One evening, when he couldn't sleep, Mr. Bradley turned on the television and saw an infomercial for a new sleep aid. As a critical thinker, Mr. Bradley should be most cautious about this new product if:
a) the product had been subjected to an experimental study and the scrutiny of a peer-review process.
b) its makers support their claims using the testimonials and anecdotal reports of "ordinary people."
c) its makers discuss the scientific investigations that have compared it to other effective sleep aids rather than relying on testimonials of those with insomnia.
d) the results of research connect the efficacy of the sleep-aid to other widely accepted scientific findings.
ANS: B, Remember that extraordinary claims based on anecdotal evidence are one of the keys to identifying a pseudoscience.
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Which of the following is directly addressed by the null hypothesis?
a. The population before treatment c. The sample before treatment b. The population after treatment d. The sample after treatment
Eldon's delusions frighten him and cause him to become angry. It is likely that ____
a. he will become violent b. he will never be able to challenge them c. often he will purposely enter situations he perceives to be dangerous, where he will encounter his delusions head on d. some of his delusions seem plausible and others are extremely bizarre
Csikszentmihalyi (1990, 1999) refers to the state wherein we are unselfconsciously absorbed in a mindful challenge as:
A. individual hypnosis. B. flow. C. a trance. D. unconditional positive regard.
John, Paul, George, and Ringo are hooked up to electroencephalographs. John is in stage N4 sleep. Paul is also asleep, but he is dreaming. George just fell asleep a few minutes ago and is in stage N1 sleep. Ringo cannot fall asleep and is awake and mentally active. Whose EEG will look different than those produced by the other three?
a. John b. Paul c. George d. Ringo