AP Psychology Research Practice

A researcher was interested in studying the effects of a new medication on depression. One group received the new medication and another group received a standard medication for depression. The researcher asked participants to answer a series of questions rating their mood levels before and after six weeks of taking the medications. Which of the following is the control condition in this study?

• The group receiving the new medication

• The group receiving the standard medication

• The rating of the participant’s mood levels

• the series of questions

• the participants

This research method is a technique for ascertaining the self – reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.

• Survey
• Observational
• Correlational
• Experiments
• Case Study

This is a method of research where an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable).

• Experiments
• Case Study
• Survey
• Observational
• Correlational

The advantage of this descriptive method of research is that it creates an immense amount of data to be gathered quickly and inexpensively.

• Survey
• Observational
• Correlational
• Experiments
• Case Study

The disadvantage of this method of descriptive research is that the research may not be a representative sample of the general population and doesn’t yield reliable conclusions about behavior.

• Case Study
• Survey
• Observational
• Correlational
• Experiments

The disadvantage of this method of descriptive research is that it does not permit researchers to draw conclusions regarding cause-and-effect relationships

• Correlational

• Experiments

• Case Study

The disadvantage of this method of descriptive research is questions must be asked “just right” to get reliable answers and a considerable amount of honesty and trust is given in the answers.

• Survey
• Observational
• Correlational
• Experiments
• Case Study

The condition that exists when the probability that the findings are not due to chance

• statistical significance
• experimenter bias
• confounding variables

Factors that cause differences between the experimental group and control group other than the independent variable. 

• control group
• population
• confounding variables

The subgroup of the population that participates in the study

• sample
• assignment
• group