Mastering Confounding Variables in Research

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Which of the following is a potential confounding variable in an experiment?

A variable that differs between the experimental and control groups (correct)

The independent variable

The dependent variable

A variable that is controlled by the experimenter

What is the placebo effect?

Harm resulting from the expectation of harm

Improvement because you expect improvement (correct)

Cues that participants pick up on to guess the researcher's hypothesis

Researcher hypotheses leading to biased outcomes

What is the purpose of informed consent in research?

To fully inform participants about the research procedures

To ensure participants enter the study voluntarily (correct)

To determine the statistical significance of the findings

To protect participants against abuses

What is the measure of central tendency that represents the middle score in a set of data?

Median Signup and view all the answers

What is the measure of variability that represents the difference between the highest and lowest score in a set of data?

Range Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of inferential statistics?

To determine whether findings can be generalized to a larger population Signup and view all the answers

What is the level of statistical significance commonly represented as?

p < .05 Signup and view all the answers

Which mode of thinking requires little mental effort and involves heuristics (mental shortcuts)?

Intuitive thinking (system #1) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of random selection in scientific research?

To ensure that every person in the general population has an equal chance of being chosen Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between reliability and validity in research?

Reliability refers to consistency of measurement, while validity refers to the extent to which a measure assesses what it claims to measure Signup and view all the answers

Which type of research design involves watching behavior in real-world settings?

Naturalistic observation Signup and view all the answers

What was the original purpose of prefrontal lobotomy?

To treat schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders Signup and view all the answers

What did subsequent objective and controlled studies show about prefrontal lobotomy?

It did not work and had serious negative effects Signup and view all the answers

Which mode of thinking requires mental effort and is slow and reflective?

Analytical thinking (system #2) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes case study designs?

They examine a small number of people over an extended period of time. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about self-report measures?

They assess a variety of characteristics using questionnaires and surveys. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes correlations?

They examine the extent to which variables are associated. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about correlation-causation fallacy?

It is the error of assuming that correlation implies causation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes illusionary correlations?

They are perceived associations between two things that do not exist. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes experimental designs?

They manipulate variables to see cause-and-effect relationships. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes between-groups design?

It involves two or more groups given different treatments. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about statistical significance and practical significance?

Larger sample sizes increase the likelihood of statistical significance but not practical significance Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between effect size, statistical significance, and overall relevance of findings?

Large effect sizes coupled with statistically significant results increase the overall relevance of findings Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if a finding is statistically significant but not practically significant?

The finding is too small to have meaningful consequences in the real world Signup and view all the answers

How does sample size affect the likelihood of finding statistical significance?

Larger sample sizes increase the likelihood of finding statistical significance Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of meta-analytic research in determining practical significance?

To determine the real-world importance or consequences of findings Signup and view all the answers

If a finding is statistically significant, does it always have practical significance?

No, statistical significance does not necessarily imply practical significance Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if a finding is statistically significant and has a large effect size?

The finding is both unlikely to be due to chance and has real-world consequences Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between sample size and practical significance?

Sample size has no impact on practical significance Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between statistical significance and practical significance?

Statistical significance and practical significance are unrelated Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is associated with learning and memory?

Glutamate Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is inhibitory and causes a calming effect?

GABA Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter influences arousal, selective attention, sleep, and memory?

Acetylcholine Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is associated with motor function and reward?

Dopamine Signup and view all the answers

Which practice was popular in the 1800's and assessed the brain by examining enlargements of the skull?

Phrenology Signup and view all the answers

Which neuropeptide relieves pain?

Endorphins Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain is responsible for thinking, planning, attention, and language?

Frontal lobe Signup and view all the answers

What did phrenologists associate with the bumps on the skull?

Personality traits and abilities Signup and view all the answers

What is the most developed area of the human brain responsible for advanced intellectual abilities?

Cerebral cortex Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the practice of phrenology?

It was proven to be false Signup and view all the answers

What are neuropsychology tests presently used for?

Testing cognitive functioning Signup and view all the answers

What must neuropsychology tests be carefully designed to accommodate?

Language and culture influences Signup and view all the answers

What is one application of neuropsychology tests?

Testing cognitive functioning in people with brain damage Signup and view all the answers

What is the question asking for additional information about?

Brain scans Signup and view all the answers

Which brain imaging technique relies on magnetic fields and measures changes in blood oxygen level to indirectly visualize brain structure?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Signup and view all the answers

Which brain imaging technique measures changes in brain activity by examining the consumption of radioactive glucose-like molecules that are ingested?

Positron emission tomography (PET) Signup and view all the answers

Which brain imaging technique applies strong and rapidly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull to either enhance or interrupt brain functions?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) Signup and view all the answers

Which brain imaging technique measures tiny magnetic fields to detect electrical activity in the brain and the rest of the nervous system?

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Signup and view all the answers

Which component of a neuron receives information from other neurons?

Dendrites Signup and view all the answers

Which type of brain cell controls blood flow in the brain and forms the blood-brain barrier?

Astrocytes Signup and view all the answers

What is the resting potential of a neuron?

The membrane potential when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited Signup and view all the answers

Which lobe of the brain plays a role in hearing, understanding language, and storing autobiographical memories?

Temporal lobe Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain is involved in movement and muscle control, as well as evaluating goals, risks, rewards, and consequences?

Basal ganglia Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain plays a key role in fear, excitement, and arousal?

Amygdala Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain connects the cerebral cortex and spinal cord, and serves as a relay station between the cortex and the rest of the nervous system?

Brain stem Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the nervous system controls and coordinates voluntary movement?

Somatic nervous system Signup and view all the answers

Which gland is known as the 'master gland' and releases hormones that influence growth, blood pressure, reproductive functions, and interpersonal trust?

Pituitary gland Signup and view all the answers