Chapter 2: Reading and Evaluating Scientific Research PDF

Krause, Corts, Dolderman, Smith, Psychological Science, Canadian Edition, Chapter 2: Reading and Evaluating Scientific Research 1) Before beginning an experiment, researchers use operational definitions to define exactly how variables like "intelligence" or "happiness" will be...

Krause, Corts, Dolderman, Smith, Psychological Science, Canadian Edition, Chapter 2: Reading and Evaluating Scientific Research 1) Before beginning an experiment, researchers use operational definitions to define exactly how variables like "intelligence" or "happiness" will be measured. Correct: Operational definitions are statements that describe the procedures (or operations) and/or specific measures that are used to record observations. By carefully defining psychological terms such as "intelligence" or "happiness," everyone can understand exactly how these variables are being objectively measured. Diff: 2 Type: FIB Page Reference: 33 Skill: Factual Objective: Know the key terminology related to the principles of scientific research. 2) Demand characteristics are a major problem in psychology research, and can cause participants to change their behavior based on how they think they are supposed to behave. Correct: Demand characteristics are inadvertent cues given off by the experimenter or the experimental context that provide information about how participants are expected to behave. Demand characteristics can range from very subtle to obvious influences on the behavior of research participants Diff: 2 Type: FIB Page Reference: 36-38 Skill: Conceptual Objective: Understand how biases might influence the outcome of a study. 3) Before research findings can be published they go through peer review, which is a process in which papers submitted to publication in scholarly journals are read and critiqued by experts in the specific field of study. Correct: In the peer review process, the editors and reviewers serve as gatekeepers for the discipline, ensuring that the best research is made public. Diff: 2 Type: FIB Page Reference: 39 Skill: Factual Objective: Know the key terminology related to the principles of scientific research. 4) Tabitha is convinced that vaccines cause autism because her friend's child was diagnosed with autism only a week after being vaccinated. Because Tabitha's "evidence" is essentially a story Copyright © 2015 Pearson Canada Inc. Page 1 of 3  Krause, Corts, Dolderman, Smith, Psychological Science, Canadian Edition, Chapter 2: Reading and Evaluating Scientific Research about one person, it should be considered anecdotal evidence and cannot be considered reliable. Correct: Anecdotal evidence is an individual's story about an observation or event that is used to make a claim as evidence. Although sometimes correct, it is too unreliable to form a basis for scientific conclusions, even if the basic facts of the story are correct. Diff: 2 Type: FIB Page Reference: 41 Skill: Applied Objective: Analyze whether anecdotes, authority figures, and common sense are reliably truthful sources of information. 5) Case studies, naturalistic observation, and surveys and questionnaires are all types of descriptive research, because they can only be used to collect observations. Correct: The goal of descriptive research is to simply describe the thing being studied. In psychology, this is usually accomplished by using case studies, naturalistic observation, or surveys and questionnaires. Diff: 2 Type: FIB Page Reference: 45 Skill: Conceptual Objective: Know the key terminology related to research designs. 6) Experimental designs are the only research method that can provide strong evidence for cause-and-effect relationships. Correct: It is the manipulation of variables along with random assignment that allows an experiment to make cause-and-effect conclusions about the independent and dependent variables. Diff: 2 Type: FIB Page Reference: Module 2.2 Skill: Factual Objective: Understand how experiments help demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships. 7) To study the effect of subliminal advertising on consumer behavior, participants were randomly assigned to watch a movie either with or without subliminal advertising. The group of participants that saw the movie without the ads is called the control group. Copyright © 2015 Pearson Canada Inc. Page 2 of 3  Krause, Corts, Dolderman, Smith, Psychological Science, Canadian Edition, Chapter 2: Reading and Evaluating Scientific Research Correct: A control group is the group that does not receive the treatment and therefore serves as a comparison for the experimental group(s). Diff: 2 Type: FIB Page Reference: 52 Skill: Applied Objective: Know the key terminology related to research designs. 8) Research participants in psychology studies must give informed consent, meaning that they are told about the experiment—including any potential risks—and then freely agree to participate. Correct: Current research practice uses the concept of informed consent: A potential volunteer must be informed (know the purpose, tasks, and risks involved in the study) and give consent (agree to participate based on the information provided) without pressure. Diff: 2 Type: FIB Page Reference: 56 Skill: Conceptual Objective: Know the key terminology of research ethics. Copyright © 2015 Pearson Canada Inc. Page 3 of 3