Psychology Exam Questions PDF

What is a Hypothesis? A prediction about what will happen in the experiment A guess with no scientific basis A conclusion based on data analysis A variable in an experiment A Hypothesis must be able to be proven what? Falsifiable True Plausible Measurable Is this a Hypothesis: Drinking...

What is a Hypothesis? A prediction about what will happen in the experiment A guess with no scientific basis A conclusion based on data analysis A variable in an experiment A Hypothesis must be able to be proven what? Falsifiable True Plausible Measurable Is this a Hypothesis: Drinking coffee will increase happiness levels. TRUE FALSE Not enough information Only if tested scientifically What is an Independent Variable (IV)? The variable that the researcher changes or manipulates The variable that remains constant The variable affected by the manipulation A characteristic of the participant What is a Dependent Variable (DV)? The outcome the researcher measures to see the effect of the IV The variable the researcher changes or manipulates A characteristic that cannot be altered A control variable in the study What kind of variable is: Giving coffee or no coffee to participants? Independent Variable (IV) Dependent Variable (DV) Subject Variable (SV) Outcome Variable (OV) What kind of variable is: Participants' happiness levels after drinking coffee in a study? Dependent Variable (DV) Independent Variable (IV) Subject Variable (SV) Outcome Variable (OV) What is a Subject Variable (SV)? Characteristics of participants that cannot be manipulated (e.g., age, gender, hair color) The outcome measured in a study A manipulated variable in an experiment An error variable in the study What is an Outcome Variable (OV)? Similar to Dependent Variable but used with Subject Variables to measure results The variable manipulated by the researcher A characteristic of the participant A variable with no impact on the results What is a Between-Subjects Design? Each participant is assigned to only one condition of the IV Each participant experiences all levels of the IV Participants are divided based on their preferences Variables are measured but not manipulated What is a Pro of Between-Subjects Design? No order effects in that participants only experience one condition of the IV Fewer participants are needed Eliminates researcher bias Allows for longitudinal analysis What is a Con of Between-Subjects Design? Lots of participants required to run the study Participants might perform differently due to practice Harder to measure differences within individuals Potential for order effects This is an example of what type of study: A researcher divides participants into groups based on hair color (red, blonde, brunette) and sends them to different parties to measure their fun levels. Between-Subjects Design Within-Subjects Design Correlational Study Experimental Design What is a Within-Subjects Design? Each participant experiences all levels of the IV Each participant is assigned to only one condition of the IV Researchers divide participants based on preferences An observational study without manipulation Advantage of Within-Subjects Design: Fewer participants needed and no individual differences between groups Eliminates external variables No order effects from participants Easier to randomize group assignment Disadvantage of Within-Subjects Design: Participants can guess the research hypothesis Requires many participants Individual differences between groups Difficult to measure variables This is an example of what kind of study: The same group of participants drinks coffee on Day 1 and no coffee on Day 2, and their happiness levels are measured each day. Within-Subjects Design Between-Subjects Design Observational Study Correlational Study What are the levels for this study: A researcher divides participants into groups based on hair color (red, blonde, brunette) to measure fun at parties? Red hair, blonde hair, brunette hair Coffee and no coffee High and low happiness levels Hair color and fun levels Is this a Dependent Variable (DV) or Outcome Variable (OV): "Amount of fun" measured in a study about hair color? Outcome Variable (OV) Dependent Variable (DV) Independent Variable (IV) Subject Variable (SV) Is this an Independent Variable (IV) or Subject Variable (SV): "Hair color" in a study measuring fun levels at parties? Subject Variable (SV) Independent Variable (IV) Dependent Variable (DV) Outcome Variable (OV) Is this an Independent Variable (IV) or Subject Variable (SV): "Caffeine" in a study measuring happiness levels? Independent Variable (IV) Subject Variable (SV) Dependent Variable (DV) Outcome Variable (OV) Is this a Dependent Variable (DV) or Outcome Variable (OV): "Happiness Level" in a study measuring the effect of caffeine? Dependent Variable (DV) Outcome Variable (OV) Independent Variable (IV) Subject Variable (SV) What are the levels in a study measuring happiness with coffee and without coffee? Coffee and no coffee High and low happiness levels Subject and Outcome Variables Control and experimental groups What kind of experimental design is a study measuring happiness with and without coffee in the same group of participants? Within-Subjects Design Between-Subjects Design Longitudinal Study Observational Study Important Aspects of Experimental Design: To ensure fairness, you must control for what? Extraneous Variables Outcome Variables Independent Variables Subject Variables An important aspect of Experimental Design: To ensure fairness, you must also control for what? Experimenter Bias Extraneous Variables Dependent Variables Independent Variables Another important aspect of Experimental Design: What is "Demand Characteristics"? When participants change their responses based on knowledge about the research hypothesis When the researcher manipulates the data for accuracy External factors affecting study results Bias introduced by study conditions A Null Hypothesis (H₀) does what? States there is no difference between groups States there is a difference between groups Specifies the direction of the effect Suggests the research hypothesis is correct A Research Hypothesis (H₁) does what? States there is a difference between groups States there is no difference between groups Specifies no effect or direction Indicates the experiment is invalid A Directional Hypotheses does what? Specifies the direction of the effect (e.g., "Coffee increases happiness") States there is an effect but doesn’t specify direction Suggests no difference between groups Indicates multiple effects are possible A Non-Directional Hypotheses does what? States there is an effect but doesn’t specify direction (e.g., "Coffee affects happiness levels") Specifies the direction of the effect Suggests no difference between groups Indicates the experiment is invalid Alpha (α) means what? The probability of error made in your decision The strength of the experimental manipulation The statistical significance of the results The dependent variable in an experiment What is a Type 1 Error? The researcher rejects the null, but in reality, the null is true The researcher fails to reject the null, but in reality, the null is false Occurs due to measurement inaccuracies Occurs when a variable is misclassified What is a Type 2 Error? The researcher fails to reject the null, but in reality, the null is false The researcher rejects the null, but in reality, the null is true Occurs when statistical power is too high Occurs due to external factors Is this a hypothesis? If not, explain why: Psychologists who conduct research on ESP and who do not believe in ESP will tend to get negative results because their negative thoughts will interfere with the ESP of their subjects. No, it can't be scientifically tested Yes, it can be tested using subjective measures No, it is not a valid research question Yes, if properly measured A social psychologist is investigating blushing behavior in male and female college students. Participants are randomly assigned to view clothed or nude models, and the psychologist measures skin temperature changes. Is this an experiment? Yes, because it involves manipulating variables and random assignment No, because it lacks proper control variables Yes, because it measures participant responses No, because the variables are not falsifiable Is there an independent variable in the study above, and if so, what is it? Yes, the type of photos (clothed vs. nude models) No, because the variable isn’t manipulated Yes, the gender of the participants No, it is a correlational study Is there a dependent variable in the study above, and if so, what is it? Yes, the change in skin temperature No, because the responses aren’t valid measures Yes, the type of photos shown to participants No, it doesn’t involve measurable variables Identify the subject variable in the study above: The gender of the participants (male or female) The type of photos (clothed or nude) The change in skin temperature The assignment to experimental conditions A cognitive psychologist is interested in participants' memories for complex moving patterns. Participants are randomly assigned to watch shapes moved in one of three ways (rotated, moved horizontally, or moved vertically). What is the independent variable? The movement type of the shapes (rotated, horizontal, vertical) The participants’ recall ability The number of shapes remembered The time participants are exposed to the shapes How many levels are in the independent variable in the study above? Three Two Four One What is the dependent variable in the study above? The number of pattern elements each participant remembers after 24 hours The movement type of the shapes The participants' exposure time The accuracy of shape rotation Define experimenter bias and why it could be a concern in the study above: Experimenter bias occurs when the researcher’s opinions influence the results Experimenter bias occurs when participants guess the hypothesis Experimenter bias is when extraneous variables influence outcomes Experimenter bias is when the study design is unclear Define demand characteristics and whether they would be a concern in the study above: Demand characteristics are cues that lead participants to guess the study’s purpose Demand characteristics are irrelevant external factors Demand characteristics occur when participants are randomly assigned Demand characteristics occur only in naturalistic studies A researcher said there was no relationship between grades and diet, but in reality (the true situation), there was a relationship. What type of error is this? Type 2 Error Type 1 Error Measurement Error External Error A researcher failed to detect a difference between teaching techniques when there was really a difference. What type of error is this? Type 2 Error Type 1 Error Measurement Error Statistical Error An experimenter stated that the results of their study were statistically significant at the.05 level. What does this mean? The probability of a specific statistical decision error is 5/100 The independent variable strongly influenced the dependent variable The null hypothesis is proven false The sample size was sufficient An experimental psychologist predicted students will learn reading faster using a new reading technique compared to the traditional technique. Is this a one-tail or two-tail test? One-tail test - learn reading faster Two-tail test - testing for a difference Neither, as it is not a valid hypothesis Two-tail test - learn reading slower A group of professors predicted that night students will miss more classes than day students. Is this a one-tail or two-tail test? One-tail test - Students will miss more Two-tail test - Testing for a difference Neither, as it is an assumption Two-tail test - Testing attendance Researchers conducted a study to test the effectiveness of a new medication for depression. Is this a one-tail or two-tail test? Two-tail test - Testing effectiveness, not a direction One-tail test - Testing a positive effect Neither, as the results are observational One-tail test - Testing medication dosage Developmental psychologists hypothesized that babies born prematurely would be released from the hospital earlier when they were massaged 15 minutes a day compared to those not massaged. Is this a one-tail or two-tail test? One-tail test - Released earlier Two-tail test - Testing for differences Neither, as it is an invalid test One-tail test - Testing massage time