Practice Exercises (PDF)

1\. To measure the effect of background music on retention of verbal material, volunteers were randomly assigned to read a short story under one of two conditions: (a) while listening to a recording of Beethoven's Second Symphony, and (b) while listening to silence. The method used is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_...

1\. To measure the effect of background music on retention of verbal material, volunteers were randomly assigned to read a short story under one of two conditions: (a) while listening to a recording of Beethoven's Second Symphony, and (b) while listening to silence. The method used is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ A retrospective case study\ B between-subjects experiment\ C sample study\ D within-subjects experiment 2\. Which of the following is TRUE? A A naturalistic observation involves observing humans or animals in their natural setting. B A naturalistic observation decreases the ecological validity of a study.\ C Reactivity is not a problem in naturalistic observations.\ D Naturalistic observations always rely on a random sample of behaviors collected by a keen observer. 3\. An organization of newspaper publishers commissioned a research to get evidence concerning the potential link between reading newspapers and being well-informed on current events. The question that the researcher was asked to answer is likely to be \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A "Why did something (i.e., an event) happen? B "How often does X (i.e., a variable) occur? C "Does X (i.e., a variable) have an effect on Y (i.e., another variable)? D "What happens? E "Are X (i.e., a variable) and Y (i.e., another variable) related? 4\. Imagine that some researchers want to study the shopping habits of people visiting malls during the weekend. Each researcher hides behind a column next to the main entrance of different malls. Then, for two weekends, between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm, researchers watch people walking out. For each person, they record the number of bags that he/she carries and the labels on the bags. A "Why did something (i.e., an event) happen? B "How often does X (i.e., a variable) occur? C "Does X (i.e., a variable) have an effect on Y (i.e., another variable)? D "What happens"? E "Are X (i.e., a variable) and Y (i.e., another variable) related? 5\. A \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is a study in which the researcher records current behavior in everyday life and does not change the situation in which the research participants are involved. A sample study\ B experiment\ C naturalistic observation\ D retrospective case study 6\. A researcher wants to understand whether couples' use of bank cards before being married can explain their wealth 10 years after marriage. This study is likely to be a(n) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A sample study\ B experiment\ C naturalistic observation\ D retrospective case study 7\. Researchers want to know whether nurses who work 8-hour shifts deliver higher-quality care than those who work 12-hour shifts. What is the *null hypothesis*? A Nurses who work 8-hour shifts and nurses who work 12-hour shifts deliver higher-quality care than all other nurses.\ B Nurses who work 12-hour shifts deliver higher-quality care than nurses who work 8-hour shifts.\ C Nurses who work 8-hour shifts deliver higher-quality care than nurses who work 12-hour shifts.\ D Nurses who work 8-hour shifts and nurses who work 12-hour shifts deliver the same high-quality care. 8. A prediction regarding the outcome of a study is a(n) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A theory B hypothesis C independent variable D dependent variable 9\. Ray was interested in the behavior of sheep. Thus, he went to the park to observe them. Ray is using the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ method of research. A retrospective case study B within-subjects experiment\ C naturalistic observation\ D correlational study 10. To assess the effects of psychotherapy as opposed to drug therapy, the progress of schizophrenic patients receiving these therapies was observed. All participants were diagnosed schizophrenic, and were assigned to treatment conditions randomly. What is the method used? A Correlational study\ B Sample study\ C Between-subjects experiment\ D Within-subjects experiment 11\. In a study examining the effect of induced anxiety on response speed, anxiety would be \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A independent variable\ B dependent variable\ C control group\ D experimental group 12\. In a study examining the effects of deadlines on workers' likelihood of cheating, cheating would be the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A independent variable\ B dependent variable\ C control group\ D experimental group 13\. A definition of a variable in terms of the activities a researcher used to measure or manipulate it is a(n) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A dependent variable B operational definition\ C theory\ D independent variable 14\. In an investigation of the effects of type of learning on exam performance, students were randomly assigned to one of two conditions/groups. In one condition, students studied in a traditional manner (i.e., alone using notes they took during the lectures). In another condition, students studied in groups sharing notes from class lectures. The method used was \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ A retrospective case study\ B between-subjects experiment\ C sample study\ D within-subjects experiment 15\. Is training puppies with toys more or less effective than training puppies with treats? What is the likely *alternative hypothesis*? A Training puppies with toys is as effective as training puppies with treats. B Training puppies with toys and training puppies with treats differ in effectiveness. C Training puppies with either treats or toys is more effective than training them with other methods.\ D The effectiveness of training puppies with toys equals the effectiveness of training puppies with treats. 16\. In a study on caffeine and stress in college students, a relationship was found between the number of cups of coffee students drink per day and their stress level. What is the *method* used in this study? A Sample study B Retrospective case study C Within-subjects experiment\ D Correlational study 17\. The following is a summary of a published study: An investigator observed seating patterns in a bus station waiting room. She wanted to know where people like to sit. She found that people almost always sit at opposite ends of benches, except when both ends of the benches are already occupied. *What is the purpose of the study? Underline the text that contains the answer.* 18\. The following is an abstract of a published study: Zimbardo (1973) studied how a social environment can bring out brutality in presumably "normal" people. He assigned volunteers to be either guards or prisoners in a simulated prison. In less than a week, some of the guards had become sadistic and some of the prisoners so depressed that the simulation had to be cancelled. *What are the results of the study? Underline the text that contains the answer. Name the method of this study.* 19\. A strong (negative) correlation between depression and physical fitness was found. What does it mean? A Individuals who are depressed are less likely to be healthy. B Individuals who are depressed and those who are not depressed are equally likely to be sick.\ C Individuals who are depressed tend to be as likely as those who are not depressed to be sick. D The more people are depressed, the more likely they are to be healthy. 20\. The following is an abstract of a published study: A study was conducted to determine whether students who study with music playing remember information as much as those who study under quiet conditions. Two hundred students who were taking a foreign language class were randomly assigned to either a music or a no-music condition. They were asked to study a list of words while listening to classical music (100 students) or under quiet conditions (100 students). Researchers found that there was no difference between the two groups of students. The authors admit that additional work should be done to understand whether a student's favorite music might produce similar or different results. *Underline the text that contains the method. In addition, name the method.* 21\. The following is an abstract of a published study: A study was conducted to determine whether students who study with music playing remember information as much as those who study under quiet conditions. Two hundred students who were taking a foreign language class were randomly assigned to either a music or a no-music condition. They were asked to study a list of words while listening to classical music (100 students) or under quiet conditions (100 students). Researchers found that there was no difference between the two groups of students. The authors admit that additional work should be done to understand whether a student's favorite music might produce similar or different results. What is the *null hypothesis*? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ What is the *alternative hypothesis*? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 22\. What are the appropriate *null* and *alternative hypotheses* for a study in which researchers want to test whether there is a difference in kindness between children who have been exposed to two different child-rearing practices (i.e., democratic and authoritarian)? What is the *null hypothesis*? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ What is the *alternative hypothesis*? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 23\. Counselors at Brainy University believe that freshmen at their university are younger than freshmen at Harvard University. If they want to test this belief, what is the *null hypothesis*? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ If they want to test this belief, what is the *alternative hypothesis*? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 24\. A researcher at PMU wants to survey parents in Saudi Arabia regarding their conceptions of child-rearing practices. She decides to conduct a survey of parents who sent their children to kindergartens at Al Khobar. What is the *population* in this study? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ What is the *sample* in this study? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 25\. Some researchers are interested in the effects of rewards on desirable behavior. Some students are reinforced with a head nod by a cafeteria employee whenever they clean their trays before leaving the cafeteria. Other students do not receive a head nod when they clean their trays. A random number generator decides what each student will get (i.e., a nod or nothing). What is the *independent variable* of this study? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ What is the *dependent variable* of this study? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ What is the *method* used in this study? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_