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What is Psychological Science?

by Jeffry Ricker, Ph.D.


Section 1
Psychological Science & Theory Development


Quiz 1-5 Questions: What is a Good Scientific theory?

1. In order to determine whether a particular theory is likely to be correct, we must do which of the following?

A. Find out what most experts say about the theory's accuracy.
B. Find out what most experts say about the theory's validity.
C. Derive a prediction from the theory and see if it's confirmed.
D. Derive a claim from some observations and see if it's confirmed.

2. Tourette's Disorder (TD) is characterized by tics — both motor (such as eye-blinking) and vocal (such as grunts or yelps). One theory of TD states that the tics are caused by high levels of a brain chemical in a specific region of the brain. Which of the following would be the best way to test this theory?

A. Determine whether drugs that increase levels of the brain chemical in the specific brain region also cause normal people to develop tics.
B. Determine whether drugs that increase levels of the brain chemical in other brain regions also cause normal people to develop tics.
C. Determine whether drugs that decrease levels of the brain chemical in the specific brain region also cause people with TD to develop tics.
D. Determine whether drugs that decrease levels of the brain chemical in other brain regions also cause people with TD to develop tics.

3. Which of the following is not one of the three functions of a scientific theory?

A. The theory allows us to organize our observations.
B. The theory allows us to explain our observations.
C. The theory allows us to predict future observations.
D. The theory allows us to make current and future observations.

4. In general, the main goal of scientific research is to

A. make observations.
B. develop theoretical approaches.
C. derive predictions.
D. test theories.

Go to Quiz 1-5 answers

Go Back to Readings Section 1-5


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