Chapter 1: Introduction and Research Methods
Testing your knowledge of idioms and other
vocabulary
How familiar are you with Idioms and other vocabulary? Match each item in column A
with the appropriate meaning given in column B. If you are unsure, look at the sentence
context given below. Remember that words may have different meanings in different
contexts. The meanings given here are appropriate for the contexts from your textbook, but
in different contexts the idioms might have different meanings. Answers are given on page
6.
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a. to rely on
1. to show the best of oneself; to show the best
parts of oneself
2. to make sure
3. to be based on; to depend on
4. to try to win a particular position in a form of
government
5. because of ; due to
6. to continue with; to advance to another place
7. to build; to establish
8. to listen and observe other people without
their seeing you
9. to use in the best way
10. to try to remember
11. to appear
12. to alter; to make different
13. to feel more relaxed
14. several
15. your responsibility
b. to move on to
c. to change the course of
d. owing to
e. to take care
f. to keep in mind
g. to breathe a sigh of relief
h. to set up
i. to present oneself in a good light
j. to become like a fly on the wall
k. to show up
l. to run for
m. a number of
n. to take advantage of
o. to bear in mind
p. it’s up to you
Sentence context
a. In contrast to pseudopsychologies, which rely on self testimonials and opinions,
psychology bases its findings on rigorous, scientific methods(p. 6)
b. Psychologists generally begin with description and explanation (answering the
“whats” and “whys”). Then they move on to the higher-level goal of prediction,
identifying the conditions under which a future behavior or mental process is likely to
occur. (p. 6)
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c. It expanded the scope of psychology to include research on emotions and observable
behaviors, initiated the psychological testing movement, and changed the course of
modern education and industry. (p. 10)
d. Although you will learn a great deal about psychological functioning in this text and in
your psychology class, take care that you do not overestimate your expertise. (p. 20)
e. Just as Hans’s questioners unintentionally signaled the correct answer by lowering or
raising their heads, an experimenter might breathe a sigh of relief when a participant
gives a response that supports the researcher’s hypothesis. (p. 22)
f. One technique is to set up objective methods for collecting and recording data, such as
audiotape recordings to present the stimuli and computers to record the responses.(p.
22-25)
g. For example, participants may try to present themselves in a good light (the social
desirability response) or may deliberately attempt to mislead the researcher. (p. 26)
h. You would attempt to be as unobtrusive as possible, to become, as they say,
“like a fly on the wall.” (p. 29 Figure 1.7)
k. As a result, “she has not learned the telltale signs that announce possible danger and
possible unpleasantness, especially as they show up in the face of another person...”
(p. 30)
l. Maria is thinking of running for student body president. (p. 37, Check & Review)
m. There are a number of ways to actively read, remember, and master a college text.
(p. 40)
n. How can you be a more successful student (and test taker) and take full advantage
of all the special features in this text? (p. 40)
o. Also, bear in mind that information relevant to one question is often found in another
test question. (p. 45)
p. However, it is up to you to discover their office hours and office location. (p. 46)
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Reviewing your knowledge of English grammar
One of the most basic facts to remember about English grammar is that singular verbs
require singular subjects, and plural verbs require plural subjects. This means that almost
all nouns occurring together with plural verb forms require an -s or -es ending.
Compare:
A psychiatrist studies human behavior.
(singular noun) (singular verb)
Psychiatrists study human behavior.
(plural noun) (plural verb)
Review your knowledge of this basic fact of English grammar by adding -s or -es endings
as needed in the blanks provided below. Note that some of the blanks will require no
ending. When you are finished, you may check your answers in the answer key section.
Clinical psychologist__ work with mentally ill or emotionally disturbed people
by doing therapy or counseling. Student__ often wonder about the difference
between a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist. A psychiatrist__ is a true
medical doctor who has gone to medical school. In fact, most psychiatrist__ have
received their M.D. degrees with a specialization in psychiatry. Because of this
medical training, a psychiatrist__ is licensed to prescribe medication or drugs.
Clinical psychologist__, on the other hand, have not gone to medical school and
cannot prescribe drugs. The typical psychologist__ has gone to graduate school
and has received a Ph.D. degree after intense study of human behavior and
methods of therapy.
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Finding key information
One technique that the authors frequently use in this chapter is to compare two terms or
concepts and give you parallel information about each. Study the paragraph in the section
above comparing psychiatrists to clinical psychologists. Notice how the authors give you
parallel information about each type of scientist:
Clinical Psychiatrist
Psychologist
has gone to medical school
has gone to graduate school
has an M.D. degree
has a Ph.D.
can prescribe drugs
cannot prescribe drugs
Look at the paragraph in your textbook comparing basic and applied research
(p. 16). Study this section; then, fill in the missing information about basic research in the
chart below. When you are finished, you may check your answers in the answer key
section.
Basic Research
Applied Research

is conducted in the real world
(for example, in industry)

its purpose is to solve existing
real-world problems

it has real world applications

example: safety and design
improvements in machinery
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Examining structural clues
Because it serves as the introduction to the entire book, this chapter contains some
important definitions. In English, definitions can be introduced in a number of different
ways:

The definition may be contained within parentheses.
All behavior can be viewed as a response to a stimulus (an object or event, either
internal or external, that stimulates or causes an organism to respond).

It may be set off by dashes.
Some behaviors are overt--easily seen or identified.

It may be introduced by a relative pronoun.
Applied research is research THAT utilizes the principles and discoveries
of psychology to solve real-world problems.

It may contain the verb BE plus a prepositional phrase.
A case study IS an in-depth study OF A SINGLE RESEARCH SUBJECT.
Locate 5 definitions in this chapter which you think are particularly important and write
them in the spaces provided below. Study them to see if they follow the patterns listed
above.
1.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
4.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
5.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
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Answer key
Testing your knowledge of idioms and other vocabulary
a. 3;
m. 14;
b. 6;
n. 9;
c. 12;
o. 10;
d. 5;
p. 15;
e. 2;
f. 10;
g. 13;
h. 7;
i. 1;
j. 8;
k. 11;
l. 4;
Reviewing your knowledge of English grammar
Clinical psychologists work with mentally ill or emotionally disturbed people by doing
therapy or counseling. Students often wonder about the difference between a psychiatrist
and a clinical psychologist. A psychiatrist is a true medical doctor who has gone to medical
school. In fact, most psychiatrists have received their M.D. degrees with a specialization in
psychiatry. Because of this medical training, a psychiatrist is licensed to prescribe
medication or drugs. Clinical psychologists, on the other hand, have not gone to medical
school and cannot prescribe drugs. The typical psychologist has gone to graduate school
and has received a Ph.D. degree after intense study of human behavior and methods of
therapy.
Finding key information
Basic research is usually conducted in universities or in research laboratories. Its purpose
is to explore new theories and advance general scientific understanding. It may not have
any real-world applications. An example is research linking aggression to testosterone or
research on general cognitive processes.
Examining structural clues
Answers will vary.
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