1. Go to Psychology Today tests and take another personality test. You can find it at this website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/tests Click on “Personality” and take a test of your choice. (I like the Gender Roles test).
a. Note your results.
b. How well did the test describe you?
c. How valid do you think the test is? (Review the definition of validity).
d. How reliable is do you think the test is? (Review the definition for reliability)
e. What have you learned about yourself from this test?
f. What would a social-cognitive approach to be to reading your results?
g. What would a humanistic approach to be reading your results?
h. What would a biological and evolutionary approach be to reading your results?

2. Take the Big Five Project Personality test. You can find it at this website: http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/
a. Note your results.
b. How well did the test describe you?
c. How valid do you think the test is? (Review the definition of validity).
d. How reliable is do you think the test is? (Review the definition for reliability)
e. What have you learned about yourself from this test?
f. What would a social-cognitive approach to be to reading your results?
g. What would a humanistic approach to be reading your results?
h. What would a biological and evolutionary approach be to reading your results?

Part 2
When reading a research report, it is important to assess the validity of the conclusions drawn. The validity of conclusions can be tested or assessed by comparing the observations and data in the research report with the conclusions. Assess the validity of conclusions by asking the following questions.
a. Does the conclusion summarize the main ideas that can be drawn from the information, observations, and data?
b. Do the observations and data support the conclusion, or does the conclusion claim something that is not supported?
c. Is further research, or a different research approach, needed to arrive at this conclusion?
d. Is the conclusion clear?

Read the following hypothesis, research information, and conclusion from a research report about the perceptual development of newborns.
Hypothesis: Newborns lack the ability to distinguish strong odors.
Research: In a study of 1,500 healthy newborns, the following observations were noted in almost all the newborns: They stuck out their tongues, spit, and wrinkled their noses when they smelled pungent odors. Newborns smiled and showed licking motions in response to the smells of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla.

Conclusion: Newborns showed insignificant differences in their responses to pungent odors and to sweet-smelling odors. Therefore, newborns are unable to distinguish strong odors.

This conclusion is invalid because there is nothing in the research information to support
this conclusion. A valid conclusion might be newborns showed significant differences in their responses to pungent odors as opposed to sweet-smelling odors. Therefore, newborns are able to distinguish strong odors.

Your turn!
Read the following hypotheses, research information, and conclusions. Use the guidelines above to assess the validity of the conclusions.
3. Hypothesis: Certain reflexes are inborn.
Research: A study to determine whether reflexes are inborn was conducted with 3,000 healthy newborns at hospitals in all parts of the world. Two reflexes-grasping and rooting-were studied. Soon after each baby was born, a doctor or nurse performed two tests. In the first test, the doctor or nurse placed a finger against the palm of the baby’s hand. In 98 percent of the cases, the babies firmly grasped the finger of the doctor or nurse. In the second test, the xdoctor or nurse touched the comer of the baby’s mouth. In 99 percent of the cases, the babies turned toward the source of the stimulus.
Conclusion: Nearly all the infants studied responded reflexively to the stimuli presented, proving that certain reflexes are inborn.

4. Hypothesis: Most children by the age of 3 months understand that objects exist even when they are out ofsight.
Research: A research study of 2,500 infants ages 1 month to 12 months was conducted. A researcher played a game of peekaboo with each infant to test the infant’s understanding of object permanence. Results (percent understanding) per age group: 0 percent at 1 month, 0 percent at 2 months, 0 percent at 3 months, 1 percent at 4 months, 3
percent at 5 months, 6 percent at 6 months, 25 percent at 7 months, 55 percent at 8
months, 65 percent at 9 months, 79 percent at 10 months, 86 percent at 11 months, 95 percent
at 12 months.
Conclusion: Most children by the age of 6 months understand object permanence.