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 to participate in the study.

Question 2

Why is random selection important for generalizability in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

It helps ensure that the sample accurately represents the population, increasing the generalizability of the findings.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of an operational definition for measuring stress in university students?

Accepted Answer

Measuring students' cortisol levels before and after exams.

Question 4

A researcher wants to study the relationship between video game use and aggression. Which research method is most appropriate for examining the strength of this relationship without manipulating variables?

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

In the Stanford Marshmallow experiment, what was the independent variable (IV)?

Accepted Answer

The physical presence or absence of the experimenter

Question 7

Which of the following is a disadvantage of naturalistic observation?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

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 9

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 10

Which of the following best describes the expectancy effect in experimental research?

Accepted Answer

Changes in participants' behavior are caused by the expectations of the researcher or observer.

Question 11

What ethical violation occurred in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?

Accepted Answer

Participants were not informed they had syphilis and were denied treatment even after a cure was found.

Question 12

Which method is most appropriate for studying rare or unusual phenomena, such as a unique brain injury?

Accepted Answer

Case study

Question 13

A researcher wants to measure the consistency of a new anxiety scale over time. Which type of reliability should they assess?

Accepted Answer

Test-retest reliability

Question 14

Which of the following is a potential issue with self-report surveys?

Accepted Answer

Participants may respond inaccurately due to social desirability bias.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

Which of the following best describes internal validity?

Accepted Answer

The degree of certainty that the observed effects are due to the manipulation of the independent variable and not confounds.

Question 17

In an experiment, what is the primary purpose of random assignment?

Accepted Answer

To distribute confounding variables equally across experimental and control groups.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a step to ensure ethical guidelines in human research?

Accepted Answer

Deceiving participants without debriefing.

Question 19

A researcher observes university students in a lecture hall to see how often they use laptops for non-class reasons. Which research method is being used?

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation

Question 20

Which of the following is a threat to internal validity in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

Confounding variables that vary along with the independent variable

Research Methods in Psychology: Foundations and Applications

Guida di studio - Domande di pratica

Study guide - Flashcard