Free Research Methods and Statistics MCQs with Answers

263 Research Methods and Statistics MCQs from Psychology, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Last updated

263 questions · page 2 of 14

  • A. control condition
  • B. standard deviation
  • C. hypothesis
  • D. operational definition

Explanation: An operational definition states exactly how an abstract variable such as anxiety will be measured or identified in a study.

Correct answer: operational definition
  • A. the case study
  • B. the survey
  • C. naturalistic observation
  • D. correlational research

Explanation: A case study examines one person in depth, combining present circumstances with personal, physical, social, and educational history.

Correct answer: the case study
  • A. treat information about individual participants confidentially
  • B. deceive participants about the true purpose of an experiment
  • C. allow subjects to pick whether they are in the experimental or control group
  • D. allow people to decide for themselves whether they want to participate in an experiment

Explanation: Deception can conceal the experiment's true purpose, reducing demand characteristics and the tendency to behave as researchers expect.

Correct answer: deceive participants about the true purpose of an experiment
  • A. correlational research
  • B. case studies
  • C. experimentation
  • D. a double-blind procedureTry Science Kits

Explanation: Both self-esteem and income are measured variables, so their relationship is examined through correlational research.

Correct answer: correlational research
  • A. the range of the sample increases
  • B. the standard deviation of the sample increases
  • C. the man of the sample increases
  • D. the standard deviation of the sample decreases

Explanation: A sample mean estimates the population mean more precisely when scores vary less, because a smaller standard deviation reduces sampling…

Correct answer: the standard deviation of the sample decreases
  • A. research participants are exposed to the most favorable levels of experimental treatment
  • B. dependent variable is not measured
  • C. experimental treatment is absent
  • D. experimenter exerts the greatest influence on participants behavior

Explanation: The control condition is the comparison condition in which the experimental treatment is absent or held at its baseline level.

Correct answer: experimental treatment is absent
  • A. case studies and surveys
  • B. random samples representative samples
  • C. facts and theories
  • D. causes and effects

Explanation: Experiments manipulate a suspected cause and measure its effect while controlling other factors, allowing researchers to distinguish…

Correct answer: causes and effects
  • A. range
  • B. median
  • C. mode
  • D. mean

Explanation: A grade-point average is an arithmetic mean: the grade values are added and divided by the number of courses or credits.

Correct answer: mean
  • A. all children are prone to aggressive behavior
  • B. it is unethical to force children to watch violent television
  • C. there was no control group
  • D. aggression wasn't operationally defined

Explanation: Without a control group, the researcher cannot know whether hitting increased because of violent television or because of normal play…

Correct answer: there was no control group
  • A. the case study
  • B. naturalistic observation
  • C. random sampling
  • D. replication

Explanation: Replication means repeating a study to see whether its findings occur reliably under similar conditions.

Correct answer: replication
  • A. Advocates
  • B. Decision makers
  • C. Individuals
  • D. Researchers

Explanation: “Advocates of the approach” fits the sentence because advocates are the people who support and describe its objectivity, logical analysis…

Correct answer: Advocates
  • A. single-blind procedure
  • B. the type of experiment is not possible
  • C. stereotaxic procedure
  • D. double-blind procedure

Explanation: In a double-blind procedure, neither the participants nor the researchers who interact with them know who receives the experimental…

Correct answer: double-blind procedure
  • A. Researchers
  • B. Observers
  • C. Critics
  • D. Decision-makers

Explanation: “Critics of the approach” is the grammatical and conceptual fit because critics identify limitations such as impersonality and treating…

Correct answer: Critics
  • A. Calculated
  • B. Analytical
  • C. Speeching
  • D. Reporting

Explanation: A reporting style presents findings from the position of an outside observer who describes and judges the action.

Correct answer: Reporting
  • A. mean; mode
  • B. scatterplot; correlation
  • C. central tendency; variation
  • D. skewed distribution; bar graph

Explanation: The median is a measure of central tendency, while the range measures variation or dispersion in scores.

Correct answer: central tendency; variation
  • A. a biased population
  • B. a biased sample
  • C. a representative sample
  • D. a statistically significant population

Explanation: Calling households only during a narrow weekday afternoon period excludes people who are working, studying, or otherwise unavailable, so…

Correct answer: a biased sample
  • A. naturalistic observation
  • B. standard deviations
  • C. scatterplots
  • D. random assignmentCounseling Services

Explanation: Random assignment places participants into groups by chance, helping ensure that pre-existing differences do not systematically affect the…

Correct answer: random assignmentCounseling Services
  • A. Plan-oriented
  • B. Action-oriented
  • C. Subject-oriented
  • D. Sector-oriented

Explanation: Action-oriented research is conducted to address a practical problem and produce useful change, rather than merely to develop theory.

Correct answer: Action-oriented
  • A. Approach
  • B. Convenience
  • C. Difficulty
  • D. Quality

Explanation: A teacher directly involved in an activity has insider knowledge of its context, whereas an outsider may have difficulty interpreting what…

Correct answer: Difficulty
  • A. random forecasting
  • B. fandom selection
  • C. random placement
  • D. random assignment

Explanation: Random assignment means each participant has an equal chance of being placed in any experimental group.

Correct answer: random assignment