5

Positively correlated

Front 6

Hiroku wants to examine the relationship between job satisfaction and general life satisfaction. However, he does not know which research method to use. Which of the following research methods should Jake use?

Back 6

Survey method

Front 7

Once you have come up with an idea as a result of reading a variety of psychological literature, what should be your next step?

Back 7

you should collect relevant data about the idea

Front 8

What may be a major pitfall of using the internet to search for scholarly articles?

Back 8

They may not be reputable articles.

Front 9

Which statement best describes the function of an operational definition?

Back 9

To define a concept relevant to the introduction and subsequent measurement of that concept.

Front 10

The variable being measured is called the ___________, whereas the variable being manipulated is called the__________.

Back 10

Dependent variable, Independent variable

Front 11

In terms of the experimental and control groups of an experiment, the experimental group can be conceptualized as__________, whereas the control group can be conceptualized as___________.

Back 11

Group that receives experimental treatment :: Group that does not receive experimental treatment.

Front 12

Knowledge of the placement of participants into the various conditions of an experiment could lead to results based on subjective expectations rather than objective, as well as accurate results. What is this called?

Back 12

Experimenter bias

Front 13

When neither the participants nor the researcher are aware of which condition the participants are in, the design is _____________, but when only the participants are unaware of the condition they are in, this is referred to as _____________.

Back 13

Double blind :: Single blind

Front 14

Certain types of designs are used in order to have control in an experiment. The type of design in which each participant experiences two or more experimental conditions refers to which of the following?

Back 14

Within-subjects design

Front 15

Which of the following is an advantage of using a within-subjects design?

Back 15

Require fewer subjects

Front 16

What is the best description of the concept of control?

Back 16

Experimenter manipulates things so they occur when he/she wants them to, but also so that the results can be attributed to the independent variable

Front 17

Why do advanced experimental designs and analyses exist?

Back 17

To allow researchers to find a variety of causes that may produce an effect

Front 18

Which of the following scenarios best describes the use of a factorial design?

Back 18

Assessing the effect of alcohol consumption in homes in which a high level of verbal criticism exists, on the prevalence of suicidal ideation (thoughts).

Front 19

Which of the following is an advantage of a factorial design?

Back 19

It allows the researcher to ascertain how independent variables combine with one another to determine the values of the dependent variable.

Front 20

Which of the following statistical test would you most likely use to analyze the results of a study which utilized a factorial design?

Back 20

Analysis of Variance

Front 21

Which of the following would most likely be set as the level of significance in a psychological experiment?

Back 21

.05

Front 22

What is meant by level of significance?

Back 22

The statistical point above (or below) which one can infer that the results were not simply due to chance

Front 23

In science, many observations are made regarding ___________, which allow for __________ to be made, which allow researchers to generalize to larger classes of
phenomena.

Back 23

Contrasts : Inferences

Front 24

In designing an experiment it is important that the ____________ and the ___________ be as similar as possible.

Back 24

Experimental group : Control group

Front 25

Which is a good method for avoiding the presence of extraneous variables?

Back 25

Holding all conditions of the experiment constant

Front 26

Why do researchers try to avoid the presence of extraneous or confounding variables?

Back 26

Because they typically indicate that some variable other than the independent variable is affecting the results

Front 27

In an experiment in which extraneous variables are present, how does the presence of an extraneous variable affect the results?

Back 27

It indicates that the results are inconclusive, and the experiment should be repeated using a different design, without the presence of such variables

Front 28

In addition to holding all conditions of an experiment constant, what is another control method that a researcher could use to minimize the potential presence of extraneous variables?

Back 28

Use treatment or control groups

Front 29

An investigator hypothesized that people will more easily recognize opposite sex figures. The researcher presents 5 male and 5 female figures to 10 male participants, using a tachistoscope. The participants recognized the female figures more quickly than
the male figures, thus confirming the hypothesis. What might be a problematic aspect regarding these results?

Back 29

The researcher should have shown the same set of figures to a group of female participants

Front 30

What is a problematic aspect of using a subject variable as the independent variable in an experiment?

Back 30

Subject variables may systematically related to other subject variables

Front 31

When would a researcher want to implement a factorial design?

Back 31

When he/she wants to study the effects of multiple independent variables

Front 32

Why is it important that all treatment groups are approximately equal regarding a variety of traits?

Back 32

So the results are attributable to the independent variable

Front 33

What is meant by random selection?

Back 33

Each member of the population, to which generalizations will be made, has an equal probability of being included in the study

Front 34

In terms of a within-subjects design, incorporating a __________, uses the same subjects in all treatments, but also compensates for __________ effects.

Back 34

balanced sequence : sequencing

Front 35

A large manufacturing company held leadership training courses for lower-level employees. These courses were run on a volunteer basis and took place at night on the employee’s own time. In evaluating the effectiveness of this course ten years later, it was found that those persons who had taken the course had advanced further in the company than those who had not taken the course. What conclusion can be made?

Back 35

The results may be due to differences in motivation of the two comparison groups

Front 36

Which of the following is a major assumption made when using the matched subjects design?

Back 36

The researcher knows what subject characteristic is highly related to performance on the experimental task

Front 37

What is it called when a subject becomes more accurate or proficient based on the presentation or order of the conditions present to him/her?

Back 37

practice effect

Front 38

While an increase in task proficiency may occur due to a _______________, a decrease in task proficiency may occur due to a _______________.

Back 38

practice effect : fatigue effect

Front 39

What does attrition refer to?

Back 39

losing experimental subjects over time

Front 40

Why do psychologists utilize human beings as participants for research experiments?

Back 40

To enhance our knowledge of psychological characteristics

Front 41

The American Psychological Association formed the Committee on Scientific and Professional Ethics, which has developed a series of ethical principles, which researchers must strictly follow. Why were these ethical principles established?

Back 41

Experimenters have used questionable methods in the past

Front 42

Regarding the preamble to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and the Code of Conduct, please complete the following statement:
The Ethics Code provides a common set of __________ and ___________ upon which psychologists build their professional and scientific work.

Back 42

principles : standards

Front 43

What is the purpose of the Ethics Code?

Back 43

To ensure the welfare and protection of research participants

Front 44

Whereas _____________ represent obligations for researchers, _____________ are intended to guide and inspire psychologists toward the highest ethical ideals of the
profession.

Back 44

Ethical Standards : General Principles

Front 45

Which principle states that psychologists should attempt to resolve conflicts, should they occur, in a responsible fashion, which avoids or minimizes harm?

Back 45

Beneficence and Nonmaleficence

Front 46

Which principle states that psychologists should be aware that special safeguards may be necessary to protect the rights and welfare of persons who may have difficulty making or understanding their own decisions?

Back 46

Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity

Front 47

Which principle states that psychologists should avoid deception, but if it is necessary, the implications of such deceit should be fully considered?

Back 47

Integrity

Front 48

Which principle states that psychologists should exert caution to ensure that any personal biases, boundaries of competency, or limitations in expertise will not lead to any harm or shady practices?

Back 48

Justice

Front 49

When institutional approval is required to conduct an experiment, when can a researcher start recruitment of participants and data collection for the given study?

Back 49

After approval, because an institutional review board must first approve the study before recruitment or data collection may begin

Front 50

What kind of information is included in an informed consent form?

Back 50

purpose of study, risks, research benefits, right to decline to participate

Front 51

Typically, after a person has participated in a given study, the researcher may make the participant aware of certain aspects of the study. What is this called?

Back 51

debriefing

Front 52

Why must psychologists make reasonable efforts to avoid excessive inducements?

Back 52

to insure that no coercion results from inappropriate inducements

Front 53

After publishing research results, whom can psychologists withhold data from, upon which their conclusions are based?

Back 53

those who use the data for something other than their declared purpose

Front 54

What is the overall philosophy regarding the psychologist’s role in conducting research with human participants?

Back 54

To contribute to the existing knowledge of his/her field of study

Front 55

Which of the General Ethical Principles of the American Psychological Association is involved if a psychologist violates the confidentiality of a research participant or clinical patient?

Back 55

respect for people's rights and dignity

Front 56

One of the problems of engaging in professional behavior in an area beyond your domain of expertise is that

Back 56

your use of a test that on which you have not been trained to use and interpret may expose a client to risk.

Front 57

The systematic elimination of extraneous variables other than those you are interested in can be eliminated in what research design?

Back 57

experimental research

Front 58

A design that resembles an experiment but in which variables are not actually manipulated would involve

Back 58

observational research

Front 59

Suppose a researcher measures behavior in a research sample, then repeats data collection to see if the results are the same. If the data provided by each person is very similar on the two occasions, the measurement shows

Back 59

reliability

Front 60

Suppose a researcher measures illegal drug use using only general psychology students from a southern Christian University that is attended primarily by white, wealthy, conservative, religious young adults. What might be a problem with this study?

Back 60

generalizability

Front 61

When researchers study behaviors of humans or nonhumans as they occur in everyday setting, the research is referred to as

Back 61

naturalistic

Front 62

One limitation of naturalistic observation is that

Back 62

Investigators cannot always tell which factor in the environment is causing behaviors to occur.

Front 63

When a research design includes more than one independent variable, that study is called

Back 63

a factorial design

Front 64

When two independent variables produce effects when combined that would not be presented if each independent variable was manipulated in a separate study, we say that there is

Back 64

an interaction

Front 65

A main effect in a factorial design refers to

Back 65

differences across multiple independent variables