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 you are interested in studying, while a sample is the smaller group selected from the population who actually participate in the study.

Question 2

Why is random selection important in psychological experiments?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of an operational definition?

Accepted Answer

Counting the number of times a child hits another child during recess to measure aggression.

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/non-experimental method

Question 5

Which of the following is a disadvantage of qualitative data in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

It has low external validity and is subject to researcher bias.

Question 6

A researcher measures feline preference by asking participants to rate how much they enjoy being around cats on a scale from 1 to 10. What type of data collection method is this?

Accepted Answer

Self-report measure/survey

Question 7

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of test-retest reliability?

Accepted Answer

Measuring the correlation between scores on the same test administered at two different time points.

Question 8

What is the main difference between reliability and validity in psychological measurement?

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency of measurement, while validity refers to how well a measure assesses what it claims to measure.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

$-1 \leq r \leq +1$

Question 10

A researcher finds a strong correlation between ice cream sales and drowning incidents. What is the most likely explanation for this finding?

Accepted Answer

A third variable, such as hot weather, influences both ice cream sales and drowning incidents.

Question 11

Which of the following is necessary to establish causation between two variables?

Accepted Answer

Manipulation of the independent variable in an experimental design.

Question 12

In an experiment, what is the role of the independent variable (IV)?

Accepted Answer

It is manipulated by the researcher and causes changes in the dependent variable.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes a confound in experimental research?

Accepted Answer

A variable not of interest that varies along with the independent variable and could provide an alternative explanation for the results.

Question 14

The Stanford Marshmallow experiment primarily tested which psychological concept?

Accepted Answer

Delay of gratification/self-control

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of experimental bias?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

Why might researchers use deception in psychological studies?

Accepted Answer

To prevent participants from guessing the true purpose of the study and changing their behavior.

Question 17

Which ethical principle was violated in the Tuskegee Syphilis study?

Accepted Answer

Participants were not informed about their diagnosis or the availability of treatment.

Question 18

A researcher wants to know if listening to music improves test performance. Which of the following is the best way to operationalize the independent variable?

Accepted Answer

Assign participants to either listen to music or sit in silence before taking a test.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes external validity?

Accepted Answer

The degree to which the study's findings can be generalized to other settings or populations.

Question 20

A researcher finds that preschoolers' delay times in the Stanford Marshmallow experiment are significantly affected by experimental conditions. What does this suggest about the study's internal validity?

Accepted Answer

The study has high internal validity because the independent variable (experimental conditions) caused changes in the dependent variable (delay times).

Introduction to Psychological Research Methods: Key Concepts, Designs, and Ethics

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