2 - Research Methods Flashcards
A researcher wants to study “creativity” in children. Which of the following would ensure high construct validity?
a) Measuring intelligence instead, since it is related to creativity.
b) Using a test that is widely accepted as a valid measure of creativity.
c) Asking children to self-report their creativity.
d) Observing children’s social interactions in a classroom.
e) Using a single question about creativity in a survey.
Answer: (b) Using a test that is widely accepted as a valid measure of creativity.
Which of the following is an example of an operational definition?
a) Intelligence is the ability to solve complex problems.
b) Intelligence is measured using an IQ test score.
c) Happiness is the overall satisfaction with life.
d) Stress is a psychological response to pressure.
e) Personality is a stable pattern of behaviors and emotions.
Answer: (b) Intelligence is measured using an IQ test score.
Which measure of central tendency is most resistant to outliers?
a) Mean
b) Median
c) Mode
d) Standard deviation
e) Range
Answer: (b) Median
A university study finds that most students score between 65-75 on an exam, but one student scores a 5. This student’s score is an example of:
a) A confounding variable
b) An outlier
c) A dependent variable
d) A biased sample
e) A control variable
Answer: (b) An outlier
In a normal distribution, what percentage of scores fall within one standard deviation of the mean?
a) 50%
b) 68%
c) 75%
d) 90%
e) 95%
Answer: (b) 68%
Which of the following study types can establish causality?
a) Correlational studies
b) Case studies
c) Naturalistic observation
d) Experimental studies
e) Surveys
Answer: (d) Experimental studies
A case study is most useful when:
a) A researcher wants to generalize findings to a large population.
b) Studying a rare condition or unique phenomenon.
c) Determining cause-and-effect relationships.
d) Establishing a hypothesis for an experiment.
e) Testing multiple variables simultaneously.
Answer: (b) Studying a rare condition or unique phenomenon.
Which of the following is a major weakness of correlational research?
a) It requires random assignment.
b) It cannot establish cause-and-effect.
c) It cannot be conducted with large populations.
d) It cannot examine relationships between variables.
e) It is highly susceptible to participant bias.
Answer: (b) It cannot establish cause-and-effect.
Which of the following relationships could be an example of a third-variable problem?
a) More hours of studying are correlated with higher exam scores.
b) Ice cream sales are correlated with increased drowning deaths.
c) Increased caffeine consumption is correlated with increased energy levels.
d) Height is correlated with shoe size.
e) More hours of exercise are correlated with lower body weight.
Answer: (b) Ice cream sales are correlated with increased drowning deaths.
Which of the following correlation values represents the strongest relationship?
a) -0.85
b) -0.25
c) 0.00
d) 0.50
e) 0.75
Answer: (a) -0.85
Random assignment is important because it:
a) Increases the likelihood of finding a significant result.
b) Ensures that all participants receive the same treatment.
c) Eliminates individual differences between experimental groups.
d) Controls for confounding variables by distributing them evenly.
e) Guarantees internal validity.
Answer: (d) Controls for confounding variables by distributing them evenly.
A drug company wants to test whether a new medication improves memory. What would be the best control group?
a) Participants who take no medication.
b) Participants who take a different medication.
c) Participants who take a placebo.
d) Participants who take a high dose of the new drug.
e) Participants who undergo brain scans before and after the study.
Answer: (c) Participants who take a placebo.
What is the primary reason for using a double-blind procedure?
a) To prevent researchers from accidentally influencing results.
b) To increase participant trust in the experiment.
c) To speed up the research process.
d) To control for ethical concerns in experiments.
e) To increase the placebo effect
Answer: (a) To prevent researchers from accidentally influencing results.
The “WEIRD” problem in psychology refers to:
a) Over-reliance on samples from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic societies.
b) A bias toward studying abnormal psychology.
c) A lack of replication in psychological research.
d) The difficulty of measuring psychological variables.
e) An increase in non-traditional research methods.
Answer: (a) Over-reliance on samples from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic societies.
Why is external validity important in research?
a) It ensures the study measures what it claims to measure.
b) It allows results to be generalized to real-world settings.
c) It ensures all participants are treated equally.
d) It eliminates confounding variables.
e) It guarantees causality.
Answer: (b) It allows results to be generalized to real-world settings.
The observer effect occurs when:
a) A researcher influences participants’ behavior.
b) Participants change their behavior because they know they are being observed.
c) The placebo effect impacts the results.
d) An experimenter unconsciously manipulates data.
e) A variable is measured inaccurately.
Answer: (b) Participants change their behavior because they know they are being observed.
Demand characteristics refer to:
a) The difficulty of measuring psychological traits.
b) The tendency for participants to behave in ways they believe the researcher expects.
c) The need for random assignment in experiments.
d) The effect of observer bias on data interpretation.
e) A type of ethical concern in research.
Answer: (b) The tendency for participants to behave in ways they believe the researcher
A placebo effect occurs when:
a) A drug produces unexpected side effects.
b) Participants in an experiment are not randomly assigned.
c) Researchers fail to control for confounding variables.
d) The independent variable has no effect on the dependent variable.
e) Participants improve due to their expectations rather than the treatment.
Answer: (e) Participants improve due to their expectations rather than the treatment.
What is a confounding variable?
a) A variable that researchers intentionally manipulate in an experiment.
b) A variable that has no effect on the outcome of an experiment.
c) A factor that systematically varies with the independent variable.
d) A measure of how much scores deviate from the mean in a study.
e) A method of ensuring external validity in research.
Answer: (c) A factor that systematically varies with the independent variable.
Which experimental design compares the same participants before and after treatment?
a) Between-subjects design
b) Within-subject design
c) Correlational design
d) Double-blind study
e) Longitudinal design
Answer: (b) Within-subject design.
