Research Methods in Psychology Exam Preparation Guide
Course Introduction
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles and techniques used in psychological research. Students will examine various research designs, including experimental, correlational, and observational methods, with emphasis on hypothesis development, sampling, and ethical considerations. The course covers essential topics such as measurement, data collection, statistical analysis, and interpretation of results. Through lectures, readings, and practical assignments, students will develop critical thinking skills and gain hands-on experience designing, conducting, and reporting psychological research.
Recommended Textbook
Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences 4th Edition by Frederick J Gravetter
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
16 Chapters
1073 Verified Questions
1073 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/442
Page 2
Chapter 1: Introduction, Acquiring Knowledge, and the Scientific Method
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7835
Sample Questions
Q1) Finding the address and phone number of a restaurant by "googling" the name of the restaurant is and example of using the
A)method of empiricism.
B)rational method.
C)method of authority.
D)scientific method.
Answer: C
Q2) For which of the following questions would the scientific method be an appropriate method for seeking an answer?
A)How many angels can stand on the head of a pin?
B)Is abortion moral or immoral?
C)What conditions promote student learning in an elementary classroom?
D)How would life be different if the computer had never been invented?
Answer: C
Q3) Finding information in a textbook would be an example of using the rational method of inquiry.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 3
Chapter 2: Research Ideas
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
68 Verified Questions
68 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7836
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following would be a danger of relying upon a primary source?
A)The author of the primary source may describe or interpret research results incorrectly.
B)Primary sources typically do not contain the details of methodology that are required for critical evaluation.
C)The author may describe results incorrectly and the source does not contain details of methodology.
D)There is no danger because you can rely on primary sources for accurate information.
Answer: D
Q2) A ________ source contains original research reports.
A)primary
B)secondary
C)premier
D)germinal
Answer: A
Q3) Many hypotheses can come from one prediction.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 4
Chapter 3: Defining and Measuring Variables
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
68 Verified Questions
68 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7837
Sample Questions
Q1) Participants taking on the negativistic subject role are participants who A)are concerned that their performance in the study will be used to evaluate them.
B)try to act so that their data are in contrast to the hypothesis.
C)try to act so that their data are consistent with the hypothesis.
D)try to avoid acting on the basis of their suspicions.
Answer: B
Q2) After measuring a set of individuals,a researcher finds that Bob's score is three times greater than Jane's score.These measurements must come from a(n)________ scale.
A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio
Answer: D
Q3) A valid measure is one that yields highly similar results across different experimental conditions.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
5
Chapter 4: Ethics in Research
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7838
Sample Questions
Q1) Using someone else's ideas in your research report without a citation is plagiarism even if you have paraphrased the ideas in your own words.
A)True
B)False
Q2) If deception is used,participants must be debriefed as soon as possible after the study.
A)True B)False
Q3) Studies involving deception
A)should never be done.
B)should not inform participants of the deception,even after the study is completed.
C)should not be done with participants with diminished mental capacity.
D)should not be done if the deception involves concealing possible harm.
Q4) Describe the common components of consent forms.
Q5) Although some forms of deception are allowed,a researcher cannot deceive participants about potential risk in the study.
A)True B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 6
Chapter 5: Selecting Research Participants
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
66 Verified Questions
66 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7839
Sample Questions
Q1) Explain how quota sampling can be used to simulate stratified random sampling or proportionate stratified random sampling in situations where the entire population is not known.
Q2) The accessible population is a subset of the target population.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The primary advantage of a stratified random sample is that
A) it ensures that there will be enough participants in each group to be able to make statistical decisions concerning the group.
B)it provides a sample that is guaranteed to be representative of the population. C)it ensures that no single group is over-represented in the sample.
D)the other three choices are all advantages of a stratified random sample.
Q4) Simple random sampling without replacement means that the likelihood of selecting one specific individual will depend on which other individuals are selected for the sample.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 6: Research Strategies and Validity
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7840
Sample Questions
Q1) If a researcher measures self-esteem with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale,will another researcher get the same results measuring self-esteem with the Harter Self-Esteem Measure? This is a question of A)external validity.
B)internal validity.
C)reliability.
D)accuracy.
Q2) A researcher designs a study to determine whether female preschoolers prefer sweetened or unsweetened cereal.The researcher uses a box of sweetened colorful cereal and a box of unsweetened tan colored cereal.The research finds that the group of preschoolers ate more of the sweetened colorful cereal and therefore prefers the sweetened cereal.Which two variables are confounded in this experiment?
A)color of the cereal and children's gender
B)color of the cereal and sweetness of the cereal
C)sweetness of the cereal and amount of eating
D)children's gender and amount of eating
Q3) What is an extraneous variable? How can it become a confounding variable? Describe a research study that contains an example of an extraneous variable.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
8
Chapter 7: The Experimental Research Strategy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7841
Sample Questions
Q1) Research results show that participants who shout their favorite curse words over and over can endure a painful stimulus longer than participants who shout a neutral word.For this study,the dependent variable is the amount of time that the pain is endured.
A)True
B)False
Q2) What is the advantage of a laboratory study over a field study?
A)increased internal validity
B)increased external validity
C)increased reliability
D)elimination of history effects
Q3) Describe and differentiate the three methods to control extraneous variables.
Q4) If a study finds that there is a strong relationship between two variables,this means that
A)the first variable causes a change in the second variable.
B)the second variable causes a change in the first variable.
C)you can draw the conclusion that each variable causes the other variable to change.
D)you cannot draw a conclusion about the causal relationship between the variables.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
9
Chapter 8: Experimental Designs: Between-Subjects Design
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7842
Sample Questions
Q1) One characteristic of a between-subjects design is that the data consist of exactly one score for each participant.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Randomizing a variable across treatments guarantees that the variable cannot become a confounding variable.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In a between-subjects experiment,increasing the variance within treatments increases the likelihood of finding significant differences between treatments.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Create an example of a between-subjects experiment.Identify the independent and dependent variables and briefly describe the experiment.Indicate the number of levels of the independent variable and identify them.
Q5) Between-subjects designs are often called repeated-measures designs.
A)True B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 10
Chapter 9: Experimental Designs: Within-Subjects Design
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7843
Sample Questions
Q1) How many participants would be needed for a within-subjects experiment comparing four different treatment conditions with a total of 20 scores in each treatment?
A)20
B)40
C)80
D)cannot answer without more information
Q2) Which of the following differentiates a matched-subjects design from a within-subjects design?
A)The matched-subjects design uses only one group of participants.
B)The matched-subjects design removes individual differences from the variance.
C)The matched-subjects design reduces the likelihood that individual differences can become a confounding variable.
D)The matched-subjects design uses a different group of participants for each treatment condition.
Q3) A Latin square is used with
A)partial counterbalancing.
B)complete counterbalancing.
C)matched-subjects designs.
D)all within-subjects designs.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 11
Chapter 10: The Nonexperimental and Quasi-Experimental Strategies: Nonequivalent Group, Pre-Post, and Developmental Designs
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7844
Sample Questions
Q1) A longitudinal developmental design is an example of the general category of
A)nonequivalent group designs.
B)one-group pretest-posttest designs.
C)time-series designs.
D)interrupted time-series designs.
Q2) Which of the following is the correct classification for a posttest-only nonequivalent control group design?
A)nonexperimental study
B)quasi-experimental study
C)experiment
D)correlational study
Q3) Differential history effects are a threat to internal validity for which of the following designs?
A)differential research design
B)one-group pretest-posttest design
C)pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design
D)the other three choices are all designs threatened by differential history effects.
Q4) Distinguish nonexperimental designs from quasi-experimental designs.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 12
Chapter 11: Factorial Designs
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7845
Sample Questions
Q1) A two-factor experimental design must involve at least four different treatment conditions.
A)True
B)False
Q2) If the means for a two-factor study are displayed in a graph and the lines in the graph are perfectly parallel,then what can you conclude about the main effects and interaction?
A)There is no main effect for either of the two factors.
B)There is a main effect for both of the two factors.
C)There is no interaction between factors.
D)There are no main effects and no interaction between factors.
Q3) In a factorial design,an interaction between the factors occurs whenever
A)the mean differences between the cells are not explained by the main effects.
B)the mean differences between the cells are explained by the main effects.
C)there are differences between the overall column means.
D)there are differences between the overall row means.
Q4) If the A x B interaction is significant,then at least one of the two main effects also must be significant.
A)True
B)False
Page 13
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 12: The Correlational Research Strategy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7846
Sample Questions
Q1) To establish the reliability of a measure,a researcher examines
A)the relationship between the scores from 2 administrations of the measure.
B)the relationship between the measure and another measure.
C)the mean difference between the scores from 2 administrations of the measure.
D)the mean difference between the measure and another measure.
Q2) In correlational studies,the consistency of a relationship is typically measured and described by the numerical value obtained for a A)mean.
B)t test.
C)correlational coefficient.
D)standard deviation.
Q3) The strength or consistency of a relationship between variables is indicated by A)the sign of the correlation.
B)the numerical value of the correlation.
C)the type of correlation (Pearson or Spearman).
D)the other three choices are all indications of the strength or consistency of a relationship.
Q4) Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the correlational research strategy.
Q5) Describe the use of a scatter plot in graphing data from a correlational study.
Page 14
Q6) Describe how correlational studies can be used.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 13: Descriptive Research Strategy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7847
Sample Questions
Q1) A researcher who brings dating couples into the laboratory to be observed while they are solving a problem is using
A)participant observation.
B)naturalistic observation.
C)contrived observation.
D)case study research.
Q2) Which observational research design has the greatest risk that the observer will influence the behaviors being observed?
A)naturalistic observation
B)participant observation
C)contrived observation
D)nonparticipant observation
Q3) Case studies are examples of research using the idiographic approach.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Although a case study typically involves a single participant,the results can serve as a counterexample that influences an entire theory.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 15
Chapter 14: Single-Subject Research Designs
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7848
Sample Questions
Q1) In an ABAB design the critical element for demonstrating that the treatment causes changes in behavior is
A)the change from the initial baseline to the initial treatment phase.
B)the return to baseline after the first treatment phase.
C)the second treatment phase that replicates the first.
D)the consistency of the pattern of scores obtained in the two baseline phases.
Q2) During a one-hour session,a therapist switches back and forth between periods of personal comments aimed directly at the patient (You seem to be quite happy today.)and periods of impersonal comments (Happiness often is associated with sunny weather.).The therapist records how many self-revealing statements the patient makes during each period to see if there are any consistent differences.The researcher is using a(n)
A)ABAB design.
B)multiple-baseline design.
C)alternating-treatments design.
D)changing-criterion design.
Q3) To be successful,a single-subject experiment must have stable data in each phase before moving to the next phase.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 16
Chapter 15: Statistical Evaluation of Data
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7849
Sample Questions
Q1) Without some correction,measures of inter-rater reliability
A)tend to overestimate the true level of agreement between the raters.
B)tend to underestimate the true level of agreement between the raters.
C)provide a very inaccurate estimate of the true level of agreement between the raters.
D)Inter-rater reliability tends to be accurate without correction.
Q2) Without some correction,split-half reliability
A)tends to overestimate the true reliability of the full test.
B)tends to underestimate the true reliability of the full test.
C)tends to be an inaccurate estimate of the true reliability of the full test.
D)split-half reliability tends to be accurate without correction.
Q3) In general,a sample with large variance is more likely to produce a significant result than a sample with small variance.
A)True
B)False
Q4) A negative correlation means that as the X values decrease,the Y values also tend to decrease.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 17
Chapter 16: Writing a Research Report
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7850
Sample Questions
Q1) In which section of a psychological research report should the hypothesis of the study be stated?
A)results
B)method
C)introduction
D)references
Q2) When citing a source in a research report (in APA format),the author's first name is included.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The method section of an APA-style research report
A)provides a general description of the study.
B)always begins on a new page after the introduction.
C)gives a report of the results.
D)begins immediately following the introduction,not on a new page.
Q4) The brief summary found at the beginning of most research reports is the A)synopsis.
B)preface.
C)abstract.
D)introduction.
Page 18
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.