Test #1

Question 1

What are the steps in a Scientific Investigation?

Answer 1

1. Formulate a testable hypothesis
2. Select the research method and design
3. Collect the data
4. Analyze the data and draw conclusions
5. Report the findings

Question 2

Dependent variable (DV)

Answer 2

variable affected by manipulation

Question 3

Independent variable (IV)

Answer 3

variable manipulated

Question 4

Experiment

Answer 4

manipulation of one variable under controlled conditions so that resulting changes in another variable can be observed (Ex: Coke and Mentos)

Question 5

What is the theory construction?

Answer 5

Confidence in theory increases
^
Theory > Hypothesis > Empirical Research
v
Revise/refine the theory < Confidence in theory decreases
v
Discard the theory

Question 6

Operational definitions

Answer 6

are used to clarify precisely what is meant by each variable (e.g., self esteem defined as score on survey)

Question 7

Participants or subjects

Answer 7

are the organisms whose behaviour is systematically observed in a study

Question 8

Data collection techniques

Answer 8

allow for empirical observation and measurement

Question 9

Methods used when a researcher cannot manipulate the variables under study?

Answer 9

• Naturalistic observation
• Case studies
• Surveys

Question 10

Measures of central tendency is?

Answer 10

typical or average score in a distribution

Question 11

Mean?

Answer 11

arithmetic average of scores

Question 12

Mode?

Answer 12

most frequently occurring score

Question 13

Medium?

Answer 13

score falling in the exact centre

Question 14

Meta-Analysis

Answer 14

• A study of many other studies
• Combines the statistical results of many studies asking the same questions
• Offers an estimate of the size and consistency of a variable’s effects

Question 15

Control group

Answer 15

similar subjects who do not receive the special treatment

Question 16

Experimental group

Answer 16

subjects who receive some special treatment in regard to the independent variable

Question 17

Statistical significance

Answer 17

when the probability that the observed findings are due to chance is very low

Question 18

Standard Deviation

Answer 18

numerical depiction of variability
High variability in data set = high standard deviation
Low variability in data set = low standard deviation

Question 19

Variability

Answer 19

how much scores vary from each other and from the mean

Range = the simplest measure of variability, and the most intuitive

Question 20

Statistics

Answer 20

using mathematics to organize, summarize, and interpret numerical data

Question 21

Inferential statistics

Answer 21

interpreting data and drawing conclusions

Question 22

Descriptive statistics

Answer 22

organizing and summarizing data

Question 23

Experimental Research disadvantages

Answer 23

• Artificial nature of experiments

- Ethical and practical issues

Question 24

Experimental Research Advantages

Answer 24

-Conclusions about cause-and-effect can be drawn

Question 25

Correlation

Answer 25

numerical index of degree of relationship

Question 26

Higher correlation coefficients

Answer 26

increased ability to predict one variable based on the other

Question 27

Cognitive Ability

Answer 27

The ability to reason, remember, understand, solve problems, and make decisions

Question 28

Intelligence

Answer 28

Those attributes that centre around skill at information processing, problem solving, and adapting to new or changing situations

Question 29

Lewis Terman (1916)

Answer 29

• Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

- Intelligence Quotient (IQ) = MA/CA x 100

Question 30

David Wechsler (1955)

Answer 30

-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

Question 31

Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon (1905)

Answer 31

• Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale (first formal test)

- Mental age (beginnings of the ‘quotient’)

Question 32

Sir Francis Galton (1869)

Answer 32

-Hereditary Genius (correctly concluded that intelligence is largely inherited)

Question 33

The Information-Processing Approach

Answer 33

Identifies the processes involved in behaving intelligently.

Question 34

The Psychometric Approach

Answer 34

• Spearman’s ‘G’ – one factor solution
• Thurstone’s 7-factor solution
• Catell’s 2-factor solution = fluid & crystallized

Question 35

Heredity

Answer 35

• Family and twin studies

- Heritability estimates (how much variability is genes?)

Question 36

Enviornment

Answer 36

• Adoption studies (who are you more like?)
• Cumulative deprivation hypothesis (effects of negative environments)
• The Flynn effect (are we getting smarter? Why?)

Question 37

Interaction

Answer 37

-The concept of the reaction range (genes set upper and lower limits; environment does the rest)

Question 38

Standardization

Answer 38

• Test norms (e.g., for certain ages, sex)

- Standardization group (recall problems of sampling)

Question 39

Reliability

Answer 39

-Correlation coefficient (e.g., test-retest)

Question 40

Validity

Answer 40

• Content validity (is content representative?)
• Criterion-related validity (is score related to some other related score?)
• Construct validity (is there lots of evidence it measures what it purports to measure?)

Question 41

Mental Ability Tests

Answer 41

• Intelligence – general (intellectual potential)
• Aptitude – specific (e.g., numerical ability)
• Achievement tests (e.g., mastery of knowledge in a particular area)

Question 42

Personality Scales

Answer 42

-Measure motives, interests, values, and attitudes

Question 43

Intellectual Disability or Mental Retardation 4 levels:

Answer 43

mild, moderate, severe, profound