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Worksheets12 ATAR Research Methods
Total questions: 81
Worksheet time: 1hrs 28mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
What is one disadvantage of a survey?
a)
Provides information about behavior that can’t be observed directly
b)
Yields a lot of information
c)
Provides a good way to generate hypotheses
d)
Can provide information about many people since it’s cheap and easy to do
2.
What is one advantage of a case study?
a)
Sometimes relies only on self-report data, which can be misleading
b)
Doesn’t allow conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships
c)
Provides a good way to generate hypotheses
d)
Can be subjective and thus may yield biased results
3.
True or False: The most important feature of naturalistic observation is that researchers do not disturb the participants or their environment?
a)
Both
b)
No...Just No!
c)
True
d)
False
4.
Suppose a researcher wants to study the effect of drug A on subjects’ alertness. He divides 100 subjects into two groups of 50, an experimental group and a control group. He dissolves drug A in saline solution and injects it into all the subjects in the experimental group. He then gives all the control group subjects an injection of only saline solution.
What is the independent variable?
What is the independent variable?
a)
drug A
b)
saline solution
c)
the subjects
d)
the needles
5.
What is the Placebo Effect?
a)
the effect on a subject receiving a fake drug or treatment
b)
occurs when researchers’ preferences or expectations influence the outcome of their research
c)
the tendency of some research subjects to describe themselves in socially approved ways
d)
Jared
6.
True or False: Natural observations only happen in the wild?
a)
False
b)
I DON'T KNOW!
c)
Both
d)
True
7.
Case studies typically involve collecting a vast amount of data on one particular ________?
a)
Person
b)
Group
c)
Person or Group
d)
Animal
8.
Which of the following IS an example of a survey?
a)
Administered on Paper
b)
Face-To-Face Interview
c)
Via Telephone
d)
All Of The Above
9.
A testable prediction is called (a/an):
a)
operational definition
b)
theory
c)
replication
d)
hypothesis
10.
Random sampling:
a)
represents a given population
b)
allows each person an equal chance of participating
c)
allows greater generalizability
d)
all of the above
11.
In a double-blind procedure, who is unaware of the experimental group assignment?
a)
The experimenter
b)
The participants
c)
Neither the experimenter nor the participants are aware
d)
Both the experimenter and participants are aware
12.
Mary watches several different species of birds to discover how they feed their young in their habitat, without being intrusive. This would be an example of what type of study?
a)
Case study
b)
Naturalistic observation
c)
Survey
d)
Experiment
13.
In an experiment that looks at the effects of caffeine on alertness in class, one group of students gets caffeinated coffee, another group of students gets water, and a final group of students gets decaffeinated coffee (but thinks it’s caffeinated). This last (decaf) group would be the:
a)
control group
b)
placebo group
c)
experimental group
d)
confound
14.
Which of the following questions is best investigated by means of survey?
a)
Is IQ related to grades?
b)
Are violent criminals genetically different from nonviolent criminals
c)
Does extra sleep improve memory?
d)
Are students more likely to be politically liberal or conservative?
15.
An individual with an exceptional memory is identified.She is capable of recalling major events, the weather, and what she did on any given date. What research method is being used if a psychologist conducts an in-depth investigation of this individual including questionnaires,brain scans, and memory tests?
a)
Survey
b)
Interview
c)
Case Study
d)
Naturalistic Observation
16.
Which method should a psychology researcher use if she is interested in testing whether a specific reward in a classroom situation causes students to behave better?
a)
Case Study
b)
Experiment
c)
Survey
d)
Naturalistic Observation
17.
A journalism student is writing an article about her school’s new cell-phone policy, and she’d like to interview a random sample of students. Which of the following is the best example of a random sample?
a)
The writer arrives at school early and interviewsthe fi rst fi ve students who come through the main entrance
b)
The writer pulls the names of five students from a hat that contains all students’ names. She interviews the five selected students.
c)
The writer passes out brief surveys to 50 students inthe hall and uses the 18 surveys returned to her as the basis of her article.
d)
The writer asks the principal for the names of 10students who have had their cell phones confi scatedfor a day for violating the policy. She interviews these 10 students
18.
In a ___ sample all members of the target group have an equal chance of being selected.
a)
systematic
b)
random
c)
experimental
d)
biased
19.
In an experiment the ____ group is NOT exposed to the independent variable.
a)
experimental
b)
control
c)
double blind
d)
single blind
20.
Turning research questions into measurable, testable propositions is called ___
a)
hindsight bias
b)
randomizing
c)
operationalizing
d)
sampling
21.
___ take an in-depth look at a single individual, but cannot be replicated.
a)
Observations
b)
Case studes
c)
Surveys
d)
Correlations
22.
In an experiment the ___ variable is manipulated by the researcher.
a)
independent
b)
dependent
c)
confounding
d)
operational
23.
What is psychology?
a)
The study of behavior.
b)
The study of mental processes.
c)
The study of the mind.
d)
All of the above.
24.
When everybody has an equal chance of being included in a study, this process is called
a)
unbiased reporting
b)
survey
survey
c)
random sample
d)
reliability
25.
In order to prove a cause-and-effect relationship, we must use
a)
naturalistic observation.
b)
the experimental method
c)
human subjects
d)
correlation coefficients
26.
Neither the researcher nor the subjects knew whether or not they received the drug studied or a placebo. This is an example of
a)
expectancy effects
b)
pacebo effects
pacebo effects
c)
double blind
d)
nothing. It would be ridiculous
27.
Which of the following describes an independent variable within an experiment?
a)
a measured factor within an experiment that the the researcher cannot change and depends on the independent variab
b)
variables that are eliminated or removed in order to see the relationship between the independent and dependent variables
c)
a measured factor within an experiment that the researcher can change
d)
a factor within an experiment that is considered extraneous, it also correlates with the dependent or independent variable
28.
Which of the following correctly describes a dependent variable within an experiment
a)
a measured factor within an experiment that the researcher can change
b)
a variable that are eliminated or removed in order to see the relationship between the independent and dependent variables
c)
a factor within an experiment that is considered extraneous, it also correlates with the dependent or independent variable
d)
a measured factor within an experiment that the the researcher cannot change and depends on the independent variable
29.
A client whose improvement during therapy is the result of his or her expectation of improvement rather than the result of the therapy itself is showing
a)
a placebo effect
b)
catharsis
c)
negative transference
d)
tardive dyskinesia
30.
An experiment is performed to see if background music improves learning. Two groups study the same material, one while listening to music and another without music. The independent variable is
a)
learning
b)
size of group
c)
material studied
d)
presence of music
31.
In an experiment to test the effects of hunger on aggressive behavior, aggressive behavior would be the
a)
placebo
b)
control
c)
dependent variable
d)
independent variable
32.
We wish to test the hypothesis that music improves learning. We compare test scores of students who study to music with those who study in silence. Which of the following might be an extraneous variable?
a)
presence or absence of music
b)
students' test scores
c)
amount of time allowed for the studying
d)
silence
33.
In an experiment to find out if taking ginseng increases IQ scores, the IQ scores would be
a)
independent variable
b)
control variable
c)
extraneous variable
d)
dependent variable
34.
In a study of effects of alcohol on driving ability, the control group should be given
a)
a high dosage of alcohol
b)
one-half the dosage given the experimental group
c)
a driving test before and after drinking alcohol
d)
no alcohol at all
35.
A person displays a set of rare behaviors that psychologists had not known about previously, because nobody had ever shown them before. The best strategy to investigate the nature of those behaviors is
a)
an experiment
b)
a survey
c)
a case study
d)
cross sectional study
36.
Of the following, which research method would be most appropriate for investigating the relationship between political party membership and attitude toward the death penalty?
a)
controlled experiment
b)
naturalistic observation
c)
test
d)
survey
37.
The tendency for research participants to behave in certain ways because they know what the researcher is looking for is called:
a)
confirmation bias.
b)
participant bias.
c)
hindsight bias.
d)
belief bias.
38.
The population in a research study is
a)
the whole group of research interest.
b)
the smaller group that has been chosen from the group of research interest.
c)
exactly the same as the sample.
d)
always smaller than the sample.
39.
Which of the following are examples of individual participant differences?
a)
experimenter's tone, volume and body language.
b)
time of day, noise level, temperature, location.
c)
prior experience, motivation, intelligence, educational background.
d)
extraneous variables and confounding variables.
40.
An extraneous variable
a)
is deliberately manipulated in an experiment.
b)
is an uncontrolled variable has an unwanted effect on the DV.
c)
is measured in an experiment.
d)
occurs only in field studies.
41.
Describe the relationship between the variables.
a)
no correlation
b)
strong positive correlation
c)
strong negative correlation
d)
weak positive correlation
42.
Describe the relationship between the variables.
a)
no correlation
b)
strong positive correlation
c)
strong negative correlation
d)
weak positive correlation
43.
Estimate the correlation coefficient
a)
r=-1
b)
r=1
c)
r=-0.5
d)
r=0.5
44.
Students who do better in high school tend to do better in college. This is an example of
a)
a.a negative correlation
b)
a zero correlation
c)
a positive correlation
d)
a perfect correlation
45.
A correlation coefficient of 0 means that there is
a)
a strong negative relationship between 2 variables
b)
a strong positive relationship between 2 variables
c)
a perfect positive relationship between 2 variables
d)
no relationship between 2 variables
46.
Which of the following is the measure of central tendency that would be most affected by a few extreme scores?
a)
A. mean
b)
B. range
c)
C. median
d)
D. mode
47.
The most frequently occurring number in a distribution.
a)
Mean
b)
Mode
c)
Median
48.
The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.
a)
Mean
b)
Mode
c)
Median
49.
The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.
a)
Mean
b)
Range
c)
Standard deviation
50.
Which of the following is not a quality of good research?
a)
Valid
b)
Reliable
c)
Accurate
d)
Bias
51.
People who cannot give their own consent to participate in an experiment
a)
Minors and cognitively disabled
b)
Women
c)
Men
d)
White men
52.
This is only used if no other method will work; it is used so the results aren't meaningless.
a)
Written consent
b)
Development
c)
Deception
d)
Risk/benefit ratio
53.
What are participants promised so that they feel comfortable answering questions honestly?
a)
Written consent
b)
Debriefing
c)
Confidence
d)
Confidentiality
54.
What is it called when researchers have to explain why they lied to their participants?
a)
Debriefing
b)
Development
c)
Confidentiality
d)
Accuracy
55.
The reasoning behind debriefing is so participants do not leave with a _____ about being lied to.
a)
Positive effect
b)
Negative effect
c)
Eliminate
d)
Reassurance
56.
Using medical records to examine age differences in blood pressure is ______ research.
a)
archival
b)
experimental
c)
survey
d)
case study
57.
This/These variable(s) are most often identified as influences on human behavior.
a)
The envioronment
b)
Genetics
c)
Both the environment & genetics
d)
Neither the environment & genetics.
58.
Based on Psychological Experimental Research and Ethics, when should the experimenter inform the subject(s) of the experiment the true nature of the experiment.
a)
Always at the very beginning.
b)
As soon as is possible.
c)
Only at the very end of the experiment, during the debriefing.
d)
Never.
59.
True or False: Through the power of suggestion a placebo can actually impact a patient / study
a)
True
b)
False
60.
In a study of the effect of a driver training program on driving skill, a possible confounding variable of the dependent variable would be...
a)
driving quality
b)
number of accidents
c)
hours spent training
d)
amount of traffic
61.
A correlation coefficient of 0.8 is a _______________ and suggests that as one variable ____________, the other variable ______________.
a)
strong positive | increases | increases
b)
weak positive | increases | increases
c)
strong positive | increases | decreases
d)
weak positive | increases | decreases
62.
Dr. Schulte wants to investigate if aggressive behavior in children is increased if they view violent videos. In this instance, the dependent variable is
a)
violent videos
violent videos
b)
aggressive behavior
aggressive behavior
c)
a placebo
a placebo
d)
the control condition
the control condition
63.
A client whose improvement during therapy is the result of his or her expectation of improvement rather than the result of the therapy itself is showing
a)
a placebo effect
b)
catharsis
c)
negative transference
d)
tardive dyskinesia
64.
Operational definitions are used for which of the following reasons?
a)
They enable researchers to replicate
studies by precisely describing the variables and how they are used.
b)
They exclude mental processes from being
studied, as they are no longer considered part of the scientific study of
psychology.
c)
They
determine which test of statistical significance will be used to analyze the
results of the experiment
d)
They
determine whether the experiment is better suited for a laboratory or a field
setting
65.
We wish to test the hypothesis that music improves learning. We compare test scores of students who study to music with those who study in silence. Which of the following might be an extraneous variable?
a)
presence or absence of music
b)
students' test scores
c)
amount of time allowed for the studying
d)
silence
66.
Johnny is part of a study designed to test the ability of a pill to cure the migraines of people who experience chronic migraines. After a few days, Johnny finds that the pill has alleviated his migraines and he experiences far fewer than usual. However, unbeknownst to Johnny, the pill he has been taking is nothing more than a sugar pill. What effect is Johnny most likely under the influence of?
a)
The Stratified Effect
b)
The Self-Bias Effect
c)
The Placebo Effect
d)
The Psychoanalytic Effect
67.
The condition that exists when the probability that the findings are not due to chance
a)
statistical significance
b)
experimenter bias
c)
confounding variables
68.
Five students received the following test scores: 7,11,5,6, and 11. What is the mean and range?
a)
A. 8,6
b)
B. 11,4
c)
C. 8,11
d)
D. 8,7
69.
A student wants to test the effects of different types of exercise on heart rate. What is the dependent variable?
a)
heart rate
b)
type of exercise
c)
amount of exercise
d)
time of day exercise occurs
70.
Which research would be ideal for the following question?
How does someones age effect what they consider right and wrong?
How does someones age effect what they consider right and wrong?
a)
Cross-sectional
b)
Survey
c)
Longitudinal
d)
correlation
71.
Which research would be ideal for the following question?
How does James live with general anxiety disorder?
How does James live with general anxiety disorder?
a)
Case Study
b)
Naturalistic Observation
c)
Correlation
72.
Consistently, we find low self-esteem is often related with high levels of depression. This means
a)
low self-esteem causes depression
low self-esteem causes depression
b)
depression causes low self-esteem
depression causes low self-esteem
c)
low self-esteem and depression are caused by a third factor
low self-esteem and depression are caused by a third factor
d)
they are correlated but this does not prove causation
they are correlated but this does not prove causation
73.
Expectations by the experimenter that might influence the results of an experiment or their interpretation are called
a)
experimental blinds
b)
sample bias
c)
treamtment bias
d)
experimenter bias
74.
An experimenter looking to prove that stating goals out loud lowers the chance that a person will achieve them might design a test in such a way that the results he expects come true is most likely experiencing
a)
confirmation bias
b)
experimenter bias
c)
hindsight bias
d)
participant bias
75.
Dr.R hypothesized that students in a classroom seating 30 would get higher course grades than students seated in an auditorium seating 300. In the example,
a)
Dr.R has found a cause-effect relationship
b)
Dr.R has found a positive correlation between class size and grades
c)
the independent variable is the measurement of course grades
d)
classroom size has been operationally defined
76.
Why are researchers so careful about drawing conclusions regarding statistical significance?
a)
Statistical significance determines which research method should be used
b)
they want to make sure an observed difference isnt due to chance
c)
Stat significance is subjective, so researchers need to be careful
d)
they need to make sure the results are important
77.
Why would the median, rather than the mean, be the appropriate measure of central tendency in determining housing values?
a)
its useful for measuring how much values deviate from one another
b)
its minimally affected by extreme scores
c)
best used to sort values into groups
d)
allows you to examine the gap between the lowest and highest value
78.
To assess reactions to a proposed tuition hike at her college, Ariana sent a questionnaire to every 5th person in the college list of all currently enrolled student. She employed the technique of
a)
Random assignment
b)
replication
c)
correlation
d)
random sampling
79.
Researchers are interested in studying the impact of drugs on human fetuses. Why would a correlational study be more appropriate than an experiment
a)
Cause/effect is only determined by a correlational study
b)
they allow you to observe behavior in nonartificial environments
c)
may generalize results to the general population
d)
participants could not be ethically assigned to experimental/control groups
80.
A way to study an individual or a group is an example of ___?
a)
Naturalistic observation
b)
Case study
c)
Survey
d)
Random Sampling
81.
If two sets relate inversely, then it has a ___ correlation
a)
Positive
b)
Negative
c)
Causation
d)
There is no correlation
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