Question 1

For a theory to be of value, it must:

Accepted Answer

A)   be able to account for data within its scope.
B)   give good reason to believe that a phenomenon would occur under the specified conditions.
C)   be testable.
D)   All of the answers are correct.E) A) and B)
F) B) and C)

Question 2

A theory that has been substantially verified is sometimes called a:

Accepted Answer

A)   law.
B)   model.
C)   descriptive theory.
D)   None of the answers is correct.E) None of the above
F) A) and C)

Question 3

Dr. Jones proposed a theory of helping behavior that turned out to be wrong. However, it did serve as a catalyst for a fruitful research area. This illustrates the _____ value of a theory.

Accepted Answer

A)   heuristic
B)   catalytic
C)   predictive
D)   organizationalE) A) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 4

A(n)  _____ explains a phenomenon with as few statements as possible.

Accepted Answer

A)   explanatory relevant theory
B)   theory with high heuristic value
C)   parsimonious theory
D)   strong theoryE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 5

A testable theory is one that can potentially fail an empirical test.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 6

Given the choice between a mechanistic explanation and a functional one, you should:

Accepted Answer

A)   prefer the mechanistic one.
B)   prefer the functional one.
C)   not care which one you choose.
D)   flip a coin.E) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 7

According to the text, adequate testing of a theory involves using:

Accepted Answer

A)   only a disconfirmational strategy.
B)   only a confirmational strategy.
C)   both disconfirmational and confirmational strategies.
D)   strong inference alone.E) None of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 8

Fundamental theories are rare in psychology because:

Accepted Answer

A)   they are the lowest level of description.
B)   it is extremely difficult to control the relevant variables.
C)   they are too general to account for psychological phenomena.
D)   it is easy to identify variables using mathematical laws.E) A) and D)
F) B) and C) B

Question 9

Outline the characteristics of a good theory.

Accepted Answer

A good theory should have several key characteristics. Firstly, it should be based on empirical evidence and data, rather than just speculation or opinion. This means that the theory has been tested and validated through observation and experimentation, and can be supported by concrete evidence.

Secondly, a good theory should be able to explain and predict phenomena. It should be able to provide a clear and coherent explanation for a particular set of observations, and also be able to make predictions about future events or outcomes based on the theory's principles.

Thirdly, a good theory should be generalizable. This means that it should be applicable to a wide range of situations and contexts, rather than being limited to a specific set of circumstances. A theory that is too narrow in scope may not have as much utility or relevance in the broader scientific community.

Additionally, a good theory should be parsimonious, meaning that it should be as simple and straightforward as possible while still accounting for the observed phenomena. A theory that is overly complex or convoluted may be less effective in guiding further research or application.

Finally, a good theory should be falsifiable. This means that it should be possible to test the theory's predictions and potentially disprove it through further experimentation or observation. A theory that cannot be subjected to empirical testing or potential refutation may not be as scientifically robust.

In summary, a good theory should be based on evidence, able to explain and predict phenomena, generalizable, parsimonious, and falsifiable in order to be considered a strong and valuable contribution to scientific knowledge.

Question 10

A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation is called a(n)  _____.

Accepted Answer

A)   fact
B)   theory
C)   hypothesis
D)   assertionE) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 11

When research generates data that support the predictions of a theory, we can safely say that the theory was proven correct.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

If a positive result of an experiment does not support a prediction made by a theory, you are using:

Accepted Answer

A)   strong inference.
B)   analogical inference.
C)   a confirmational strategy.
D)   a disconfirmational strategy.E) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 13

Quantitative theories express relationships in mathematical terms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

If a theory is proven incorrect, it is totally useless.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The _____ of a theory concerns the range of situations to which it applies.

Accepted Answer

A)   applicability
B)   generality
C)   domain
D)   broadnessE) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 16

According to the text, the collapse of the Hull-Spence theory of learning occurred because the theory:

Accepted Answer

A)   lacked heuristic value.
B)   was no longer parsimonious.
C)   lacked explanatory relevance.
D)   was too limited in scope.E) All of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true of a law?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is an empirically verified, quantitative relationship between two or more variables.
B)   It is a tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem.
C)   It refers to a specific implementation of a more general theoretical view.
D)   It is more limited in scope than is a hypothesis.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 18

A quantitative theory:

Accepted Answer

A)   relates the numerical representations of variables and constants to one another.
B)   uses analogies to physical systems for its base.
C)   is stated in purely verbal terms.
D)   None of the answers is correct.E) All of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 19

The process of developing alternative explanations for a phenomenon, developing predictions based on the alternatives, and testing those predictions is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)   strong inference.
B)   a confirmational strategy.
C)   a disconfirmational strategy.
D)   weak inference.E) A) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 20

A theory is a(n) :

Accepted Answer

A)   plausible or scientifically acceptable, well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world.
B)   well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world.
C)   organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena and predict the characteristics of as yet unobserved phenomena.
D)   All of the answers are correct.E) A) and C)
F) None of the above

Exam 2: Developing and Evaluating Theories of Behavior

For a theory to be of value, it must:

Correct Answer
verified

A theory that has been substantially verified is sometimes called a:

Correct Answer
verified

Dr. Jones proposed a theory of helping behavior that turned out to be wrong. However, it did serve as a catalyst for a fruitful research area. This illustrates the _____ value of a theory.

Correct Answer
verified

A(n) _____ explains a phenomenon with as few statements as possible.

Correct Answer
verified

A testable theory is one that can potentially fail an empirical test.

Correct Answer
verified
True

Given the choice between a mechanistic explanation and a functional one, you should:

Correct Answer
verified

According to the text, adequate testing of a theory involves using:

Correct Answer
verified

Fundamental theories are rare in psychology because:

Correct Answer
verified
B

Outline the characteristics of a good theory.

A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation is called a(n) _____.

Correct Answer
verified

When research generates data that support the predictions of a theory, we can safely say that the theory was proven correct.

Correct Answer
verified

If a positive result of an experiment does not support a prediction made by a theory, you are using:

Correct Answer
verified

Quantitative theories express relationships in mathematical terms.

Correct Answer
verified

If a theory is proven incorrect, it is totally useless.

Correct Answer
verified

The _____ of a theory concerns the range of situations to which it applies.

Correct Answer
verified

According to the text, the collapse of the Hull-Spence theory of learning occurred because the theory:

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements is true of a law?

Correct Answer
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A quantitative theory:

Correct Answer
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The process of developing alternative explanations for a phenomenon, developing predictions based on the alternatives, and testing those predictions is known as:

Correct Answer
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A theory is a(n) :

Correct Answer
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Exam 2: Developing and Evaluating Theories of Behavior

For a theory to be of value, it must:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A theory that has been substantially verified is sometimes called a:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Dr. Jones proposed a theory of helping behavior that turned out to be wrong. However, it did serve as a catalyst for a fruitful research area. This illustrates the _____ value of a theory.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A(n) _____ explains a phenomenon with as few statements as possible.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A testable theory is one that can potentially fail an empirical test.

Correct AnswerverifiedTrue

Given the choice between a mechanistic explanation and a functional one, you should:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the text, adequate testing of a theory involves using:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Fundamental theories are rare in psychology because:

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Outline the characteristics of a good theory.

A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation is called a(n) _____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When research generates data that support the predictions of a theory, we can safely say that the theory was proven correct.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If a positive result of an experiment does not support a prediction made by a theory, you are using:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Quantitative theories express relationships in mathematical terms.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If a theory is proven incorrect, it is totally useless.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The _____ of a theory concerns the range of situations to which it applies.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the text, the collapse of the Hull-Spence theory of learning occurred because the theory:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements is true of a law?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A quantitative theory:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The process of developing alternative explanations for a phenomenon, developing predictions based on the alternatives, and testing those predictions is known as:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A theory is a(n) :

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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True

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B

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