b) case study
Correct. A case study focuses on one subject, and the information gained from it might not be generally true of other
similar subjects.
c) experiment
d) surveys
Incorrect. Surveys typically do generalize because the samples taken are somewhat random.
Topic: The Scientific Approach
ANS: b, Apply What You Know, LO 1.6 Compare and contrast some of the methods used to describe behavior., (3)
% correct 42 a= 15 b= 42 c= 8 d= 34 r = .49
APA=2.4
TB_01_109_The Scientific Approach_Apply_LO 1.6, APA 2.4
Which of the following questions could be answered best by using the survey method?
a) What is the effect of ingesting alcohol on problem-solving ability?
Incorrect. Surveying students about their problem-solving abilities while drunk would allow too much room for subjectivity and give results with no accurate standards for analysis or comparison.
b) Does wall color affect the frequency of violence in prison populations?
c) Do students prefer a grading system with or without pluses and minuses?
Correct. Student preferences are about opinions, and surveys are good at gathering the opinions of many people.
d) What is the relationship between number of hours of study per week and grade point average?
Topic: The Scientific Approach
ANS: c, Apply What You Know, LO 1.6 Compare and contrast some of the methods used to describe behavior., (1)
% correct 88 a= 2 b= 1 c= 88 d= 8 r = .46
APA=2.4
TB_01_110_The Scientific Approach_Remember_LO 1.6, APA 2.4
Surveys, as discussed in the text, are a form of:
a) correlational research.
b) descriptive research.
Correct. A survey is a type of descriptive research, not experimental design.
c) inferential research.
d) experimental research.
Incorrect. There is no manipulation of variables in a survey, so it is not experimental research.
Topic: The Scientific Approach
ANS: b, Remember the Facts, LO 1.6 Compare and contrast some of the methods used to describe behavior., (2)
APA=2.4
TB_01_111_The Scientific Approach_Apply_LO 1.6, APA 2.4
A researcher stops people at the mall and asks them questions about their attitudes toward gun control. Which research technique is being used?
a) survey
Correct. A survey asks the same questions of many people.
b) experiment
c) case study
d) naturalistic observation
Incorrect. Naturalistic observation never involves asking questions.
Topic: The Scientific Approach
ANS: a, Apply What You Know, LO 1.6 Compare and contrast some of the methods used to describe behavior., (1)
% correct 95 a= 95 b= 1 c= 4 d= 1 r = .22
% correct 98 a= 98 b= 0 c= 1 d= 1 r = .21
APA=2.4
TB_01_112_The Scientific Approach_Remember_LO 1.6, APA 2.4
A group of randomly selected subjects for a study that matches the population on important characteristics such as age and sex is called ________.
a) volunteer bias
b) a representative sample
Correct. A representative sample is a randomly selected group that matches the population on important
characteristics.
c) an experimental group
Incorrect. An experimental group is not necessarily representative of the population.
d) a control group