Question 1

Which of the following best describes the purpose of the scientific method in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

To systematically gather data and test hypotheses to draw evidence-based conclusions.

Question 2

A researcher wants to test whether a new teaching method improves student performance. She randomly assigns students to two groups: one receives the new method, the other receives the standard method. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

The new teaching method

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of hindsight bias?

Accepted Answer

Believing you could have predicted the outcome of an experiment after learning the results.

Question 4

A psychologist conducts a study using a survey to collect data from a randomly selected group of college students. What is the main advantage of using random sampling in this context?

Accepted Answer

It allows the results to be generalized to the broader population.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about the normal distribution is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 68% of scores fall within one standard deviation of the mean.

Question 6

A researcher finds a correlation coefficient of $$r = -0.70$$ between stress and sleep quality. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

There is a strong negative relationship between stress and sleep quality.

Question 7

Which of the following research methods can establish a cause-and-effect relationship?

Accepted Answer

Controlled experiment

Question 8

What is the main purpose of using a double-blind procedure in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

To reduce the influence of both participant and experimenter bias.

Question 9

A test consistently yields the same results when administered to the same person on different occasions, but it does not measure what it is supposed to measure. This test is:

Accepted Answer

Reliable but not valid

Question 10

Which of the following is a confounding variable in an experiment testing the effect of a new drug on memory?

Accepted Answer

Participants' prior sleep the night before testing

Question 11

A researcher calculates the range of a data set using the formula $$Range = Maximum\ Value - Minimum\ Value. If $$the maximum value is 120 and the minimum value is 80, what is the range?

Accepted Answer

$$Range = 120 - 80 = 40$$

Question 12

Which measure of central tendency is most affected by outliers?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Question 13

A psychologist wants to study the long-term effects of childhood trauma. Which research method would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal study

Question 14

What does a Z-score of $$+2$$ indicate in a normal distribution?

Accepted Answer

The score is two standard deviations above the mean.

Question 15

Which ethical principle requires that participants be told about the purpose, procedures, risks, and their right to withdraw from a study before it begins?

Accepted Answer

Informed consent

Question 16

A researcher finds that the correlation coefficient between two variables is $$r = +0.33. $$Which of the following statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

There is a weak positive relationship between the variables.

Question 17

Why is replication important in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

It ensures that findings are not due to chance and can be generalized.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the placebo effect?

Accepted Answer

A change in participants' behavior caused by their expectations of receiving treatment.

Question 19

A researcher wants to know if her findings can be generalized to the entire population. Which type of statistics should she use?

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics

Question 20

Which of the following is a limitation of all non-experimental research methods?

Accepted Answer

They cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Foundations of Psychological Science: Science Practices, Research Methods, and Statistics

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