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.
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- 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