Q: A study finds a statistically significant difference between two groups with $p < 0.05$. What does this mean?

The difference is unlikely to be due to chance.

Q: A psychologist uses a double-blind study to test a new medication. What does this mean?

Neither the participants nor the researchers know who receives the treatment.

Q: Which of the following is an example of a positively skewed distribution?

Most scores are low, with a long tail to the right.

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'operational definition' in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

A statement that describes the procedures and specific measures used to record observations of a variable.

Question 2

A researcher wants to measure stress levels in college students. She uses a self-report questionnaire, cortisol levels from saliva samples, and behavioral observation of fidgeting. Which characteristic of quality scientific research is she primarily addressing?

Accepted Answer

Objectivity through multiple measurement methods

Question 3

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the Hawthorne Effect?

Accepted Answer

Participants change their behavior because they know they are being observed.

Question 4

A psychologist conducts a study using a convenience sample of university students. What is a major limitation of this sampling method?

Accepted Answer

It may reduce the generalizability of the findings to the broader population.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of quality scientific research?

Accepted Answer

Results are kept private and not shared with others

Question 6

A researcher finds a correlation coefficient of $r = -0.85$ between hours of sleep and irritability. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

As hours of sleep increase, irritability decreases, and the relationship is strong.

Question 7

Which research design allows for conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships?

Accepted Answer

Experimental research

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

To balance confounding variables across groups.

Question 9

A study finds a statistically significant difference between two groups with $p < 0.05$. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

The difference is unlikely to be due to chance.

Question 10

Which ethical principle is violated if a researcher shares identifiable participant data without consent?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality

Question 11

A psychologist uses a double-blind study to test a new medication. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Neither the participants nor the researchers know who receives the treatment.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of a positively skewed distribution?

Accepted Answer

Most scores are low, with a long tail to the right.

Question 13

Why is it important to report both p-values and effect sizes in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

Effect sizes show the magnitude of the difference, while p-values indicate statistical significance.

Question 14

Which of the following best illustrates the difference between reliability and validity?

Accepted Answer

A test that gives consistent results but does not measure what it claims to measure is reliable but not valid.

Question 15

A researcher conducts a case study on a patient with a rare brain injury. What is a key limitation of this research method?

Accepted Answer

Findings may not generalize to other individuals.

Question 16

Which formula represents the calculation of the mean for a set of $n$ scores $x_1, x_2, ..., x_n$?

Accepted Answer

$\frac{\sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i}{n}$

Question 17

A researcher wants to study the effect of a new teaching method on test scores. She randomly assigns students to either the new method or the traditional method. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

Teaching method

Question 18

Which of the following is a sign of poor research practice?

Accepted Answer

Appealing to authority without evidence

Question 19

A psychologist finds that the mean income in a sample is $\$65,000$, the median is $\$85,000$, and the mode is $\$90,000$. What does this suggest about the distribution?

Accepted Answer

The distribution is positively skewed.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a Research Ethics Board (REB) in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

To protect the rights and safety of human participants.

Reading and Evaluating Scientific Research in Psychology

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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