Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank

Page 1 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 1 preview image

Page11.Compare and contrast the availability heuristic and the representativeness heuristic.2.List and describe three characteristics of a good scientist.3.Tavris and Aronson (2007) believe that “science is a form of arrogance control.”Usewhat you learned in this chapter to provide support for their claim.4.In talking with her friends, Fabiana realizes that many college-aged students still believein the existence of Santa Claus.Although few think he is a rosy-cheeked, beardedcharacter who goes down chimneys, many do believe that he exists in spirit, instilling asense of “Christmas cheer” and goodwill during the holiday season.Use youunderstanding of belief perseverance to explain why adults may still believe in SantaClaus.5.Mark wonders whether he should pursue a degree in psychology.Help him see themerit in this major by describing three career skills that he will acquire by studyingresearch methods and the discipline of psychology.

Page 2 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 2 preview image

Page 3 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 3 preview image

Page2Answer Key1.Both the availability and representativeness heuristics represent biases in humanthinking.These mental shortcuts are used when processing information and makingdecisions.By employing heuristics, people save time and energy and they free upcognitive resources for other tasks.However, both the availability andrepresentativeness heuristics lead to processing errors.The availability heuristic is thetendency to assume that events that are easiest to recall occur most frequently.Forinstance, thosethings that make the biggest impact on one's memory are likely to begiven disproportional weight.People may assume that plane crashes are more frequentthan car crashes, because examples of plane crashes are salient in their memory.However, this bias obscures the fact that many more people die from car crashes eachyear.The representativeness heuristic is the tendency to judge an outcome by howsimilar it is to the “typical” example of that event.An individual who “looks like acriminal” may be more likely to receive a conviction from a jury, because he/she isrepresentative of that mental category.An individual who does not look like a“typical” criminal may be judged less harshly, as jurors have trouble associating thatperson with the schema they hold for that category.2.Scientists, whether in the field of psychology or in other disciplines, share certain corecharacteristics.These include (but are not limited to):skepticism—the tendency toask questions about claims in an effort to seek the truth; open-mindedness—awillingness to pursue a deeper understanding about the nature of the world regardless ofwhether a topic or idea is unpopular or controversial; objectivity—basing claims onscientific data rather than on personal beliefs or opinions, even on topics with which onehas extensive familiarity or experience; empiricism—the willingness to test ideas usingthe scientific method (systematic observation, experience, or measurement) to drawconclusions and admit when personal beliefs are unsupported; creativity—the ability to“think outside the box” and design novel approaches to answer scientific questions; andcommunication—the ability to share findings in writing or oral presentations withother scientists in an effort to extend the collective of knowledge and serve the commongood.3.Thinking is fraught with flaws and biases.These include (but are not limited to): theavailability heuristic, representativeness heuristic, better-than-average effect,overconfidence, hindsight bias, confirmation bias, focusing effect, “what you see is allthere is” phenomenon, and belief perseverance.Science counters these natural fallaciesby requiring empirical evidence collected through systematic observation, experience,and/or measurement in order to make claims.By using science as a foundation,peopleare better able to evaluate claims, avoid biases, and make more objective andwell-informed decisions.In doing this, however, people are made aware of the flaws,biases, and unscientific nature of their own thinking.It is often uncomfortable forpeople to accept that they are incorrect.Accordingly, by using science, our errors arebrought to light and our arrogance (about being correct) is controlled.4.Belief perseverance is the tendency to maintain a belief despite encounteringcontradictory information.Beliefs remain intact by interpreting information in a waythat does not invalidate the original belief.In the case of Santa Claus, this belief isoften one associated with important, cherished memories of one's childhood and family.

Page 4 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 4 preview image

Page3Accordingly, it is not one that is easily dismissed, even in the face of evidence thatSanta Claus does not exist.Rather, people alter their perceptions in a way thatmaintains the belief in Santa Claus, while incorporating enough of the truth that theyremain in touch with socially acceptable perceptions (and some semblance of reality).5.Psychologists gain a number of skills, including research methods skills that canfacilitate future career success.These include (but are not limited to):projectmanagement skills—the ability to plan, organize, and execute complex tasks; problemsolving skills—the ability to identify, define, and effectively implement solutions topotential problems; critical thinking skills—the ability to actively evaluate, analyze,and synthesize information; analytical skills—the ability to summarize and makesenseof potential findings; interpretation of numerical information—the ability to drawconclusions from numerical data; and communication skills—the ability to presentfindings through clear, direct, and succinct writing.

Page 5 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 5 preview image

Page11.In what way does a research methods course differ from other psychology courses, likedevelopmental psychology and biopsychology?A)Research methods courses focus on concepts and content.B)Research methods courses emphasize the use of the scientific method to answerquestions.C)Memorizing is more important in research methods courses than in other courses.D)Only biopsychology courses emphasize the use of the scientific method to answerquestions.2.How is this research methods book a lot like the Apple Corporation?A)they share the goal of thinking differentlyB)both ask individuals to prioritize similarityC)neither value unique insightD)both caution against creativity3.Research methods courses focus on:A)know-what.B)know-why.C)know-how.D)know-who.4._____ is the term that describes an individual's tendency to accept an explanationsimply because it feels right.A)Pleasure paradoxB)OutlierC)IntrospectionD)Truthiness5.A friend tells you that shaving more frequently causes hair to grow back darker andcoarser than before.You think this sounds correct, so you vow to only shave once aweek.In this case, you have fallen victim to a phenomenon known as:A)truthiness.B)better-than-average effect.C)confirmation bias.D)introspection.

Page 6 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 6 preview image

Page26.Psychological science is based on:A)gut feelings.B)intuition.C)introspection.D)empirical research.7.Gut feelings are to _____ as empirical research is to _____.A)truthiness; scienceB)science; truthinessC)bias; errorD)science;bias8.The availability heuristic is a strategy for:A)judging the likelihood of an event based on how easily one can think of similarinstances.B)deciding the likelihood of an event by how much it resembles a “typical” exampleof that event.C)estimating one's skills and abilities as compared with others.D)searching for evidence that supports preexisting beliefs.9.Josh lives in Wilmington, NC, and has recently learned that there was a hurricanewarning issued for his location.In deciding whether to evacuate or remain at his househe remembered pictures from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy of individualsclinging to their rooftops waiting for air lifts to safety.He quickly decides to evacuate.His choice was the result of the:A)representativeness heuristic.B)better-than-average effect.C)availability heuristic.D)confirmation bias.10.People oftenoverestimate the likelihood of death by shark attack, plane crash, andviolence, because news programs emphasize these extreme occurrences to drive upratings.Your tendency to readily recall such instances even though they areobjectively rare is the result of the:A)representativeness heuristic.B)better-than-average effect.C)confirmation bias.D)availability heuristic.

Page 7 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 7 preview image

Page311.Imagine that you are a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komancancer foundation.Whenplanning for an upcoming speech you remember the availability heuristic and decide todevote the majority of time to a _____ rather than _____.A)moving testimonial from a cancer survivor; charts and statistics about cancer risksfactorsB)moving testimonial from a cancer survivor; pictures of cancer survivorsC)charts and statistics about cancer risks factors; pictures of cancer survivorsD)charts and statistics about cancer risks factors; moving testimonial from a cancersurvivor12.You know that people are often more generous when donating to a cause after seeing amoving photograph than hearing impersonal statistics.In this case, research on the_____ confirms that a picture is worth a thousand words.A)representativeness heuristicB)availability heuristicC)better-than-average effectD)hindsight bias13.Deciding the likelihood of an event based on how much it resembles the “typical”example of that event is known as the _____ heuristic.A)representativenessB)availabilityC)better-than-averageD)outlier14.According to the representativeness heuristic, which of the following are you mostlikely to think of as a librarian?A)a beautiful woman in her early twentiesB)an athletically toned man in his teensC)an elderly woman who wears her hair in a bunD)a middle-aged man who is poorly shaven with tattered clothes15.Juries may be more lenient when determining the innocence or guilt of individuals whoappear attractive, sharply dressed, and well-mannered, because of the:A)better-than-average effect.B)confirmation bias.C)representativeness heuristic.D)availability heuristic.

Page 8 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 8 preview image

Page416.The _____ heuristic relies on how readily instances come to mind, whereas the _____heuristic relies on how typical that instance is.A)availability;confirmationB)availability; representativenessC)representativeness; availabilityD)representativeness; confirmation17._____ is to typical as _____ is to memorable.A)Availability; confirmationB)Availability; representativenessC)Representativeness; availabilityD)Representativeness; confirmation18.The _____ is the tendency to overestimate skills, abilities, and performance whencomparing oneself with others.A)better-than-average effectB)confirmation biasC)representativeness heuristicD)availability heuristic19.Which of the following is NOT an example of the better-than-average effect?A)Most people think they drive better than others.B)Most people think they are smarter than others.C)Most people think they are funnier than others.D)Most people think they are angrier than others.20.First-born children may think they are braver than their siblings, whereas middlechildren may think they are more patient than their siblings, and youngest children maythink they are more creative than their siblings.Each of these beliefs demonstrates anatural tendency for individuals to endorse the:A)confirmation bias.B)better-than-average effect.C)hindsight bias.D)overconfidence effect.

Page 9 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 9 preview image

Page521.Going into the first exam, a professor asks his students how well they think they will do.In line with the better-than-average effect, what percentage of the class likely anticipatesperforming better than the class average?A)0%B)25%C)50%D)75%22.Dr. Pelham cautions her students against merely reviewing their notes when studyingfor an exam.She has found that when students only look over their written notes theyexperience _____, which can lead them to underprepare and underperform.A)confirmation biasB)hindsight biasC)overconfidenceD)belief perseverance23.Overconfidence is:A)a sense that one “knew it all along.”B)a tendency to be overly assured of the correctness of one's own judgments.C)the tendency to seek out information that supports your current beliefs.D)a strategy for deciding the likelihood of an event based on how much it resembles a“typical” example of that event.24._____ is most likely responsible for endorsement of the better-than-average effect.A)The availability heuristicB)The representativeness heuristicC)The overconfidence phenomenonD)Hindsight bias25.After returning home from a blind date, Kelly's friend asks her how it went.She saysthat the date was a bust.Kelly's continued belief that she is a successful dater, despitethe evidence of this unsuccessful date is an example of:A)the overconfidence phenomenon.B)the representativeness heuristic.C)the availability heuristic.D)hindsight bias.

Page 10 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 10 preview image

Page626.Professor Grey found that nearly 15% of her students turned in their project after its duedate.Although this could be the result of procrastination, Professor Grey knows thatthe tardiness may also be the result of her students underestimating how long it will takethem to complete the project.By thinking they can do more in the time allotted thanthey actually can, her students are demonstrating the:A)overconfidence phenomenon.B)representativeness heuristic.C)availability heuristic.D)hindsight bias.27.The false-consensus effect is the tendency to overestimate the degree to which othersagree with your beliefs and opinions.Based on your understanding of processingbiases, you know that this is most likely the result of:A)hindsight bias.B)the representativeness heuristic.C)confirmation bias.D)the overconfidence phenomenon.28.Which of the following is correct regarding people's confidence and accuracy?A)People are often more confident than they are accurate.B)People are often less confident than they are accurate.C)People tend to be equally confident and accurate.D)People tend to be neither confident nor accurate.29.Hindsight bias is:A)the tendency to be overly confident in the correctness of judgments.B)the tendency, after an event has occurred, to see the event as having beenpredictable.C)a cognitive bias where some evidence is overvalued, but other evidence isundervaluedD)the assumption that immediate experience provides all the information needed tomake a conclusion.30.Galileo once said, “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the pointis to discover them.”This is best representative of the:A)“what you see is all there is” phenomenon.B)representativeness heuristic.C)hindsight bias.D)confirmation bias.

Page 11 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 11 preview image

Page731._____ is a bias in which people only look for evidence that agrees with what theyalready believe to be true.A)Confirmation biasB)Hindsight biasC)“What you see is all there is” biasD)Belief perseverance32.The first information that people receive is often more influential than informationpresented later.One reason that early information is so effective is that it shapesinformation received later through the process of:A)confirmation bias.B)hindsight bias.C)the “what you see is all there is” bias.D)belief perseverance.33.Which of the following is the reason that good leaders often employ someone to playthe role of devil's advocate before making an important decision?A)confirmation biasB)hindsight biasC)“what you see is all there is” biasD)belief perseverance34.People who are victims of the confirmation bias are like detectives who are focused onlooking for _____ information.A)supportingB)contradictingC)all availableD)the most salient35.Jamalbelieves that he will do well on his upcoming chemistry exam.Without beingaware of it, he selectively studies and reviews only information that he is familiar withand already knows.In this case, the _____ may be doing Jamal a disservice, as it keepshim from adequately studying for the exam.A)confirmation biasB)hindsight biasC)better-than-average effectD)representativeness heuristic

Page 12 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 12 preview image

Page836._____ is a bias in which people emphasize some pieces of information whileundervaluing other pieces of information.A)Overconfidence phenomenonB)Confirmation biasC)The focusing effectD)Bester-than-average effect37.When parents emphasize their children's good attributes, while selectively minimizingtheir negative attributes, they are displaying the _____ effect.A)focusingB)overconfidenceC)introspectionD)confirmation38.Introspection is:A)reflecting on a another person's thoughts and experiences to find relevant evidence.B)reflecting on one's own thoughts and experiences to find relevant evidence.C)systematic experimentation on your own thoughts and experiences.D)systematic experimentation on the thoughts and experiences of others.39.A famous psychologist who was known for his use of introspection to unravel themysteries of the unconscious mind was:A)Darwin.B)Milgram.C)Piaget.D)Freud.40.Introspection is to _____ as observational data is to _____.A)self; selfB)self; otherC)other; selfD)other; other41.The “what you see is all there is” phenomenon is:A)the tendency to look for evidence that confirms what we already believe.B)a sense that one “knew it all along.”C)the tendency to be overly confident in the correctness of one's judgments.D)a failure to see the limitations of one's immediate experience.

Page 13 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 13 preview image

Page942.The “what you see is all there is” phenomenon leads people to:A)underestimate alternative explanations and outcomes.B)overestimate alternative explanations and outcomes.C)ignore the status quo.D)engage in accuracy checking of beliefs.43.Which of the following is most similar to the confirmation bias?A)hindsight biasB)better-than-average effectC)“what you see is all there is” phenomenonD)representativeness heuristic44.The pleasure paradox is:A)when introspection about a positive experience results in it becoming lessenjoyable.B)when introspection about a positive experience results in it becoming moreenjoyable.C)when introspection about a negative experience results in it becoming lessenjoyable.D)when introspection about a negative experience results in it becoming moreenjoyable.45._____ relating to an activity that you love can lead you to like it _____.A)Introspection; moreB)Introspection; lessC)Experimentation; moreD)Experimentation; less46.Introspection about which of the following things is likely to result in the pleasureparadox?A)getting a root canalB)receiving a speeding ticketC)winning the lotteryD)failing an exam

Page 14 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 14 preview image

Page1047._____ is the tendency to maintain a belief despite encountering contradictory factualinformation, often by interpreting information in a way that does not invalidate theoriginal belief.A)The availability heuristicB)OverconfidenceC)Hindsight biasD)Belief perseverance48.Veronica continues to attribute sounds in her house to ghosts although she knows theyare not real.This is an example of:A)hindsight bias.B)better-than-average effect.C)belief perseverance.D)pleasure paradox.49.Bobby is a loyal North Carolina Tar Heels basketball fan, even when they suffersetbacks and defeats.After a string of losses, he still claims that they are the best teamin the nation.Bobby's loyalty demonstrates:A)belief perseverance.B)the “what you see is all there is” phenomenon.C)illusory correlation.D)planning fallacy.50.Humans have a tendency to _____ anecdotes and personal experience.A)undervalueB)overvalueC)ignoreD)discount51.The tendency to value anecdotes and personal experience is believed to stem from a(n):A)inclination for quick and simple explanations.B)need for thoughtful consideration.C)drive to evaluate the world based on others' opinions.D)need for empirically verified data.

Page 15 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 15 preview image

Page1152.The law of small numbers states:A)extreme outcomes are more likely when considering a small number of cases.B)as a sample grows, its average will get closer to the average of the entirepopulation.C)extreme outcomes are less likely when considering a small number of cases.D)as a sample grows, its average will get farther away from the average of thepopulation.53.According to the _____, the there is a tendency for more extreme outcomes to occurwhen considering a small sample as compared to a large sample.A)law of large numbersB)law of small numbersC)law of even numbersD)law of odd numbers54.A case that is the exception to the rule would be known as the:A)average.B)mean.C)outlier.D)norm.55.Which of the following is an example of an outlier?A)a person who doesn't study and gets poor gradesB)a person who eats healthfully and is average weightC)a person who drives the speed limit and has never been in a wreckD)a person who smokes daily and lives to be 10056.Mrs. Pensky gives a test and the class average is a 78.Identify the grade that is theoutlier.A)83B)75C)68D)3257.An outlier is:A)a case that is distinct from the majority of other cases.B)a case that is similar to the majority of other cases.C)an example of the representativeness heuristic.D)an example of the availability heuristic.

Page 16 of 16

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 16 preview image

Page1258.People are more likely to generate “yeah, but” examples for research claims that _____their personal experience.A)supportB)contradictC)are in line withD)are unrelated to59.TheMoneyballapproach to baseball represents a strategy in which team scouts rely on:A)emotions.B)anecdotes.C)statistics.D)gut feelings.60._____ is a systematic approach for addressing questions of interest.A)The scientific methodB)The law of small numbersC)The focusing effectD)Introspection61.Which of the following is a characteristic of a good scientist?A)uncertaintyB)close-mindednessC)subjectivityD)empiricism62.What is skepticism?A)the willingness to ask questionsB)the ability to consider novel ways to approach questionsC)the tendency to accept claims at face valueD)the inability to accept uncertainty63._____ makes us a more critical consumers of information in our own lives.A)CreativityB)Open-mindednessC)SkepticismD)Communication

Preview Mode

This document has 662 pages. Sign in to access the full document!

Report

Learning Tools

Writing Tools

Browse Resources

Discovering the Scientist Within: Research Methods in Psychology 1st 2016 Edition Test Bank - Page 1

Study Now!

Document Details

Related Documents

Psychology - Social Psychology

Psychology - Research Methods in Psychology

Psychology - Psychology Treatments

Psychology - Psychology Stress and Health

Psychology - Psychology Sensation

Psychology - Psychology Personality

Psychology - Psychology Perception

Psychology - Psychology Motivation

Psychology - Psychology Memory

Psychology - Psychology Measurement and Statistics

Company

Explore

Study Tools