Question 1

Which of the following best describes the purpose of using random selection in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that every person in the population has an equal chance of being selected, increasing generalizability

Question 2

A researcher wants to study the relationship between hours spent playing video games and aggression in teenagers. Which research method is most appropriate for this question?

Accepted Answer

Correlational design

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The number of times a student reports feeling stressed in a week, measured by a self-report questionnaire

Question 4

A study finds a correlation coefficient of $ r = -0.85 $ between hours of sleep and reported stress levels. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

There is a strong negative relationship between sleep and stress

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

A study finds that children who eat more vegetables have higher grades, but parental involvement may influence both variables

Question 6

Which of the following is a key disadvantage of naturalistic observation?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

A researcher develops a new scale to measure 'cat preference' and finds that participants' scores are consistent over a one-month period. This demonstrates:

Accepted Answer

Test-retest reliability

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

In an experiment testing whether listening to music improves test performance, what is the dependent variable (DV)?

Accepted Answer

The test scores of participants

Question 10

Which of the following best describes a double-blind experimental design?

Accepted Answer

Neither the participants nor the researchers know which participants are in the experimental or control group

Question 11

A researcher is concerned that participants may guess the purpose of a study and change their behavior accordingly. This is known as:

Accepted Answer

Demand characteristics

Question 12

Which of the following is an ethical requirement for psychological research involving deception?

Accepted Answer

Participants should be debriefed as soon as possible after the study

Question 13

Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates low external validity?

Accepted Answer

A study's findings cannot be generalized to populations outside the sample studied

Question 14

A case study is most appropriate when:

Accepted Answer

You are studying a rare or unusual phenomenon in depth

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of a confounding variable in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

A variable not of interest that varies along with the independent variable, providing an alternative explanation for results

Question 16

In the context of survey research, social desirability bias refers to:

Accepted Answer

Participants responding in a way that presents themselves in a positive light

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the main ethical violation 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 18

A researcher wants to ensure that two raters observing the same behavior agree on their ratings. Which type of reliability is being assessed?

Accepted Answer

Inter-rater reliability

Question 19

Which of the following is a key advantage of correlational research?

Accepted Answer

It allows for the prediction of future behavior based on observed trends

Question 20

A researcher is interested in whether mood affects generosity. She randomly assigns participants to listen to happy or neutral music, then measures the percentage of their restaurant bill they leave as a tip. What is the independent variable (IV) in this study?

Accepted Answer

The type of music participants listen to (happy or neutral)

Research Methods in Psychology: Foundations, Designs, and Validity

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards