Research Methods Within Psychology

The group in an experiment or study that does not receive treatment by the researchers and is then used as a benchmark to measure how the other tested subjects do.

• independent variable

• control group

• controlled variable

• experimental group

In a(n) ____________________________, both the participants and the doctors do not know whether the participants are receiving a treatment or not.

• double-blind study

• single-blind study

• cross-sectional method

• naturalistic observation

When each member of a population has an equal chance of being chosen for a study, the individuals selected constitute a(n) __________________________.

• random sample

• longitudinal method

• naturalistic method

• stratified sample

If my target population is 40% females and 60% males, my ___________________________ should also consist of 40% females and 60% males.

• random sample

• stratified sample

• naturalistic observation

• convenience sample

To test the notion ‘two heads are better than one’, a psychologist measures how long it takes people working either in groups of two or working alone to solve a problem. The independent variable is

• the problem

• the number of people working on the problem

• the time it takes to solve the problem

• whether or not the problem is solved

A research hypothesis with operationalised variables is

• Whether the results are valid and reliable

• The sample from which the populations was drawn

• Whether the IV and DV can be controlled

• How the IV and DV will be manipulated and measured

One way of controlling an experimenter effect is to ensure that

• The experimenter is unaware of the experimental conditions to which research participants have been allocated

• The experimenter explains the instructions clearly

• The experimenter is informed about which participants are in which groups

• Only the research assistants know which participants are in the different experimental groups

In an experiment, the variable that is manipulated or changed in some way by the experimenter is called the ______________ variable, whereas the variable that is measured to find out the effects of the treatment is called the ______________ variable

• Control; experimental

• Independent; dependent

• Experimental; control

• Dependent; independent

The best definition of a random sample is

• A group of participants selected from the population by picking names at random from the phone book

• A group of participants selected from the population by putting all the names in a hat and drawing them out at random

• A group of participants selected from the population in such a way that each member has an equal chance of being selected

• A group of participants selected from the population by means of a random number generator on a computer

The purpose the experimental group in research is to

• Ascertain the effects of the dependent variable

• Eliminate the effects of the dependent variable

• Ascertain the effects of the independent variable

• Eliminate the effects of the independent variable