Question 1

A researcher wants to test whether a new study technique improves exam scores. She randomly assigns students to either use the new technique or continue with their usual study habits. After the exam, she compares the scores between the two groups. Which of the following best describes the independent variable (IV) in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

The type of study technique used by the students

Question 2

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of illusory correlation?

Accepted Answer

A person believes that wearing a lucky shirt causes their favorite team to win, even though there is no actual relationship.

Question 3

A psychologist wants to measure anxiety levels in participants. She uses a questionnaire that consistently gives similar results when administered multiple times, but the questions actually measure stress rather than anxiety. Which statement is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

The questionnaire is reliable but not valid.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the difference between random selection and random assignment?

Accepted Answer

Random selection ensures every person in the population has an equal chance of being chosen; random assignment determines which group a participant is in.

Question 5

A study finds a correlation coefficient of $$r = -0.70$$ between hours spent watching TV and grades in school. How should this result be interpreted?

Accepted Answer

There is a strong negative correlation; as TV watching increases, grades tend to decrease.

Question 6

A researcher observes children playing in a park without interfering or manipulating any variables. Which research method is being used?

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation

Question 7

Which of the following is a requirement for making a causal inference in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

Manipulating the independent variable and using random assignment

Question 8

A participant in a drug trial reports feeling better after taking a sugar pill, believing it to be the real medication. This improvement is best explained by which effect?

Accepted Answer

Placebo effect

Question 9

A researcher wants to ensure that neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving the treatment or the placebo. What is this procedure called?

Accepted Answer

Double-blind design

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the standard deviation in a data set?

Accepted Answer

The average distance of each score from the mean

Question 11

A news article claims that 'eating chocolate causes higher intelligence' based on a correlation found in a survey. Which of the following is a valid criticism of this claim?

Accepted Answer

Correlation does not imply causation; a third variable could explain the association.

Question 12

A researcher uses a self-report survey to measure participants' exercise habits. Which of the following is a potential limitation of this method?

Accepted Answer

Participants may answer in socially desirable ways rather than truthfully.

Question 13

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of a confounding variable?

Accepted Answer

A variable that differs between groups and could explain the results instead of the independent variable

Question 14

A study reports a statistically significant result with $$p \u003c .05. $$What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

The result is unlikely to have occurred by chance alone, according to the statistical test.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of a double-barrelled survey question?

Accepted Answer

Do you agree that exercise is important and that healthy eating is necessary?

Question 16

A researcher finds that the mean score on a test is much higher than the median. What does this suggest about the distribution of scores?

Accepted Answer

The distribution is likely positively skewed.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the main ethical violation in the Tuskegee syphilis study?

Accepted Answer

Participants were not given informed consent and were denied treatment.

Question 18

A media report presents two opposing viewpoints on a scientific issue as if both have equal evidence, even though one side is much better supported by research. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Pseudo-symmetry

Question 19

A researcher wants to generalize her findings to the entire population. Which sampling method should she use to maximize generalizability?

Accepted Answer

Random selection

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics summarize data; inferential statistics allow generalization from a sample to a population.

Research Methods in Psychology: Scientific Thinking and Experimental Design

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