Research Methods and Statistics Part 2

The standard deviation is the most useful measure of variation in a set of data because it tells us

• how much individual scores differ from the mean

• the difference between the highest and lowest scores in the set

• the extent to which the sample being used deviates from the bigger population it represnts

• how much scores differ from the mode

A(n) ________ is a well-developed set of ideas that proposes an explanation for observed phenomena.

• hypothesis

• conclusion

• theory

• operational definition

Dr. Mattar is interested in knowing more about brain injury to the occipital cortex, and he studies patients individually in order to gain in-depth knowledge about their behaviors. These studies would best be described as ________.

• case studies

• correlational

• cross-sectional

• surveys

Which correlation coefficient best represents a moderate relationship showing fewer anxiety symptoms in people who report higher life satisfaction?

• -0.53

• -0.21

• +0.13

• +0.78

A group of researchers investigated the effects of two vocabulary learning strategies on word retention two weeks later. In this example, learning strategy is the ​ (a)   variable and word retention is the ​ (b)   variable.

• independent
• dependent
• control
• experimental

Stan and Jenny are in a psychology course that requires them to repeat an experiment that researchers have conducted in the past, in order to determine whether they produce the same results. This is called ________.

• replication

• inter-rater reliability

• standardization

• validity

What is the range of the following: 12, 25, 33, 40, 80?

• 68

• 98

• 33

• 38

The overall purpose of statistics is to

• determine statistical significance

• make numbers meaningful

• identify the center of a distribution of numbers

• discover how two variables are related

An upper-level psychology class is conducting an experiment on racial prejudice that involves having participants rate the likeability of faces in a set of photos. However, they tell participants that the study is about the effects of aging on likeability. When participants are finished, they are thanked for their time and leave the experiment. In this example, the class forgot to ​ (a)   in order to resolve the ​ (b)   in the study.

• debrief participants
• deception
• pay participants
• get informed consent
• ageist attitudes
• unfair questions
• use of personal photos

Which of the following is not an ethical principle regarding experimental research on humans?

• Participants should always be informed of the hypothesis of the study before they agree to participate

• Researchers must protect participants from needless harm and discomfort

• Participants must take part in the study on a voluntary basis

• Personal information about individual participants must be kept confidential