Question 1

Science is not self-correcting.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Applied research is likely to have practical applications.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

The philosophical belief that the truth of all knowledge is questionable is known as

Accepted Answer

A)   cynicism.
B)   pessimism.
C)   skepticism.
D)   tenacity.E) C) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 4

The inductive scientist

Accepted Answer

A)   believes that explanation will become obvious once enough data are collected.
B)   uses theory to guide research.
C)   is concerned with testing between conflicting predictions made by different theories.
D)   does not collect data.E) A) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 5

Why do you think falsifiability is a vital characteristic of a good theory? What else constitutes a good theory?

Accepted Answer

Falsifiability is a vital characteristic...

Question 6

A generalization is a relatively broad statement lacking specifics that cannot be tested directly.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of applied research in psychology?

Accepted Answer

A)   Participants are asked whether or not they know the answers to a series of questions; the results show that they respond more quickly when the answer is 'no' than when the answer is 'yes.'
B)   Two testing methods are compared to see which one is better at selecting applicants who will be successful in a job training program.
C)   A researcher finds that people can recall more words from a list when they are asked to create an image to go with each word.
D)   A researcher finds that people react more quickly to a signal that is expected than to one that is unexpected.E) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 8

The results of studies on the social loafing phenomena are explained well by the diffusion of responsibility hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

A theory cannot be precise if it is testable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

According to the diffusion of responsibility theory, _________ could eliminate social loafing.

Accepted Answer

A)   measuring group performance
B)   measuring individual performance in group situations
C)   rewarding positive behavior
D)   insisting that workers follow authority figuresE) B) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 11

Why do you think it is important for scientists to be skeptical?

Accepted Answer

Scientific skepticism is a fundamental a...

Question 12

In general, basic researchers assume that the same mental processes cannot occur in different physical situations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 13

Scientific beliefs are generally formed by the method of tenacity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

A student wants to know whether people who believe in an afterlife cope better with stressful life events than those who do not. Which of the following methods of answering this question does NOT
Rely on empirical data about this relationship?

Accepted Answer

A)   asking a member of the clergy whether people who believe in an afterlife cope better with stressful life events.
B)   interviewing several people about their beliefs about an afterlife and their reactions to stressful events in their lives.
C)   administering a questionnaire to several people that measures their coping skills and their beliefs about an afterlife.
D)   comparing the reactions to a stressful situation of people who do and do not believe in an afterlife.E) C) and D)
F) A) and D) A

Question 15

In contrast to other sciences, the verbal theories developed in psychology tend to be more precise than the mathematical theories.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

When two theories can explain some data equally well, the simpler theory is the better theory.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

In the method of deduction, general explanations are generated from a theory that can be tested against data.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The scientific method

Accepted Answer

A)   relies upon empirical observation.
B)   has no mechanism for discarding outdated theories.
C)   emphasizes the importance of theory over data.
D)   emphasizes the role of data over theory.E) B) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 19

Theory in psychology serves to both organize data and to

Accepted Answer

A)   Generate prediction for untested situations.
B)   allow psychology to be termed a natural science.
C)   validate psychological findings.
D)   ensure the reliability of data.E) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 20

A parsimonious theory is one that

Accepted Answer

A)   does not generate testable hypotheses.
B)   is expressed in precise, mathematical terms.
C)   can account for the available data in the fewest possible terms.
D)   is falsifiable.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Exam 1: Explanation in Scientific Psychology

Science is not self-correcting.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Applied research is likely to have practical applications.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The philosophical belief that the truth of all knowledge is questionable is known as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The inductive scientist

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Why do you think falsifiability is a vital characteristic of a good theory? What else constitutes a good theory?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIFalsifiability is a vital characteristic...View AnswerShow Answer

A generalization is a relatively broad statement lacking specifics that cannot be tested directly.

Correct AnswerverifiedTrue

Which of the following is an example of applied research in psychology?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The results of studies on the social loafing phenomena are explained well by the diffusion of responsibility hypothesis.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A theory cannot be precise if it is testable.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the diffusion of responsibility theory, _________ could eliminate social loafing.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do you think it is important for scientists to be skeptical?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIScientific skepticism is a fundamental a...View AnswerShow Answer

In general, basic researchers assume that the same mental processes cannot occur in different physical situations.

Correct AnswerverifiedFalse

Scientific beliefs are generally formed by the method of tenacity.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A student wants to know whether people who believe in an afterlife cope better with stressful life events than those who do not. Which of the following methods of answering this question does NOT Rely on empirical data about this relationship?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

In contrast to other sciences, the verbal theories developed in psychology tend to be more precise than the mathematical theories.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When two theories can explain some data equally well, the simpler theory is the better theory.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the method of deduction, general explanations are generated from a theory that can be tested against data.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The scientific method

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Theory in psychology serves to both organize data and to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A parsimonious theory is one that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Falsifiability is a vital characteristic...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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True

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Scientific skepticism is a fundamental a...
View Answer

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False

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Correct Answer
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A

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Correct Answer
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