Research Methods in Psychology: Quizzes and Practice Questions

Question 1

Which characteristic is NOT found in the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

Subjectivity

Answer

Objectivity

Answer

Reliability

Answer

Falsifiability

Question 2

In an experiment, which group serves as the standard against which other groups are assessed?

Accepted Answer

Control group

Answer

Experimental group

Answer

Placebo group

Answer

Independent variable group

Question 3

Which correlation type shows a negative relationship between variables, where one decreases as the other increases?

Accepted Answer

Negative correlation

Answer

Positive correlation

Answer

Linear correlation

Answer

Non-linear correlation

Question 4

Which qualitative research method involves detailed observation and recording of events?

Accepted Answer

Participant observation

Answer

Interviews

Answer

Focus groups

Answer

Grounded theory

Question 5

In qualitative research, what process involves finding commonalities and patterns across data?

Accepted Answer

Thematic analysis

Answer

Coding

Answer

Grounded theory

Answer

Data reduction

Question 6

Which research project directly addresses a pressing social issue?

Accepted Answer

Creating a program to reduce prejudice and discrimination.

Answer

Studying how sleep deprivation affects thinking skills.

Answer

Looking at the link between parenting styles and child development.

Answer

Testing a new therapy for depression.

Question 7

Which research method is NOT typically classified as a psychological research method?

Accepted Answer

Historical

Answer

Experimental

Answer

Correlational

Answer

Narrative

Question 8

In experimental research, the independent variable is manipulated by the researcher to:

Accepted Answer

Control its influence on the dependent variable

Answer

Observe its potential effect on the dependent variable

Answer

Measure its relationship with the dependent variable

Answer

Predict the effect of the dependent variable

Question 9

Which is a valid criticism of correlational research?

Accepted Answer

It cannot establish causality

Answer

It requires an extensive sample size

Answer

It is vulnerable to bias

Answer

It is not generalizable to other populations

Question 10

Qualitative research methods are particularly suitable for exploring:

Accepted Answer

Subjective experiences and perspectives

Answer

Latent behaviors

Answer

Interrelationships between variables

Answer

Physiological responses

Question 11

In a longitudinal study, researchers collect data from the same participants:

Accepted Answer

Multiple times over a period of time

Answer

Across different locations

Answer

Under controlled experimental conditions

Answer

From existing datasets

Question 12

The null hypothesis in statistical testing proposes that:

Accepted Answer

There is no significant effect or relationship

Answer

There is a statistically significant effect or relationship

Answer

The sample size is too small to draw conclusions

Answer

The study has methodological flaws

Question 13

In research involving human participants, which ethical principle is most important?

Accepted Answer

Getting informed consent from participants

Answer

Keeping participant data confidential

Answer

Ensuring objectivity and bias-free research

Answer

Promoting replication of studies for validity

Question 14

How does theory guide the design and execution of psychological research?

Accepted Answer

Provides a conceptual framework for understanding the research problem and selecting appropriate methods.

Answer

Determines the specific statistical analyses used in the research.

Answer

Has no influence on the design or execution of the research.

Question 15

In experimental research, random assignment of participants to groups is essential primarily for:

Accepted Answer

Ensuring that the groups are equivalent at the start of the study

Answer

Reducing the influence of confounding variables

Answer

Increasing the sample size

Answer

Facilitating data analysis

Question 16

The main objective of correlational research is to:

Accepted Answer

Examine the relationships between variables

Answer

Establish cause-and-effect relationships

Answer

Predict future outcomes

Answer

Describe the characteristics of a population

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a qualitative research method?

Accepted Answer

Meta-analysis

Answer

Grounded theory

Answer

Ethnography

Answer

Phenomenology

Question 18

The distinction between internal and external validity refers to:

Accepted Answer

The accuracy of the research findings within the study versus the generalizability of the findings to other settings or populations

Answer

The reliability of the research methods versus the validity of the research conclusions

Answer

The ethical considerations of the research versus the practical implications of the findings

Answer

The qualitative versus quantitative nature of the research methods

Question 19

A research hypothesis is primarily intended to:

Accepted Answer

Provide a specific prediction about the outcome of a study

Answer

Summarize the main findings of a study

Answer

Describe the methods used in a study

Answer

Explain the theoretical framework of a study

Question 20

Which statistical technique is commonly used to compare the means of two or more groups?

Accepted Answer

Analysis of variance (ANOVA)

Answer

T-test

Answer

Correlation analysis

Answer

Regression analysis

Question 21

Identify the step that is **not** part of the scientific method:

Accepted Answer

Developing a theory

Answer

Formulating a hypothesis

Answer

Collecting data

Answer

Interpreting results

Question 22

Which research method involves manipulating a variable to observe its effects on another variable?:

Accepted Answer

Experimental

Answer

Correlational

Answer

Qualitative

Answer

Naturalistic observation

Question 23

Reliability measures the consistency of a test in producing the same results. True or False?:

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 24

Which sampling method randomly selects individuals from a population?:

Accepted Answer

Random sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Quota sampling

Answer

Purposive sampling

Question 25

What is the primary purpose of a meta-analysis in research?:

Accepted Answer

To combine findings from multiple studies for a more comprehensive picture

Answer

To explore the effects of publication bias

Answer

To identify potential biases in the research literature

Answer

To design new studies that address limitations in existing research

Question 26

Which criticism is **not** associated with qualitative research methods?:

Accepted Answer

Cost-effectiveness

Answer

Limited generalizability

Answer

Subjectivity of the researcher

Answer

Difficulty in quantifying data

Question 27

Which experimental design uses a separate group of participants not exposed to the manipulation?:

Accepted Answer

Between-subjects design

Answer

Matched-subjects design

Answer

Within-subjects design

Answer

Crossover design

Question 28

Which statistical test is used to compare the difference between two independent groups?:

Accepted Answer

T-test

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Regression analysis

Question 29

What is the primary goal of a research proposal?:

Accepted Answer

To outline the research plan and justify its significance

Answer

To gather funding for the research project

Answer

To obtain ethical approval for the research

Answer

To publish the research findings

Question 30

What is effect size, and why is it important in assessing the strength and significance of research findings?

Accepted Answer

Effect size measures the magnitude of group differences or variable relationships.

Answer

Effect size is only applicable to experimental designs.

Answer

Effect size is equivalent to statistical significance.

Answer

Effect size is irrelevant in research evaluation.

Question 31

When studying marginalized groups, which type of bias is crucial to consider?

Accepted Answer

Sampling bias

Answer

Confounding bias

Answer

Experimenter bias

Answer

Publication bias

Question 32

Which aspect of experimental research methods involves randomly assigning participants to different groups?

Accepted Answer

Random assignment

Answer

Observational measurement

Answer

Subjective analysis

Answer

Data collection exclusively through observation

Question 33

Which research method is appropriate for examining the relationship between sleep duration and academic performance?

Accepted Answer

Correlational study

Answer

Experimental study

Answer

Qualitative inquiry

Answer

Meta-analysis

Question 34

What is the primary purpose of using a control group in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

To serve as a reference point for comparison with experimental groups

Answer

To ensure equal treatment for all participants

Answer

To evaluate the impact of the independent variable

Answer

To test multiple hypotheses concurrently

Question 35

What is the primary goal of conducting a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

Combining results from multiple studies

Answer

Identifying potential biases in individual studies

Answer

Formulating new research hypotheses

Answer

Evaluating the validity of various research methods

Question 36

Research involving conscious self-reporting by participants is referred to as which type of method?

Accepted Answer

Introspection

Answer

Observational

Answer

Experimental

Answer

Correlational

Question 37

What is the primary purpose of qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

To gain detailed understanding and insights

Answer

To generalize conclusions to a larger population

Answer

To establish cause-and-effect relationships

Answer

To make predictions about future events

Question 38

Which criterion refers to the consistency of research findings across different studies?

Accepted Answer

Replicability

Answer

Reliability

Answer

Validity

Answer

Generalizability

Question 39

What process involves organizing and interpreting raw data?

Accepted Answer

Data analysis

Answer

Data collection

Answer

Research design

Answer

Hypothesis testing

Question 40

Which statistical measure is used to summarize the variability of a set of data?

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Correlation coefficient

Question 41

What ethical consideration requires researchers to obtain participants' informed consent before conducting a study?

Accepted Answer

Respect for autonomy

Answer

Confidentiality

Answer

Privacy

Answer

Harm minimization

Question 42

Which type of research design involves studying a phenomenon repeatedly over time?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal

Answer

Cross-sectional

Answer

Retrospective

Answer

Panel

Question 43

In a linear regression analysis exploring the link between age and cognitive performance, which assumptions are crucial for the test's validity?

Accepted Answer

Normality

Accepted Answer

Independence

Accepted Answer

Equal variance

Question 44

Which type of validity measures how well a research tool reflects the concept it is designed to measure?

Accepted Answer

Construct validity

Answer

Internal validity

Answer

External validity

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a strong research hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

It is not testable.

Answer

It is specific and focused.

Answer

It is based on previous research.

Answer

It is falsifiable.

Question 46

Which research method is best suited for determining a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables?

Accepted Answer

Experimental research

Answer

Case study research

Answer

Correlational research

Answer

Survey research

Question 47

What is the primary purpose of a research design?

Accepted Answer

To ensure the internal and external validity of research findings.

Answer

To simplify data analysis.

Answer

To ensure the study is ethical.

Answer

To make the research process more efficient.

Question 48

Which of the following is a potential threat to the internal validity of a research study?

Accepted Answer

Participant attrition

Answer

The Hawthorne effect

Answer

Sampling bias

Answer

Experimenter bias

Question 49

What is the main difference between reliability and validity in research?

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, while validity refers to the accuracy of a measure.

Answer

Reliability and validity are the same concept.

Question 50

Which of the following is a commonly used qualitative research method?

Accepted Answer

Grounded theory

Answer

Observational research

Answer

Meta-analysis

Answer

Survey research

Question 51

What is the primary reason for using random assignment in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

To control for confounding variables.

Answer

To increase the sample size.

Answer

To reduce bias.

Answer

To make the research process more efficient.

Question 52

What is a significant limitation of correlational research?

Accepted Answer

It cannot establish causality.

Answer

It is expensive.

Answer

It is difficult to analyze.

Answer

It requires a large sample size.

Question 53

What is the distinction between a population and a sample in research?

Accepted Answer

A population is the entire group of interest for a study, while a sample is a smaller, representative subset of the population.

Answer

A sample is larger than a population.