,QUESTIONS
Answers and text page references for test questions can be found in Appendix C.
Multiple Choice
1. According to the diffusion of responsibility theory, _________ could eliminate social loafing.
a. measuring group performance
b. measuring individual performance in group situations
c. rewarding positive behavior
d. insisting that workers follow authority figures
ANS: B
A-Head: Making Sense of the World
2. When a person’s word is believed to be true without examination, a belief has been formed via the
method of
a. science.
b. tenacity.
c. authority.
d. a priori.
ANS: C
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
3. Choosing to believe some material in this course because your instructor told you that it is correct
information most likely represents which system for the fixation of beliefs?
a. tenacity
b. authority
c. a priori
d. scientific method
ANS: B
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
4. If two theories can explain the same data, then
a. the simpler theory is the better theory.
b. the theory that is unfalsifiable is the better theory.
c. the more complex theory is the better theory.
d. the least parsimonious theory is the better theory.
ANS: A
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
5. The inductive scientist
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.
ANS: A
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
6. Gathering data within a guiding theoretical framework describes
a. induction.
b. deduction.
, c. parsimony.
d. falsifiability.
ANS: B
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
7. Intervening variables are abstract concepts that link _________ to _________.
a. control variables; dependent variables
b. independent variables; control variables
c. independent variables; dependent variables
d. basic research; applied research
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
8. The scientific method
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b. has no mechanism for discarding outdated theories.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.
ANS: A
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
9. A theory that explains a wide variety of occurrences with very few explanatory concepts is said to
a. be correct.
b. have high heuristic value.
c. be parsimonious.
d. be precise.
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
10. A theory whose predictions are misinterpreted from one researcher to the next is said to
a. be testable.
b. be parsimonious.
c. lack precision.
d. be provable.
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
11. In a laboratory setting, the psychologist is more concerned that the ______ are the same and less
concerned that the physical situation is the same.
a. experimenters
b. underlying processes
c. participants
d. independent variables
ANS: B
A-Head: The Science of Psychology
12. Theory in psychology serves to both organize data and to
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.
ANS: A
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
13. Early in life, our beliefs are fixed primarily through
a. tenacity.
b. empiricism.
c. intuition.
d. authority.
ANS: D
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
14. The statement that science is self correcting refers to
a. the precision with which data must be collected.
b. the ability of observation to establish the superiority of one belief over another.
c. the fact that theories may be proven by empirical methods.
d. the influence of deductive scientists.
ANS: B
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
15. If the diffusion of responsibility hypothesis is correct, then
a. compared to working alone, individuals working in unmonitored groups will get less work done.
b. compared to working alone, individuals working in unmonitored groups will get more work done.
c. compared to working alone, individuals working in unmonitored groups will get the same amount
of work done.
d. worker productivity will decrease if workers are paid less.
ANS: A
A-Head: Making Sense of the World
16. The philosophical belief that the truth of all knowledge is questionable is known as
a. cynicism.
b. pessimism.
c. skepticism.
d. tenacity.
ANS: C
A-Head: Making Sense of the World
17. 1Scientific knowledge is based on
a. authority.
b. tenacity.
c. empirical evidence.
d. a priori beliefs.
ANS: C
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
18. When we say that a good theory is falsifiable, we mean
a. that it is based on a false assumption.
b. that it makes predictions which can be disproved through empirical observation.
c. that hypotheses derived from the theory cannot be proven.
d. that it contradicts a priori beliefs about a phenomenon.
Answers and text page references for test questions can be found in Appendix C.
Multiple Choice
1. According to the diffusion of responsibility theory, _________ could eliminate social loafing.
a. measuring group performance
b. measuring individual performance in group situations
c. rewarding positive behavior
d. insisting that workers follow authority figures
ANS: B
A-Head: Making Sense of the World
2. When a person’s word is believed to be true without examination, a belief has been formed via the
method of
a. science.
b. tenacity.
c. authority.
d. a priori.
ANS: C
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
3. Choosing to believe some material in this course because your instructor told you that it is correct
information most likely represents which system for the fixation of beliefs?
a. tenacity
b. authority
c. a priori
d. scientific method
ANS: B
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
4. If two theories can explain the same data, then
a. the simpler theory is the better theory.
b. the theory that is unfalsifiable is the better theory.
c. the more complex theory is the better theory.
d. the least parsimonious theory is the better theory.
ANS: A
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
5. The inductive scientist
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.
ANS: A
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
6. Gathering data within a guiding theoretical framework describes
a. induction.
b. deduction.
, c. parsimony.
d. falsifiability.
ANS: B
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
7. Intervening variables are abstract concepts that link _________ to _________.
a. control variables; dependent variables
b. independent variables; control variables
c. independent variables; dependent variables
d. basic research; applied research
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
8. The scientific method
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.
ANS: A
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
9. A theory that explains a wide variety of occurrences with very few explanatory concepts is said to
a. be correct.
b. have high heuristic value.
c. be parsimonious.
d. be precise.
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
10. A theory whose predictions are misinterpreted from one researcher to the next is said to
a. be testable.
b. be parsimonious.
c. lack precision.
d. be provable.
ANS: C
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
11. In a laboratory setting, the psychologist is more concerned that the ______ are the same and less
concerned that the physical situation is the same.
a. experimenters
b. underlying processes
c. participants
d. independent variables
ANS: B
A-Head: The Science of Psychology
12. Theory in psychology serves to both organize data and to
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.
ANS: A
A-Head: The Nature of the Scientific Explanation
13. Early in life, our beliefs are fixed primarily through
a. tenacity.
b. empiricism.
c. intuition.
d. authority.
ANS: D
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
14. The statement that science is self correcting refers to
a. the precision with which data must be collected.
b. the ability of observation to establish the superiority of one belief over another.
c. the fact that theories may be proven by empirical methods.
d. the influence of deductive scientists.
ANS: B
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
15. If the diffusion of responsibility hypothesis is correct, then
a. compared to working alone, individuals working in unmonitored groups will get less work done.
b. compared to working alone, individuals working in unmonitored groups will get more work done.
c. compared to working alone, individuals working in unmonitored groups will get the same amount
of work done.
d. worker productivity will decrease if workers are paid less.
ANS: A
A-Head: Making Sense of the World
16. The philosophical belief that the truth of all knowledge is questionable is known as
a. cynicism.
b. pessimism.
c. skepticism.
d. tenacity.
ANS: C
A-Head: Making Sense of the World
17. 1Scientific knowledge is based on
a. authority.
b. tenacity.
c. empirical evidence.
d. a priori beliefs.
ANS: C
A-Head: Sources of Knowledge
18. When we say that a good theory is falsifiable, we mean
a. that it is based on a false assumption.
b. that it makes predictions which can be disproved through empirical observation.
c. that hypotheses derived from the theory cannot be proven.
d. that it contradicts a priori beliefs about a phenomenon.
