Research Roles
As a true empiricist, one should:
Base one’s conclusions on direct observations.
In the context of personal experience, what does a confound mean?
Another thing might have also occurred to produce the outcome.
Which validity would you be interrogating by asking: How well did the researchers measure sensitivity to tastes in this study?
Construct validity
Which of the following is NOT one of the three principles of the Belmont Report?
a. Respect for persons b. Justice c. Beneficence d. Fidelity and responsibility
D
Which of the following variables is manipulated, rather than measured?
a. Number of shoes owned, in pairs. b. A person’s height, in cm. c. Amount of aspirin a researcher gives a person to take, either 325 mg or 500 mg. d. Degree of happiness, rated on a scale from 1 to 10. e. Type of praise a researcher uses in groups of dogs: verbal praise or a clicking sound paired with treats.
C & E
A statement or set of statements that describes general principles about how variables relate to one another is a(n) _______.
Theory
What does it mean to say that research results are probabilistic?
Research conclusions explain a certain proportion of possible cases but may not explain all.
Which validity would you be interrogating by asking: How did the researchers get their sample of people for this survey?
External validity
In a drug study, the group receiving a placebo does worse than the group receiving the drug. Which Belmont Report principle requires the placebo group to be offered the drug?
Beneficence
Which headline is an association claim?
a. Chewing Gum Can Improve Your Mood and Focus b. Handling Money Decreases Helpful Behavior in Young Children c. Workaholism Is Tied to Psychiatric Disorders d. Eating Kiwis May Help You Fall Asleep
C
Why is publication an important part of the research process?
Because when a study is published, other scientists can verify or challenge it, making science self-correcting.
Marcelino concluded that suicide is the most common cause of teen death after hearing about two cases. Which cognitive bias may have influenced him?
Availability heuristic
In most experiments, trade-offs are made between validities. What is the most common trade-off?
Internal and external validity
To study a sample from one ethnic group, researchers must show that the problem is especially prevalent in that group. This is an application of which Belmont principle?
Justice
Which headline is a frequency claim?
a. Obese Kids Are Less Sensitive to Tastes b. Eighty Percent of Women Feel Dissatisfied with How Their Bodies Look c. Feeling Fat? Maybe Facebook Is to Blame d. Daycare and Behavior Problems Are Not Linked
B
Which of the following jobs most likely involves producer-of-research skills rather than consumer-of-research skills?
a. Police officer b. University Professor c. Physician d. Journalist
B
When is it a good idea to base conclusions on the advice of authorities?
When authorities base their advice on research that systematically and objectively compares different conditions.
What does internal reliability refer to?
The consistency of people’s responses on multiple items of a measure, such as Cronbach's alpha.
Following a study using deception, how does the researcher restore an honest relationship with the participant?
By debriefing each participant in a structured conversation.
Which of the following headlines is a causal claim?
a. Taking a Deep Breath Helps Minimize High Blood Pressure, Anxiety, and Depression b. Younger People Can’t Read Emotions on Wrinkled Faces c. Strange But True: Babies Born in the Autumn Are More Likely to Live to 100 d. Check the Baby! Many New Moms Show Signs of OCD
A
Which of the following research questions best illustrates an example of basic research?
a. Has our company’s new marketing campaign led to an increase in sales? b. How satisfied are our patients with the sensitivity of the nursing staff? c. Does wearing kinesio-tape reduce joint pain in figure skaters? d. Can 2-month-old human infants tell the difference between four objects and six objects?
D
Which of the following is the most reliable source for reading the details of a psychological study?
a. Scientific journals b. Online podcasts c. Newspaper science pages d. Full-length books
A
How is interrater reliability tested?
By correlating ratings made by different judges or raters, often using statistical tests like r = .95 (high correlation).
What type of research misconduct involves representing others' ideas or words as one’s own?
Plagiarism
Which type of validity involves ensuring the sample represents the larger population?
External validity