Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between a population and a sample in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

A population is the entire group of people of interest, while a sample is a smaller group drawn from the population who participate in the study.

Question 2

Why is random selection important for generalizability in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

It helps ensure that every person in the population has an equal chance of being selected, making the sample representative.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of an operational definition for 'aggression in children'?

Accepted Answer

Aggression is measured by the number of times a child hits, pushes, or yells at another child during a 30-minute observation period.

Question 4

A researcher wants to study the relationship between texting speed and relationship drama among university students. Which research method is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Correlational design

Question 5

Which of the following statements about reliability and validity is correct?

Accepted Answer

A test must be reliable to be valid, but a reliable test can still be invalid.

Question 6

What is the main disadvantage of naturalistic observation as a research method?

Accepted Answer

It lacks control over variables, making it difficult to draw cause and effect conclusions.

Question 7

A researcher finds a correlation coefficient of $$r = -0.85$$ between hours spent playing video games and academic performance. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

There is a strong negative relationship between the two variables.

Question 8

Which scenario best illustrates the third-variable problem in correlational research?

Accepted Answer

A study finds that children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, but parental involvement may influence both breakfast habits and test scores.

Question 9

In an experiment, the independent variable (IV) is:

Accepted Answer

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher to cause change in another variable.

Question 10

Which of the following is a threat to internal validity in experimental research?

Accepted Answer

Confounding variables that provide alternative explanations for results

Question 11

A researcher wants to know if mood affects generosity. She randomly assigns participants to listen to happy or sad music and then measures how much they tip. What is the dependent variable (DV) in this study?

Accepted Answer

Amount of tip given by participants

Question 12

Which ethical principle was most clearly violated in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?

Accepted Answer

Informed consent and protection from harm

Question 13

Which of the following best describes a case study?

Accepted Answer

An in-depth analysis of a single person or setting, often used for rare or unusual phenomena.

Question 14

What is the main purpose of a double-blind design in experimental research?

Accepted Answer

To prevent expectancy effects and observer bias.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of response bias in self-report surveys?

Accepted Answer

Participants answer questions randomly without reading them.

Question 16

If a measure of stress in university students produces similar results when administered twice, one month apart, this demonstrates:

Accepted Answer

Test-retest reliability

Question 17

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of external validity?

Accepted Answer

How well a study's findings apply to real-world settings.

Question 18

A researcher observes university students in a lecture hall to see how often they use laptops for non-class reasons. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation

Question 19

Which formula represents the range of possible values for a correlation coefficient?

Accepted Answer

$$-1.0 \leq r \leq +1.0$$

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of self-report/survey methods?

Accepted Answer

Ability to manipulate variables

Research Methods in Psychology: Foundations, Designs, and Validity

Guida di studio - Domande di pratica

Study guide - Flashcard