Research Methods and Statistics MCQs

Question 1

A friend states that since he has been taking vitamin C, he has not had a single cold. His observation has little value in assessing the effects of vitamin C because:

Accepted Answer

there was no control group for comparison

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he has not calculated a correlation coefficient

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of the effect of the observer on the observed

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he does not specify his dosage of vitamin

Question 2

The independent variable in an experiment is:

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the variable that the experimenter chooses to manipulate

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the subject himself

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a measure of the subject's behavior

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any unwanted variable that may adversely affect the subject's performance

Question 3

In order to summarize or organize a series of observations in some meaningful way, psychologists may develop:

Accepted Answer

theories

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hypotheses

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experiments

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surveys

Question 4

Collection of observable evidence. precise definition and replication result all form the basis for:

Accepted Answer

the scientific method

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scientific observation

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defining a scientific problem

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hypothesis generation

Question 5

in the traditional learning experiment, the effect of practice on performance is investigate(d) performance is the ______________ variable.

Accepted Answer

dependent

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independent

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extraneous

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control

Question 6

A researcher determines that the crime rate in a large city fluctuates with the phases of the moon. He concludes that the gravitational pull of the moon influences human behavior. He has committed what error?

Accepted Answer

He incorrectly inferred causation from correlation

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He incorrectly inferred correlation from causation

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He failed to measure the gravitational pull to test his hypothesis

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He has overlooked the placebo effect

Question 7

Students who do better in high school tend to do better in college. This is an example of:

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a positive correlation

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a negative correlation

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a zero correlation

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a perfect correlation

Question 8

Which of the following coefficients of correlation indicates the strongest relationship between two sets of variables?

Accepted Answer

-0.98

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0.90

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0.00

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1.20

Question 9

A major disadvantage of the experimental method is that:

Accepted Answer

there is a certain amount of artificiality attached to it

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private funding can never be obtained

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APA Ethical Review committees often do not approve of the research techniques.

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subjects are difficult to find for research projects

Question 10

The chief function of the control group in an experiment is that it:

Accepted Answer

provides a point of reference against which the behavior of the experimental group can be compared

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allows mathematical relationships to be established

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balances the experiment to eliminate all extraneous variables

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is not really necessaryTry Prep Courses

Question 11

The most powerful research tool is a(n):

Accepted Answer

experiment

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clinical study

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survey

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correlational study

Question 12

The statistical technique that combines results of a large number of studies is called:

Accepted Answer

meta-analysis

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experimental correlation

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statistical linear analysist

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hypothetical analysisEnroll In Courses

Question 13

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 is an extraneous variable in this experiments?

Accepted Answer

the amount of time allowed the studying

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the presence or absence of music

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the students test scores

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silence

Question 14

An experiment is performed to see if background music improves learning Two groups study the same material. one while listening to music. The independent variable is:

Accepted Answer

musicTry Science Kits

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learning

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the size of the group

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the material studied

Question 15

An experimenter conducts an experiments on the effects of a drug to control hallucinations. He declares the results to be "statistically significant,' which usually means that:

Accepted Answer

differences between experimental and control group of this size occur by chance only 5 times out of 100 (or less)

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even though appropriate statistics were used, no differences could be detected between experimental and control groups

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the results have important implications for theory or practice

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differences between experimental and control groups were so large they could never occur by chance aloneSupport Disease Research

Question 16

To prevent ethical abuse in psychological research, the APA has suggested that:

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psychologists must treat all subjects with respect and concern for the subject's dignity

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psychologists must avoid deception with using human subjects

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all data collected from a person must be made public

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all psychological harm to subjects must be corrected by counseling

Question 17

A common method for selecting representative samples is to select them.

Accepted Answer

randomly from the larger population

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strictly from volunteers

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by threatening or coercing institutionalized populations

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from confidential lists of mall order firms

Question 18

A psychologist watches the rapid eye movements of sleeping subjects and wakes them to find they report that they were dreaming. She concludes that dreams are linked to rapid eye movement. this conclusion is based on:

Accepted Answer

deduction from direct observation

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pure speculation

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direct observation

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prior predictionTake Psychology Courses

Question 19

Which of the following is considered a disadvantage of naturalistic observation?

Accepted Answer

it does not identify the cause of observed behavior

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it provides an overabundance of information

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it deals with behavior not tampered with by outside influences

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it limits biased observation through careful record keeping

Question 20

Subjects are said to be assigned randomly when:

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they each have an equal chance of being assigned to either the experimental or control group

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they are assigned to experimental and control group from a sample which is representative of the larger population

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they are assigned to experimental and control group so that the group differ on some critical variable before the experiment begins

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neither the experimenter nor the subject knows whether the subject is in the experimental or control group

Free Research Methods and Statistics MCQs with Answers