PSYCH100 research methods Flashcards
What is the primary goal of science in psychology?
A. To tell people what to think
B. To justify beliefs
C. To teach how to think, not what to think
D. To prove theories are correct
C - To teach how to think, not what to think
What is a conceptual variable?
A. A variable that can be directly measured
B. A theoretical, abstract idea
C. A variable manipulated in an experiment
D. A variable used to define a sample
B - A theoretical, abstract idea
Which of the following is an example of an operational variable?
A. Intelligence
B. Self-esteem
C. IQ test score
D. Anxiety
C - IQ test score
What is the purpose of operational variables?
A. To define abstract concepts for measurement
B. To create new theories
C. To manipulate dependent variables
D. To justify beliefs
A - To define abstract concepts for measurement
- What is a population in research?
A. A small group of participants
B. A large group of interest
C. A random sample of individuals
D. A group of researchers
B - A large group of interest
Why are non-probability samples used?
A. They are always representative of the population
B. They are convenient and allow for repeated studies
C. They require a sampling frame
D. They eliminate bias
B - They are convenient and allow for repeated studies
What is naturalistic observation?
A. Observing behavior in a controlled environment
B. Collecting data through surveys
C. Observing behavior in a natural environment without interference
D. Conducting experiments in a lab
C - Observing behavior in a natural environment without interference
What is a major disadvantage of case studies?
A. They are expensive to conduct
B. They have low generalizability
C. They require large samples
D. They are unethical
B - They have low generalizability
What is the main purpose of a focus group?
A. To study rare cases
B. To collect archival data
C. To explore attitudes and issues
D. To conduct experiments
C - To explore attitudes and issues
What is a common problem with survey research?
A. It is too expensive
B. It lacks control over stimuli
C. Participants may not provide honest answers
D. It cannot be conducted online
C - Participants may not provide honest answers
What is archival research?
A. Collecting data from existing records
B. Observing behavior in a lab
C. Conducting interviews with participants
D. Manipulating variables in an experiment
A - Collecting data from existing records
What is an independent variable?
A. A variable that is measured in an experiment
B. A variable that is manipulated by the researcher
C. A variable that cannot be directly measured
D. A variable that defines a sample
B - A variable that is manipulated by the researcher
What is a dependent variable?
A. A variable manipulated by the researcher
B. A variable that measures the effect of the independent variable
C. A variable that defines a population
D. A variable that is always constant
B - A variable that measures the effect of the independent variable
What is random assignment?
A. Assigning participants to groups based on their preferences
B. Assigning participants to groups based on chance
C. Selecting participants from a population
D. Observing participants in their natural environment
B - Assigning participants to groups based on chance
What is internal validity?
A. The ability to generalize findings to a population
B. The degree to which causal inferences can be made
C. The accuracy of operational variables
D. The reliability of survey responses
B - The degree to which causal inferences can be made
What is the purpose of peer review?
A. To ensure a manuscript is free of errors
B. To provide feedback and recommendations for improvement
C. To guarantee publication
D. To collect data for a study
B - To provide feedback and recommendations for improvement
What is the most common outcome of the peer-review process?
A. Acceptance without revisions
B. Acceptance with minor revisions
C. Revise and resubmit
D. Rejection
D - Rejection
What is the first step in conducting psychological research?
A. Collecting observations
B. Defining variables
C. Analyzing results
D. Publishing the results
B - Defining variables
Which of the following is a characteristic of probability sampling?
A. Each person has an unknown probability of being selected
B. It is always convenient
C. It requires a sampling frame
D. It is never representative of the population
C - It requires a sampling frame
