Research Methods in Psychology: Evaluating a World of Information 3rd Edition Test bank

           b.    Susan ignores the data that did not fit the theory.

           c.    Susan recalculates her data to fit the theory.

           d.    Susan alters or amends the theory to fit her data.

ANS:  D                  DIF:    Difficult REF: 1.2 How Scientists Approach Their Work: Scientists Test Theories: The Theory-Data Cycle OBJ:      Learning Objective 1.2 MSC:           Applying

   12.   RESEARCH STUDY 1.1: Deci and Ryan (1985, 2001) have proposed that there are three fundamental needs that are required for human growth and fulfillment: relatedness, autonomy, and competence. Susan predicts that students who have these needs met in their psychology class feel happier and more satisfied with the class. She collects data and finds that students who feel more related and competent do feel happier but that feeling more autonomous does not seem to matter. Susan thinks that maybe autonomy is only necessary when people are in situations in which they are not being evaluated.

Susan’s hypothesis was not completely supported by her data. What does this mean?

           a.    Susan must have collected the data incorrectly.

           b.    Susan must have analyzed the data incorrectly.

           c.    The theory may need to be amended.

           d.    The theory is completely wrong.

ANS:  C                   DIF:    Difficult REF: 1.2 How Scientists Approach Their Work: Scientists Test Theories: The Theory-Data Cycle OBJ:      Learning Objective 1.2 MSC:           Applying

   13.                       is the approach of collecting data and using it to develop, support, and/or challenge a theory.

           a.    Falsifiability

           b.    Theorizing

           c.    Empiricism

           d.    Application

ANS:  C                   DIF:    Easy REF:      1.2 How Scientists Approach Their Work: Scientists Test Theories: The Theory-Data Cycle OBJ:      Learning Objective 1.2 MSC:           Remembering

   14.   Occam’s razor states that the simplest solution is the best, all things being equal. This speaks to a theory’s:

           a.    parsimony.

           b.    falsifiability.

           c.    theorizing.

           d.    empiricism.

ANS:  A                  DIF:    Easy REF:      1.2 How Scientists Approach Their Work: Scientists Test Theories: The Theory-Data Cycle OBJ:      Learning Objective 1.2 MSC:           Analyzing

   15.   Benjamin is a social psychologist who studies marriage. He believes that marital satisfaction has two components: the ability to trust one’s partner and a belief that one can be a good spouse. This is known as: