1.

Which goal of science is most closely associated with determining how to measure
fear or identify lying?
a. understanding and prediction
b. measurement and description
c. application and control
d. testing and reporting
2. What do we call any measurable conditions, events, characteristics, or behaviours
that are controlled or
observed in a study?
a. confounds
b. variables
c. correlations
d. hypotheses
3. Forensic profilers use information about known serial killers to make statements
about the likely next steps of a
new killer and to anticipate a pattern of behaviour. Which goal of the scientific
enterprise does this reflect?
a. application and control
b. measurement and description
c. testing and reporting
d. understanding and prediction
4.Which goals of science are reflected in the use of reinforcement principles to modif
y a child’s unruly behaviour?
a. understanding and prediction
b. application and control
c. measurement and description
d. testing and reporting
5. What is a theory?
a. a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations
b. a preliminary proposal that has yet to be tested
c. a statement of research results that have been proven correct
d. a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables
6. There are multiple goals in science, and researchers move between goals at various
points in their research. If a
researcher has a lot of data about the measurement of fear reactions and uses those
data to generate a theory
about fear, how have the researcher’s goals changed?
a. from application to control
b. from control to description
c. from description to understanding
d. from understanding to application
7. If Dr. Smith has tested a hypothesis and the findings have failed to support the
hypothesis, what influence will this
have on Dr. Smith’s theory?
a. It will support the theory because hypotheses attempt to disprove theories.
b. It will have little effect on the theory because hypotheses are merely predictions
based on the theory.
c. It will require that the theory be reconsidered because hypotheses allow the theory
to be tested.
d. It will cause the theory to be rejected because the hypothesis, and therefore the
theory, is unsupported.
8. Which of the following patterns is typical of theory construction?
a. a gradual iterative process that is always subject to revision
b. a process that results in concrete findings that are accepted by other scientists
c. a standard step-like process that quickly moves toward the truth
d. a circular process that is self-fulfilling
9.Dr. Marqueta predicts that people who have received bad news will seek out other p
eople because “misery
loves company.” Which of the following terms characterizes Dr. Marqueta’s predictio
n about the behaviour of people?
a. theory
b. hypothesis
c. analysis
d. application
15.Several researchers are working on different experiments that are designed to test
whether a person’s confidence can be changed over time. They want to be able to
compare their results when they are done. They agree that they will all use the same
test in order to measure confidence. Which of the following have the researchers
done?
a. They agreed to use the same independent variable.
b. They agreed to use the same hypothesis.
c. They agreed on an operational definition of confidence.
d. They agreed to remove a confounding variable.
16. Which of the following is an operational definition of aggression?
a. Aggression is an emotional response rather than a cognitive response.
b. Aggression is caused by fear.
c. Aggression will lead victims to become more aggressive.
d. Aggression is measured by the number of times one person hits another person.
17. Dr. Dieringer wants to study attachment patterns in single-parent families. She
plans to define the strength of attachment as the time it takes for the parent to respond
when the infant starts to cry. Why is this definition important?
a. It allows others to understand exactly what Dr. Dieringer means by “attachment.”
b. It allows Dr. Dieringer to generate a scientific hypothesis.
c. It prevents research assistants from violating ethical guidelines for psychological
research.
d. It requires a double-blind research design.
18. Terry has a theory and has formulated a testable hypothesis. What is the next step
that Terry needs to take in the
scientific method?
a. choosing the statistical procedures
b. selecting the research methods
c. refining the theory based on the hypothesis
d. collecting the data
19. Dr. Hessels is examining how different people respond to frightening events. She
will have participants walk through a haunted house at a local amusement park, and
each participant will be outfitted with a heart monitor. She will use the changes in
heart rate as a measure of stress. What are two ways that such changes in heart rate
can be described?
a. an operational definition and an independent variable
b. confounded variable and a physiological recording
c. a physiological recording and an independent variable
d. an operational definition and a dependent variable
20. In the Featured Study, some individuals crossed a high, fear-arousing bridge,
while others crossed a low, non- frightening bridge. In this study, what do we call the
type of bridge?
a. naturalistic observation
b. dependent variable
c. operational definition
d. independent variable
21. In the Featured Study, individuals who had just recently crossed a bridge were met
by either a male or a female confederate of the researcher. What do you call the type
of confederate in this study?
a. confounding variable
b. independent variable
c. extraneous variable
d. dependent variable
22. The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is a projective test that contains
ambiguous stimuli that are to be interpreted by the participant. In the Featured Study,
participants crossed a bridge and then completed the TAT.
How did the researchers use participants’ responses to the TAT in this study?
a. as a dependent variable
b. as a confounding variable
c. as an extraneous variable
d. as an
27. A group of students are administered a series of written questions designed to
assess their attitudes, opinions, and behaviour related to studying. What is this method
called?
a. a psychological test
b. a questionnaire
c. a paper-based interview
d. a direct observation
28.A psychologist monitors changes in the subject’s heart rate as the subject watches
a violent movie. What is this
data-collection technique called?
a. archival records
b. direct observation
c. psychological testing
d. physiological recording
29. Ted uses a personality test as one of the dependent measures in his study. What
data-collection technique is Ted using?
a. direct observation
b. survey
c. case study
d. psychological test
30. Jackson is working with a company to help it develop more effective training
programs for its employees. He has spent a great deal of time reviewing all the
documentation the company has about previous training opportunities it has provided
for its employees. What research technique is Jackson using?
a. meta-analysis
b. direct observation
c. psychological testing
d. archival research
31. Of the following pairs, which pair contains two data-collection techniques that are
most likely to involve direct contact between the researcher and the research
participant?
a. direct observation and interviews
b. questionnaires and interviews
c. archival research and questionnaires
d. archival research and psychological testing
32. Ling answered a series of written questions that asked about her attitudes and
opinions on a number of current issues. What is this method of data collection called?
a. a questionnaire
b. archival research
c. a standardized psychological test
d. direct observation
33. Which of the following is most likely to lead to the discarding of research results?
a. creating operational definitions
b. data analysis
c. hypothesis generation
d. publishing in a journal
34. Which of the following is a general term for the manner in which a researcher
collects empirical data?
a. statistical procedure
b. hypothesis testing
c. research method
d. archival recording
39. A group of researchers investigates the effects of a vitamin supplement on animal
memory. During the first part of the study, the animals learn to run a maze while they
are not receiving the supplement; in the second part of the study, the animals learn to
run a different maze while they are receiving the supplement. In each case, the
researchers count how many trials it takes before the animals can run the maze pattern
without making any errors. What is the independent variable in this study?
a. the number of trials it takes to run the maze without making any errors
b. the trials in which the supplement is used
c. the presence or absence of the supplement in the animal’s diet
d. the two different mazes used
40. A group of researchers wanted to determine if people will eat more food in a room
that is decorated with red than in a room that is decorated with blue. Half the
participants in this study ate in a red room and half ate in a blue room. The researchers
then measured how much food was consumed in each of the two rooms. What is the
independent variable in this study?
a. the colour of the decorations in the room
b. the amount of food consumed in the red room
c. the amount of food consumed in the blue room
d. the participants in each group
41. Researchers who were studying plant growth raised plants in two separate rooms.
One room had taped conversations playing 24 hours a day; the other room was silent.
The researchers found that the plants grew better in the room that had the
conversations playing. In this study, what would you call the type of room (silent
versus conversation)?
a. placebo
b. independent variable
c. dependent variable
d. extraneous variable
42. Researchers who were studying memory had participants learn a list of words after
consuming a soft drink with caffeine or a decaffeinated version of the same soft drink.
The researchers then counted the number of words that were recalled from the list. In
this study, what would you call the type of beverage (caffeinated or decaffeinated)?
a. extraneous variable
b. dependent variable
c. confounding variable
d. independent variable
43. What is a dependent variable?
a. a variable that changes value because of the systematic manipulation in an
experiment
b. a variable deliberately manipulated by an experimenter
c. a variable that the experimenter is depending on to cause something to happen in an
experiment
d. a variable held constant across experimental conditions
44. Researchers tested the physical coordination skills of 25-year-old males who had
been sleep deprived for 24, 36, or 48 hours. In this study, what is the dependent
variable?
a. the length of time the participants had been sleep deprived
b. the physical coordination of the control group
c. the male-only group of participants
d. the physical coordination skills of participants
45. A group of researchers wants to determine if people are more likely to follow
directions if the person giving the directions is in a uniform. Half the participants are
directed to a parking spot by a uniformed security guard; the other half are directed to
a parking spot by an individual wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt. In this study, what is
the dependent variable?
a. the parking lot
b. the number of participants who park in the spot they are directed to
c. the type of clothing worn by the person giving the directions
d. the directions given
50. Nula is conducting a study in which one group is exposed to loud music while
completing a writing assignment and the other group has quiet conditions. Further,
Nula examines the effect of gender within these groups.
Therefore, she is examining the effects of both noise and gender on participants’ perfo
rmance on a writing task. Which of the following reflects the type of variables present
in this study?
a. one independent variable and two dependent variables
b. one control variable and two independent variables
c. one independent variable, one control variable, and one dependent variable
d. two independent variables and one dependent variable
51. What differs between an experimental group and a control group?
a. The characteristics of the participants.
b. Only the experimental group is measured for the dependent variable.
c. Nothing except the experience of the independent variable.
d. Only the control group experiences the independent variable.
52. In an experiment designed to test memory processes, one group was asked to
group the items on a list into categories while trying to memorize them. A second
group was told to rhyme each of the words on the list. In this study, which group is the
control group?
a. the group that was told to categorize
b. the group in which the participants remember the most items from the list
c. the group that was told to rhyme
d. a third group that was not given special instructions
53.
In a study designed to test the effects of a new drug developed to treat Alzheimer’s dis
ease, half the patients were given the actual drug while the other half of the patients
were given a placebo (sugar pill). In this study, which group is the control group?
a. the group that showed no evidence of an improvement in their memory
b. the group that received the actual drug
c. the group that received the placebo
d. no control group in this study
54. Phong and Mikaela both take part in a research study that is investigating the
effects of sleep deprivation on reaction time. Phong is kept awake for 24 hours
straight, while Mikaela follows her normal sleep routine. Which group is Phong in?
a. the independent variable group
b. the control group
c. the dependent variable group
d. the experimental group
55. What is the purpose of the control group?
a. to isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable
b. to correlate the dependent variable with the independent variables
c. to make statistical significance more likely
d. to make the experiment more complex
56. A researcher wants to see if a protein-enriched diet will enhance the maze-running
performance of rats. One group of rats is fed the high-protein diet for the duration of
the study; the other group continues to receive standard rat food. What types of groups
are represented in this study?
a. The high-protein group is an experimental group; the standard food group is a
control group.
b. Both groups are experimental groups.
c. Both groups are control groups.
d. The high-protein group is a control group; the standard food group is an
experimental group.
57. A researcher has children watch 30 minutes of violent television, and then counts
the number of times they hit each other afterward in a one-hour play period as a
measure of aggression. Which of the following can you conclude from this study?
a. TV violence causes violent behaviour in children.
b. TV violence is correlated with violent behaviour in children.
c.You can’t conclude anything until you know the rates of violence displayed by child
ren.
d.You can’t conclude anything because you have nothing to compare to the aggressio
n after the TV viewing.
62. Mandy thinks that people who work hard will always succeed. She grew up in a
very wealthy neighborhood and noticed that all of her friends who worked hard
became successful. In this example, which of the following is true of wealth and hard
work?
a. They are correlated.
b. They are confounded.
c. They are independent.
d. They are dependent.
63. A researcher is studying two groups of children. One group includes children who
are 10 years old and the other group includes children who are 5 years old. Which of
the following variables would be confounded with age in this study?
a. gender
b. height
c. aggression
d. income
64. Diaz conducts a decision-making experiment to determine if people reason more
logically when they have more time to decide. All the participants who are under 40
are allowed 15 minutes to reach a decision about a problem; all the participants who
are over 40 are allowed 20 minutes to reach a decision about the same problem. What
is the problem with this experimental design?
a. The age of the participants is confounded with the independent variable.
b. There are two control groups and no experimental group.
c. There is no dependent variable in the experiment.
d. The time allowed for the decision is confounded with the independent variable.
65. Which of the following is most important for reducing the likelihood of
extraneous variables?
a. experimental methods
b. correlational methods
c. random assignment
d. random sampling
66. What is random assignment?
a. Subjects are free to choose which group or condition they would like to be in.
b. All variables have an equal chance of being assigned to the experimental condition.
c. All people have an equal likelihood of being selected from the study.
d. All subjects have an equal chance of being assigned to any of the groups or
conditions.
67. Dr. Kalmagura plans on introducing a new exam review procedure in his
chemistry classes. To check the effectiveness of the new procedure, he is going to
have half his students try the new technique for one semester, while the remaining
students review in the way they have always done in the past. He asks each student to
decide whether they would like to use the new technique or the standard technique.
What procedure is illustrated in this
example?
a. a double-blind research design
b. informed consent in research
c. the use of non-random assignment
d. naturalistic observation
68. Braeden received a poor performance evaluation in his job last year. Since then,
Braeden has started working through his lunch hour, taken on four special projects,
and enrolled in night classes to upgrade his computer skills. Why will it be hard for
Braeden to figure out the cause if he receives a better evaluation at his next
performance?
a. He failed to use a double-blind procedure to test his hypothesis.
b. None of the actions he took are likely to be related to his overall job performance.
c. The three actions he took are confounded with each other.
d. He didn’t formulate a research hypothesis before implementing the changes.
69. In a study of the effect of fatigue on task performance, participants were asked to
complete a series of puzzles. One day, all participants completed puzzles after 24
hours without sleep. On another day, the same participants completed puzzles after
sleeping for at least eight hours. What research design is used in this study?
a. between-subjects design
b. within-subjects design
c. single-blind design
d. interaction design
74. Which of the following is a disadvantage of the experimental method?
a. Experiments often can’t be done for practical or ethical reasons.
b. Only one variable can be studied at a time.
c. Length of time necessary to complete the study.
d. Inability to generate cause-and-effect conclusions.
75. Shelley is a researcher who studies disabilities as a result of head injuries. She has
chosen to use non-experimental methods because of some of the limitations of
experiments. Which of the following limits would
most likely cause problems for Shelley’s research?
a. It is not ethical to conduct experiments with people with disabilities.
b. People cannot be randomly assigned to a group that experiences a head injury.
c. Disability cannot be operationally defined.
d. Experiments cannot be used to study interaction effects.
76. What do researchers do when conducting descriptive or correlational research?
a. They simultaneously manipulate two or more independent variables.
b. They systematically describe patterns of behaviour and discover relationships
among variables.
c. They manipulate a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observe
whether there are changes in
a second variable as a result.
d. They expose subjects to two closely related treatment conditions.
77. Donnie wants to know whether attractive waiters make more tips. He has a group
of people rate the attractiveness of five different waiters, and he gets the waiters to tell
him how much money they make in tips every night for a month. What type of
research design has Donnie used?
a. quasi-experimental design
b. correlational design
c. experimental design
d. case study design
78. What do naturalistic observation, case studies, and surveys all have in common?
a. They can show causal relationships.
b. The results obtained cannot be analyzed statistically.
c. They do not directly observe behaviour.
d. They do not manipulate the variables under study.
79. A researcher goes to a playground for an hour each day for two weeks and makes
notes when children are playing together. He records the number of times that a girl
and a boy are playing together, when boys play only with other boys, and when girls
play only with other girls. Which research method is the researcher using?
a. experiment
b. naturalistic observation
c. correlation
d. case study
80. What do we call recording all instances of an event for a particular time period
(such as how many times an older
brother strikes his younger brother during a given week) without the subjects’ awaren
ess?
a. naturalistic observation
b. compiling a case study
c. creating an archive
d. correlational research
81. You are sitting on a park bench in a major metropolitan area from 7 a. to 7 p. and
you note the number of people who walk by, whether or not they litter, and their sex.
What type of research method are you using?
a. naturalistic observation
b. case study
c. correlation
d. casual observation

82.
Agroupofresearcherswa
ntedtoinvestigateallegation
sofsexualharassmenton
acompany’sassemblylin
e.To
make their observations, the
researchers took jobs working on
the assembly line and pretended
to be new
employees. What type of research
is being conducted in this
example?
a. correlational research
b. case study
c. unethical research
d. naturalistic observation
ANSWER: d
82.
Agroupofresearcherswa
ntedtoinvestigateallegation
sofsexualharassmenton
acompany’sassemblylin
e.To
make their observations, the
researchers took jobs working on
the assembly line and pretended
to be new
employees. What type of research
is being conducted in this
example?
a. correlational research
b. case study
c. unethical research
d. naturalistic observation
ANSWER: d
82.
Agroupofresearcherswa
ntedtoinvestigateallegation
sofsexualharassmenton
acompany’sassemblylin
e.To
make their observations, the
researchers took jobs working on
the assembly line and pretended
to be new
employees. What type of research
is being conducted in this
example?
a. correlational research
b. case study
c. unethical research
d. naturalistic observation
ANSWER: d
82.
Agroupofresearcherswa
ntedtoinvestigateallegation
sofsexualharassmenton
acompany’sassemblylin
e.To
make their observations, the
researchers took jobs working on
the assembly line and pretended
to be new
employees. What type of research
is being conducted in this
example?
a. correlational research
b. case study
c. unethical research
d. naturalistic observation
ANSWER: d
83. A local hospital wanted to
assess the way its patients were
being treated. The hospital hired
several researchers
to act as patients and record the
way hospital personnel handled
the admitting and preliminary
evaluation
procedures. What sort of research
is being conducted in this
example?
a. naturalistic observation
b. correlational research
c. reactivity
d. case study
ANSWER: a
84. Jolyn believed that there were
gender differences in driving
habits. To test this hypothesis, she
stood near a quiet
intersection. Jolyn recorded the
gender of each driver who
approached a stop sign, and also
whether the
individual came to a complete
stop before proceeding into the
intersection. What sort of research
is Jolyn
conducting?
a. psychological testing
b. naturalistic observation
c. experiment with two dependent
variables
d. case study research
ANSWER: b
85. What is a distinct advantage of
naturalistic observation?
a. It allows behaviour to be
studied in realistic settings.
b. It allows for random sampling.
c. It reduces reactivity among
participants.
d. There is a wider range of
statistical procedures that can be
used.
ANSWER: a
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered b
82.
Agroupofresearcherswa
ntedtoinvestigateallegation
sofsexualharassmenton
acompany’sassemblylin
e.To
make their observations, the
researchers took jobs working on
the assembly line and pretended
to be new
employees. What type of research
is being conducted in this
example?
a. correlational research
b. case study
c. unethical research
d. naturalistic observation
ANSWER: d
83. A local hospital wanted to
assess the way its patients were
being treated. The hospital hired
several researchers
to act as patients and record the
way hospital personnel handled
the admitting and preliminary
evaluation
procedures. What sort of research
is being conducted in this
example?
a. naturalistic observation
b. correlational research
c. reactivity
d. case study
ANSWER: a
84. Jolyn believed that there were
gender differences in driving
habits. To test this hypothesis, she
stood near a quiet
intersection. Jolyn recorded the
gender of each driver who
approached a stop sign, and also
whether the
individual came to a complete
stop before proceeding into the
intersection. What sort of research
is Jolyn
conducting?
a. psychological testing
b. naturalistic observation
c. experiment with two dependent
variables
d. case study research
ANSWER: b
85. What is a distinct advantage of
naturalistic observation?
a. It allows behaviour to be
studied in realistic settings.
b. It allows for random sampling.
c. It reduces reactivity among
participants.
d. There is a wider range of
statistical procedures that can be
used.
ANSWER: a
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered b

1. Which of the following is NOT a technique for creating equivalent comparisons between groups
and/or conditions in experiments?
A. obtaining a baseline.
B. matching.
C. randomization.
D. using multiple dependent variables.
2. General practice effects in within-subjects experiments include
A. boredom.
B. fatigue.
C. learning.
D. all of these.
3. Which of these is NOT a possible explanation for obtaining null results in a valid experiment?
A. the levels of the independent variable are too similar to each other.
B. the experimenter used a valid and reliable measure of the dependent variable.
C. the manipulation of the independent variable was unsuccessful..
D. the dependent variable is subject to a floor effect.
4. Failure of an independent variable to produce changes in a dependent variable is called a
A. statistical error.
B. failure to replicate.
C. null result.
D. confound.
5. In an experiment, the variable that is expected to change as a result of some manipulation is termed
the
A. dependent variable.
B. independent variable.
C. control variable.
D. experimental variable.
6. A dependent variable
A. is manipulated by the experimenter.
B. leads to changes in the independent variable.
C. is a hypothetical construct that cannot be measured.
D. is measured by the experimenter.
7. The influence of an independent variable may not be accurately reflected in a dependent variable if
distorted by
A. counterbalancing.
B. randomization.
C. floor and ceiling effects.
D. chair and sofa effects.
8. Random selection refers to
A. the unreliability of two different experiments yielding different results.
B. the matching of participants on several different factors.
C. the process of categorizing continuous variables as dichotomous variables.
D. the technique used to ensure that each participant has an equal chance of being selected for an
experiment.
9. An interaction occurs when
A. the effect of one independent is different at the different levels of another independent variable.
B. the effect of one dependent variable is different at the different levels of the confounding variable.
C. chance results occur.
D. the effect of the dependent variable is not significant.
10. A major disadvantage of between-subjects designs is that
A. the effect of one treatment may alter the effectiveness of later treatments.
B. participant differences may obscure treatment effects.
C. one must employ fewer independent variables.
D. one can use only a single independent variable.
11. One reason for preferring randomization to matching for establishing group equivalence is that
A. randomization involves more confounding.
B. we do not know all the relevant variables to match.
C. counterbalancing does not require randomization.
D. randomization guarantees group equivalence.
12. A mixed design is one in which
A. there is one independent and one dependent variable.
B. at least one independent variable is tested within-subjects, and at least one other independent variable
is tested between-subjects.
C. at least one independent variable is manipulated, and at least one other independent variable is
controlled.
D. each participant receives all levels of each independent variable.
13. A control group or a control condition is included in an experiment in order to
A. evaluate experimenter effects and demand effects.
B. provide a baseline against which the variable of interest can be compared.
C. prevent ceiling or floor effects.
D. increase the generalizability of the results.
14. In an experiment testing the effects of alcohol on performance, Group A receives 3 nonalcoholic
beers, Group B receives 6 nonalcoholic beers, Group C receives 3 alcoholic beers, and Group D
receives 6 alcoholic beers. The independent variable(s) in this experiment is/are
A. amount of alcohol.
B. number of drinks.
C. amount of alcohol and number of drinks.
D. level of performance after drinking.
15. In the preceding example, if only Group A and Group D were included as conditions
A. the effects of both alcohol and number of drinks could be assessed.
B. the effect of alcohol only could be assessed.
C. the effect of number of drinks only could be assessed.
D. alcohol content and number of drinks would be confounded.
16. The Hawthorne effect is an example of
A. experimenter effects.
B. demand characteristics.
C. experimenter bias.
D. ceiling effects.
17. So-called critical experiments
A. test two theories that make different predictions.
B. test a theory that makes two different predictions.
C. involve an inductive approach.
D. involve a number of independent and dependent variables.
18. Regression to the mean implies that if extreme scores are obtained for some individuals and then
the observations are repeated, the second scores obtained for these same individuals will be
A. closer to the mean of the first scores of the entire group.
B. more extreme than the first scores of the entire group.
C. exactly the same as before.
D. unreliable.
19. In its most basic form, the __________ the levels of interest of the independent variable.
A. experimental group does not receive
B. control group does not receive
C. both the experimental and the control group do not receive
D. both the experimental and the control group receive
20. In an experiment the __________ variable is a manipulation of the environment controlled by the
experimenter.
A. control
B. experimental
C. dependent
D. independent
21. It is likely that you will find an interaction when
A. the dependent variable is affected by an independent variable.
B. the effect of one independent variable is affected by a second independent variable.
C. the effect of an independent variable is affected by the dependent variable.
D. there is a restriction of range problem.
22. In order to observe an interaction in the results of an experiment, which of the following must be
true?
A. There must be at least two independent variables.
B. There must be at least two dependent variables.
C. A critical experiment must be done.
D. A between-subjects design must be used.
23. What is a subject variable?
A. A characteristic or feature of a research participant used to assign that participant to a condition of an
experiment (e.g., the subject’s age).
B. The individual score of a subject on the dependent variable measure.
C. A characteristic or feature of a subject which is expected to change as the result of an experimental
manipulation.
D. The degree to which a subject responds to an experimental manipulation.
24. Which of the following uses a quasi-experimental design?
A. A researcher compares the effects of caffeine on sleep by assigning subjects randomly into one of 3
treatment groups (5, 10 or 20 mg. doses of caffeine) and recording EEGs of each subject throughout
the night.
 B. To see whether the effectiveness of a new method of reading instruction is different for bilingual
children vs. children who speak only English, 40 Bilingual and 40 English-Speaking children are
taught using the bilingual method for one semester and reading scores for the 2 groups are compared.
C. A clinical psychologist tests the relative effectiveness of two forms of therapy for treatment of panic
attacks by recruiting 20 people diagnosed with panic attacks and treating half with one form of
therapy and half with the other form of therapy for the same amount of time.
D. In a study of picture memory, 40 subjects are shown 1000 photographs under standard viewing
conditions and recognition of the pictures is tested 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks later.
25. A control variable is
A. under the control of the subject.
B. a potential independent variable that is held constant in an experiment.
C. a potential independent variable that is manipulated by the experimenter.
D. expected to change as the result of an experimental manipulation.
26. Automating an experiment can
A. greatly reduce the possibility of experimenter effects.
B. be a source of an experimenter effect.
C. eliminate the need for a control group.
D. prevent the occurrence of a floor effect.
27. One technique in psychological experiments is to keep the experimenter from knowing the
research hypothesis or the experimental condition of the subjects currently being tested. This helps
to prevent the problem of
A. ceiling effects.
B. carryover effects.
C. placebo effects.
D. experimenter effects.
28. A researcher wants to know whether a new drug reduces anxiety. Forty participants who suffer
from anxiety disorder are assigned randomly to one of two groups. One group gets the new drug
and the other group gets a placebo. Neither group knows which they receive. After 30 days on the
drug, their anxiety levels are measured. In this experiment, is the independent variable and is the
dependent variable.
A. anxiety, the new drug
B. the new drug, the placebo
C. anxiety, the placebo
D. the new drug, anxiety
29. The practice of repeating an experiment that has already been done to determine whether the same
effect is observed is called
A. regression.
B. replication.
C. randomization.
D. counterbalancing.
30. When an experiment produces null results
A. it is possible that the experimenter did not use a valid manipulation of the independent variable.
B. it shows that the independent variable manipulation produced a change in the dependent variable.
C. it shows that the dependent variable had no effect on the independent variable.
D. it is possible that the effect of the independent variable occurred by chance.
31. In an experiment with two independent variables, the occurrence of an interaction means that
A. the experiment was poorly designed.
B. there was a ceiling effect.
C. the effect of one independent variable was different at different levels of the other independent
variable.
D. the effect of one independent variable was the same at all levels of the other independent variable.
True-False
 1. T / F Randomization is an old and rarely used technique for creating equivalent groups in an
experiment.
2. T / F Counterbalancing reduces the problem of order in a within-subjects design.
3. T / F The effect of boredom or fatigue with a task are termed general practice effects.
4. T / F One criterion for a good dependent variable is stability in repeated measures.
5. T / F A weak manipulation of the independent variable may result in null results.
6. T / F Ceiling and floor effects are caused by careless counterbalancing.
7. T / F In order to obtain equivalent groups in between-subjects designs, you can use each
participant as his or her own control.
8. T / F A control variable is a potential dependent variable that is held constant during the
experiment.
9. T / F An interaction occurs when the effect of one independent variable is not the same at each
level of another independent variable.
10. T / F Matching is a technique used to equate experimental and control groups on certain variables.
11. T / F If an experimenter suspects that the effects of one treatment may linger on to alter a later
treatment, then that experimenter should use a within-subjects design.
12. T / F An experiment needs a dependent variable.
13. T / F Demand characteristics are those factors that are necessary to conduct an experiment.
14. T / F In a between-subjects design, each participant receives one level of the independent variable.
15. T / F A dependent variable is manipulated by the experimenter.
16. T / F Changes in the independent variable are presumably caused by changed in the dependent
variable.
17. T / F Counterbalancing is a common way to control for general practice effects.
18. T / F An experimenter can influence the outcome of an experiment by providing subtle cues to the
participant.
19. T / F One way to protect against experimenter effects is to conduct a double-blind experiment.
20. T / F Age, sex, and race are NOT examples of variables that would be used in a quasi-experiment.
21. T / F Matching cannot guard against confounding variables.
22. T / F In a quasi-experiment, participants can be randomly assigned to all experimental conditions.
23. T / F When data are presented in figures, the dependent variable is represented on the ordinate, and
the independent variable is presented on the abscissa.
24. T / F The following result is an example of an interaction: With normally active children, the
stimulating effect of amphetamines increases as the dosage increases, but with hyperactive
children, the greater the dosage of amphetamines, the calmer the children.
25. T / F In order to have an experiment, it is necessary to have at least two levels of the dependent
variable.

Essay Questions

1. Describe three techniques used to ensure equivalent groups in an experiment. Outline one
advantage and one disadvantage of each technique.

2. Describe the rationale for counterbalancing in an experiment.

3. What are null results? What are three possible explanations for null results?

4. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of within-subjects and between-subjects designs?

Describe a situation where one would prefer the use of one design over the other.
 5. What is counterbalancing? Provide two examples.

6. Describe an experiment in which a practice effect might be observed.

7. Describe the advantages of experimentation over the other research techniques. What are the
potential problems with experimentation? How are these problems avoided?

8. Give an example of an experiment in which an interaction is predicted. Draw a graph or create a

data table that illustrates the predicted interaction.

9. A researcher tests for the effects of caffeine on the recall of a list of 20 unrelated nouns and finds
that there is no difference between the experimental group and the control group in the number of
words they recall. The mean number recalled by the experimental group was 19.5 words and the
mean number recalled by the control group was 19.0 words. What is one possible problem that
might explain these results? Suggest a way to correct the problem in a future experiment.

10. Imagine that you are testing the relative effectiveness of a new reading program for English-
speaking vs. bilingual children using a quasi-experimental design. What are some of the steps you
would take to obtain equivalent groups for your experiment?

1. The first part of a psychology article is

A. the heading introduction.
B. the title.
C. a brief summary of new findings.
D. the major result of the experiment.
2. In a manuscript or report, you should
A. indicate where the tables should be placed in the discussion.
B. place all tables on the same page, but place each figure on a separate page.
C. number each table consecutively, and place each table on a separate page.
D. avoid using tables or figures.
3. A journal article title should be
A. long, describing the variables and the most significant result.
B. short, but giving some idea of the contents of the article.
C. composed of a title and several subtitles corresponding to the method, results, and discussion sections.
D. vague and uninformative.
4. The __________ is a short paragraph that summarizes the key points of an article.
A. introduction
B. method section
C. results section
D. abstract
5. The careful writer of an article or report avoids language that is
A. sexist.
B. ambiguous.
C. suspenseful.
D. all of these.
6. Theoretical conclusions are usually stated in the
A. introduction.
B. method section.
C. results section.
D. discussion.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true of the reference section?
A. The reference section contains exact titles of articles.
B. Only articles cited in the text appear in the references.
C. The contents of the reference section can be informative about the merit of an article.
D. The reference section provides a complete bibliography on the topic of the report.
8. Which of the following should be included in the introduction of a journal article?
A. the obtained results
B. the hypothesis to be tested
C. the experimental design
D. the apparatus used in the experiment
9. The method section should contain enough information for
A. another experimenter to replicate the study.
B. the reader to have a general understanding of how the study was done.
C. the reader to have a vague idea of how the study was done.
D. someone to know exactly what statistical analyses were performed in the experiment.
10. Which of the following should NOT be included in the method section?
A. how the participants were selected
B. the instructions provided
C. the statistical design
D. the results of the statistical analysis
11. In general, use the past tense
A. in the review of studies in the introduction and in the method.
B. only in the method.
C. only in the introduction.
D. only in the results.
12. Which of the following would you be unlikely to find in the results section in a journal article?
A. graphs
B. summary tables
C. inferential statistics
D. raw data
13. In the results section, inferential statistics are presented to
A. summarize the data.
B. enable the reader to decide whether or not the data are reliable.
C. enable the reader to decide whether or not the data are important.
D. enable the author to demonstrate that his results actually tested the hypothesis.
14. F(4, 60) = 15.10, p < .01 means that if the experiment were performed 100 times, the results would
be similar in at least _________ cases.
A. 90
B. 95
C. 99
D. 100
15. One might describe the apparatus used in an experiment in the
A. introduction.
B. method section.
C. results section.
D. discussion.
 16. The appropriate level of significance for the statistical analysis of a given experiment is
determined by
A. the situation.
B. the number of participants in the study.
C. what everybody else does.
D. the particular journal.
Which section of a journal article is the writer usually the most creative?

A. introduction
B. method
C. results
D. discussion.
Which section of the journal would you turn to if you wanted to know what variables were used in an
experiment?

A. introduction
B. method
C. results
D. discussion
19. Which of the following would NOT be found in the methods section?
A. how many participants or subjects were used
B. how the participants or subjects were selected
C. where the participants or subjects came from
D. the individual responses of each participant

20. The method section should contain

A. information about the participants.
B. a description of the apparatus used in the experiment.
C. the procedure of the experiment.
D. all of these
21. Which of the following is a useful source for finding recent articles that cite a key reference?
A. APA Publication Manual
B. Social Science Citation Index
C. a textbook
D. an older article on the same topic
22. Ordinarily, journal articles written in APA style contain headings for all of the major sections of a
paper except the _________ section.
A. introduction
B. method
C. results
D. discussion
23. The ________ appears at the top of each page of a published article.
A. subtitle
B. abstract
C. author note
D. running head
24. Usually, the abstract contains about
A. 25-50 words
B. 100-180 words
C. 250-300 words
D. 350+ words
 25. In the introduction, the review of the literature should include
A. only the most recent article related to the topic.
B. all of the literature that is related to the topic even if it is not directly pertinent.
C. a review of the most relevant literature on the topic.
D. only the literature published by the authors of the paper.
26. The cover page of the manuscript should include
A. the title.
B. the author’s name.
C. the author’s affiliation.
D. all of these.
27. The running head appears at the _______ of each page of a published article.
A. top
B. bottom
C. center
D. bottom and center
28. Psychology journals provide __________ titles of the referenced articles.
A. partial
B. abbreviated
C. alternative
D. full
29. The authors of the text comment that the abstract should probably be written _____ although most
authors usually write it _____.
A. last; first
B. second; first
C. first; last
D. first; second
30. The abstract should NOT include
A. a summary of the relevant literature.
B. the variables being manipulated.
C. a summary of the important findings.
D. a sentence discussing the author’s interpretation of the results.

31. Which of the following information would be UNNECESSARY to report in a method section?
A. the number of participants
B. the procedure for data collection
C. an explanation for a commonly used experimental procedure
D. a description of the materials used

32. When writing a research report, the first step after coming up with an idea is usually

A. conducting a literature search.

B. obtaining funding.
C. seeking IRB approval.
D. composing an outline

33. Participants in an experiment are asked to decide as quickly as possible whether a briefly presented
stimulus is or is not a word. This is called
A. a lexical decision task.
 B. counterbalancing.
C. a practice effect.
D. a within-subjects design.

34. A Reference section differs from a bibliography in that a Reference list includes
A. all relevant citations.
B. only articles cited in text.
C. only empirically proven research.
D. both scientific and non-scientific research.
35. When reading a research report, it is often helpful to
A. read the results section first.
B. skip over the introduction.
C. accept the interpretation of the results given by the authors without question.
D. try to design a study to address the hypothesis before reading the method section.

36. When writing a research report, it is best to

A. vary the words used to describe aspects of the method to keep the reader interested.
B. be consistent in the words used to describe aspects of the method to make the report as clear as
possible.
C. avoid the use of technical terms that are familiar to other researchers.
D. avoid providing too many details of the method so that others cannot copy the research.

37. In the introduction of a research report,

A. prior research on the topic is reviewed.
B. details of the method used to do the study are reported.
C. statistical analyses of the data are reported.
D. interpretations of the results of the study are discussed.
When reading a research report, the critical reader will

A. not be concerned with the details of the method used.

B. accept the method used as adequate to address the hypothesis posed.
C. not consider alternative methods to test the hypothesis.
D. consider whether the method used can answer the question posed by the researcher.
39. The results section of a research report should include
A. details of the procedure used to collect the data.
B. the statistical analyses used to examine the data.
C. the individual data for each participant.
D. an interpretation of the results of the analysis.
40. Which of the following sentences would NOT be expected in the method section of an APA style
research report?
A. “There were 18 participants (8 Female, 10 Male) who received course credit for their participation.”
B. “The dependent variable was recall measured by the number correct on a free recall test.”
C. “A standardized test of state anxiety was used to ensure that the anxiety manipulation was successful.”
D. “There was a significant difference between the groups in number correct on the recall test, t(40)
=2.33, p < .05.”

True-False
 1. T / F A person must have at least a master’s degree to publish work in major psychology journals.
2. T / F Only articles cited in the text of the paper should be included in the references.
3. T / F The abstract is placed at the end of a paper and consists only of methodological information.
4. T / F The method section can contain several subsections such as apparatus, procedure, and
stimuli.
5. T / F The title is too short to give one an idea of the contents of an article.
6. T / F The rationale behind the predictions of an experiment can be found in the introduction
section.
7. T / F Equipment used in an experiment to collect data (e.g., computer) is usually not mentioned in
the method section of the manuscript.
8. T / F In a paper written for a class project, the APA manual states that figures and tables always be
placed at the end of the paper.
9. T / F The results section tells what happened in the experiment.
10. T / F The level of significance should always remain the same despite the situation.
11. T / F Theoretical conclusions are stated in the results section.
12. T / F The abstract of a journal article is a short paragraph that summarizes the key points of an
article.
13. T / F The importance of the experimental findings is usually discussed in the discussion section.
14. T / F There is a fixed rule for setting an appropriate level of statistical significance.
15. T / F It is sometimes helpful to draw graphs from the data presented in tables.
16. T / F The way a graph or figure is drawn can emphasize or conceal obtained results.
17. T / F In a manuscript or journal article, the running head does not appear on the title page.
18. T / F The discussion of a journal article is the least creative part of an article.
19. T / F The present tense should be used in the review of other studies in the introduction and in the
method section.
20. T / F Titles and journal names of referenced articles are abbreviated in psychology journals.
21. T / F Data and phenomena are the singular forms of these nouns.
22. T / F You should not include too many details in your methods section, because other researchers
who read it might steal your ideas.
23. T / F It is important to be suspenseful when writing a research report so that the reader will remain
intrigued.
24. T / F The theoretical conclusions are presented in the introduction of a research report.

Essay Questions

1. What are the questions that a critical reader should ask when reading each section of a journal
article?

2. Read one of the articles cited in the chapter and answer each of the questions given in the
Checklist for the Critical Reader.

3. Discuss each of the major sections of a manuscript fit for publication. In what order do you think a
manuscript should be written? Why?

4. Discuss what you think makes an article suitable for publication.

5. How would you go about learning what research has already been done on a topic of interest to
you? Be specific about the sources you would use and the steps you would follow.

6. Describe the review process of manuscripts submitted for publication. Who reviews the
manuscript? Why?

7. What makes a good title for a research report? Why is a good title important?

8. What information should be included in the methods section of a research report? Why is an
accurate, detailed methods section important?

9. What is one important reason to publicize the results of empirical research?

10. Explain the two main purposes of the method section of an empirical research report.