Thaddeus Is a Graduate Student in a Health Psychology Program

question 10

Multiple Choice

Thaddeus is a graduate student in a health psychology program. He decides that for his dissertation project he is going to replicate one of his advisor's studies, but extend the original hypothesis. Instead of just investigating the role of exercise on risk for heart disease, he wants to examine how much exercise is optimally beneficial. To do so, he examines quantity and intensity of the exercise. Which of the following strategies is Thaddeus using to develop a good hypothesis?

• A) the exception to the rule
• B) a matter of degree
• C) introspection
• D) change in directionality

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Definitions:

Foot-In-The-Door Phenomenon

The tendency for people to agree to a large request after first agreeing to a small one.

Cognitive Dissonance

The psychological discomfort experienced when holding two or more conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes.

Fundamental Attribution Error

A cognitive bias that involves overemphasizing personality traits and underestimating situational factors when explaining other people's behavior.

Central Route Persuasion

A method of persuasion that involves deeply processing the content of the message, evaluating the arguments presented and leading to lasting attitude change.