PSYC300 MID

This midterm exam covers material from weeks 1-4. It contains both essay and multiple choice questions. Answer the essay questions below completely and fully for full credit. This requires a minimum of 300 words of critical analysis from scholarly resources (not including the references). Use your textbooks and outside academic references (not Wikipedia!) to answer the questions completely. Support your answers with source credits (citations and references). The essay portion of the exam will be graded by the instructor after the exam due date has passed.

1. Describe three benefits of conducting a thorough review of existing literature before writing a research proposal.

2. Concepts, ideas, opinions, feelings, and other intangible entities are often labeled as "insubstantial phenomena." Select one of the following 3 phenomena that would be considered insubstantial, and explain two different ways — one qualitative and one quantitative — that you might measure it: a) the closeness of undergraduates' social network friends; b) the "campus climate" at your university; c) "irrational exuberance" about the stock market.

3. In regard to quantitative research proposals, novice researchers often find it very challenging and tedious to explain in detail how the data will be analyzed and interpreted in their study. Explain why it is essential that the researcher not cut corners in this section of the proposal.

4. Graduate professors like to insist that the completion of thesis or dissertation research is not merely an "academic exercise" or final hurdle to obtaining the desired degree. Explain at least two personal benefits that the individual derives from completing a high- quality thesis or dissertation. Then explain at least two societal benefits that follow from the individual's completion of a high-quality thesis or dissertation.