Quantitative Methods in Psychology
Textbook Exam Questions
Course Introduction
Quantitative Methods in Psychology introduces students to the fundamental principles and techniques used to collect, analyze, and interpret numerical data within the field of psychology. The course covers topics such as research design, descriptive and inferential statistics, hypothesis testing, correlation, regression analysis, and the proper use of statistical software. Emphasis is placed on understanding how quantitative methods can be applied to psychological research questions, critically evaluating empirical findings, and making informed decisions based on statistical evidence. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the skills necessary to conduct independent research and to assess the quality of quantitative studies in psychology.
Recommended Textbook
Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences 4th Edition by Frederick J Gravetter
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Chapter 1: Introduction, Acquiring Knowledge, and the
Scientific Method
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Q1) A limitation of using the method of empiricism is
A)people can be fooled so that they misperceive the world around them.
B)people see things accurately but misinterpret their perceptions.
C)the method of empiricism can be time consuming and even dangerous.
D)the other three choices are all limitations.
Answer: D
Q2) The mode of inquiry that is called the method of faith is a variant of which other method of inquiry?
A)the method of empiricism
B)the rational method
C)the method of authority
D)the scientific method
Answer: C
Q3) The last step in the research process is
A)actually collecting the data.
B)using statistical techniques to evaluate the results.
C)replicating the study.
D)generating new questions or new hypotheses to restart the research process.
Answer: D
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Chapter 2: Research Ideas
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Q1) A common mistake in choosing a research topic is to pick a topic that is too easy.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q2) Although it is best to start with a specific research idea in mind,it also is possible to find ideas by reading other research reports.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) Adolescents occasionally develop eating disorders.You wonder what is the best way to treat eating disorders.This is an example of getting research ideas from A)theory.
B)vague thoughts.
C)practical problems.
D)systematic observation.
Answer: C
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Chapter 3: Defining and Measuring Variables
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Q1) Using letter grades (A,B,C,D,and F)to classify student performance on an exam is an example of measurement on a(n)_______ scale of measurement.
A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio
Answer: B
Q2) In psychological research there is often not a one-to-one relationship between the variable being measured and the measurement obtained.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) Counting the number of people who smile at a baby in a stroller as they pass by is an example of a ________ measure.
A)self-report
B)survey
C)behavioral
D)physiological
Answer: C
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Chapter 4: Ethics in Research
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Q1) The Milgram study involved
A)injecting unsuspecting patients with live cancer cells.
B)failing to provide treatment for men with syphilis.
C)asking participants to administer what appeared to be severe shocks to other people.
D)exposing participants to extremes of freezing temperature.
Q2) Informed consent involves three elements: information,understanding,and volunteering.Describe how the intent of informed consent can be compromised by limitations in any one of these three elements.
Q3) What kind of research was the focus for most of the early attempts to establish ethical research guidelines?
A)psychological research with animal subjects
B)psychological research with humans
C)medical research with humans
D)medical research with animals
Q4) Describe a situation where it may be permissible to dispense with informed consent.
Q5) The initial version of the APA ethics code was known as the Belmont Report.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 5: Selecting Research Participants
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Q1) A class consists of 20 girls and 12 boys.The names of all the students in a class are listed on separate pieces of paper.The teacher places all the boys' names in one hat,all the girls' names in another hat and mixes them thoroughly before reaching in to draw out five names from each hat.The teacher is using
A)simple random sampling.
B)stratified random sampling.
C)proportionate stratified random sampling.
D)cluster sampling.
Q2) One criticism of a stratified random sample is
A)it is not based on a random selection process.
B)the overall composition of the sample is often not representative of the overall composition of the population.
C)some segments of the population will not be represented in the sample.
D)all of the other choices are criticisms of a stratified random sample.
Q3) A method for random sampling is
A)sampling with replacement.
B)sampling without replacement.
C)sampling with replacement and sampling without replacement.
D)Neither sampling with nor without replacement is a method of random sampling.
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Chapter 6: Research Strategies and Validity
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Q1) As the values for one variable increase from one person to another,the values for a second variable tend to decrease.This is an example of a __________ relationship.
A)positive
B)negative
C)curvilinear
D)These data show no consistent relationship.
Q2) A researcher is conducting a study in which the same group of individuals participates in a series of treatment conditions that are administered over several weeks.A flu outbreak that occurs in the middle of the study would be an example of a history effect.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The validity of the research study is concerned with the truth of the research or the accuracy of the results.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Selection bias is a threat to external validity.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 7: The Experimental Research Strategy
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Q1) The measured variable in an experiment is the
A)independent variable.
B)dependent variable.
C)extraneous variable.
D)confounding variable.
Q2) In an experiment,the process of manipulation involves changing the value of the dependent variable from one treatment condition to another.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Describe the directionality problem and explain how researchers attempt to avoid this problem in an experiment.
Q4) An experiment always involves comparing measurements obtained under one level of the independent variable with measurements obtained under another level of the independent variable.
A)True B)False
Q5) Explain how simulation and field studies increase external validity.
Q6) Explain why manipulation of an independent variable is a necessary component of an experiment.
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Chapter 8: Experimental Designs: Between-Subjects Design
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Q1) The primary limitation of a two-group design is that A)it is simple to interpret.
B)it increases the chances of demonstrating a significant mean difference.
C)it tends to reduce the differences between the groups.
D)it may not provide a complete picture of the relationship between the variables.
Q2) An advantage of holding a variable constant rather than using random assignment to form your groups is that
A)holding a variable constant reduces error due to participant differences.
B)holding a variable constant is easier than randomization.
C)holding a variable constant guarantees that there is no systematic relationship between participant characteristics and the treatment conditions.
D)holding a variable constant ensures a nonbiased sample.
Q3) In a between-subjects experiment,if the participants in one group are noticeably older than the participants in another group,then participant age is a confounding variable and threatens the internal validity of the experiment.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 9: Experimental Designs: Within-Subjects Design
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Q1) For a within-subjects study comparing two treatments,A and B,a researcher expects that practice in the first treatment will improve the participants' scores in the second treatment.If the order of treatments is counterbalanced,then the practice will influence
A)scores in treatment A but not in treatment B.
B)scores in treatment B but not in treatment A.
C)scores in treatment A for half the participants and scores in treatment B for half the participants.
D)Practice will not influence the scores because the treatments are counterbalanced.
Q2) When one treatment condition has a lasting effect on the participants and influences their scores in later treatments,the study is confounded by
A)history effects.
B)instrumentation.
C)carryover effects.
D)progressive error.
Q3) It is impossible to have order effects with a between-subjects design.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 10: The Nonexperimental and Quasi-Experimental Strategies: Nonequivalent Group, Pre-Post, and Developmental Designs
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Q1) The pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design reduces the threat of assignment bias and limits time-related threats and therefore is a quasi-experimental design.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Nonexperimental research typically involves looking at differences between preexisting groups or at changes that occur over time.
A)True
B)False
Q3) A researcher in Mississippi measured visits to the school counselor for a group of students for three weeks in the spring.In the fall,immediately after a major hurricane,the researcher again measured the students' counselor visits to see if there had been any change.This researcher is using an interrupted time-series design.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Cohort effects are not a concern for longitudinal developmental designs.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Distinguish nonexperimental designs from quasi-experimental designs. Page 12
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Chapter 11: Factorial Designs
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Q1) It is often possible to reduce the variance in a between-subjects design by using a participant variable such as age or gender as a second factor.
A)True
B)False
Q2) An interaction between factors cannot occur unless
A)there is a main effect for at least one of the two factors.
B)there is a main effect for both of the two factors.
C)there is no main effect for either of the two factors.
D)The existence of an interaction is independent of the main effects.
Q3) In a factorial experiment,the number of factors is the number of ___________ variables.
A)independent
B)dependent
C)extraneous
D)confounding
Q4) In a two-factor study,it is possible to have one between-subjects factor and one within-subjects factor.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 12: The Correlational Research Strategy
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Q1) A researcher reports a positive relationship between sugar consumption and activity level for a group of 7-year-old children.Based on this relationship,which of the following conclusions is justified?
A)Decreasing the amount of sugar consumption in children will reduce their activity level.
B)Children who consume more sugar tend to exhibit higher activity levels.
C)Increasing the amount of sugar consumption in children will increase their activity level.
D)All of the other options are justified conclusions.
Q2) Which of the following correctly identifies a similarity between a correlational study and the differential research design?
A)Both establish the existence of a relationship by demonstrating a difference between groups.
B)Both use one of the two variables to create groups of participants.
C)Both involve two groups with one score for each participant.
D)Both demonstrate the existence of a relationship between two variables.
Q3) Describe the differences between a correlational study and differential research.
Q4) Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the correlational research strategy.
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Chapter 13: Descriptive Research Strategy
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Q1) To help ensure that observational measurements are objective,which of the following techniques would be used?
A)habituate the participants to the observer's presence
B)prepare a list of behavior categories
C)measure inter-rater reliability
D)prepare a list of behavior categories and measure inter-rater reliability
Q2) A drawback to an open-ended question is that
A)the responses obtained may be difficult to code and analyze.
B)it is more difficult to construct than other types of items.
C)it may place too many restrictions on the participant's response.
D)the other three choices are all drawbacks.
Q3) Describe the three types of survey questions and outline the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Q4) Suppose you are interested in performing an observational study of eating behavior of rats in a laboratory.Describe one method to quantify this behavior: that is explain how you could convert the observations into numerical scores.
Q5) Describe the three types of behavioral observation and briefly explain the circumstances under which each is used.
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Chapter 14: Single-Subject Research Designs
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Q1) In a dismantling design,the researcher
A)withdraws the treatment gradually by removing one component at a time.
B) changes the measurement from one behavior to another during the treatment phase to determine which behaviors are influenced by the treatment.
C) uses a series of different treatment phases to compare the effectiveness of several different treatments.
D) adds or subtracts one component of the treatment from one phase to the next to determine how the different components of a treatment contribute to its effectiveness.
Q2) The phase in a single-subject research design,during which the treatment is absent is called the _____ phase.
A)experimental
B)treatment
C)baseline
D)replication
Q3) In the notation for single-subject designs (e.g.ABAB),the letter A represents the baseline phase.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 15: Statistical Evaluation of Data
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Q1) What outcome is likely to occur for a hypothesis test evaluating a treatment that has a very small effect?
A)a Type I error
B)a Type II error
C)correctly rejecting the null hypothesis
D)correctly failing to reject the null hypothesis
Q2) Explain why a measure of effect size is recommended to accompany the result from a hypothesis test.
Q3) A distribution of scores and a mean of 55 and a standard deviation of 4.The variance for this distribution is 16.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Identify the purpose for a hypothesis test and briefly explain how a hypothesis test accomplishes its purpose.
Q5) Describe the general purpose for descriptive statistical techniques and for inferential statistical techniques.
Q6) A summary value,usually numerical,that describes a sample is called a parameter.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 16: Writing a Research Report
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Q1) How should author names be shown in the reference section of an APA-style research report?
A)only the last name for every author
B)the last name and initials for every author
C)the first and last name for every author
D)the last name and initials for the first author only
Q2) In APA style,where do page numbers appear?
A)at the upper left hand corner of the page
B)at the upper right hand corner of the page
C)at the center bottom of the page
D)at the lower right hand corner of the page
Q3) The introduction section of an APA-style research reports begins on page 3,headed with the word Introduction
A)centered and typed in boldface type.
B)at the left margin and typed in boldface type.
C)at the left margin and typed in italics.
D)There is no heading of "Introduction" for the introduction section.
Q4) Describe the ways in which a research proposal is different from a research report.
Q5) What is the purpose of a research proposal?
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