PSYC 304 FINAL RESEARCH METHODS
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
◉ criterion validity. Answer: idea that a test should correlate with
other measures of the same theoretical construct
◉ Types of Measurement error. Answer: systematic or Constant
error and random error
◉ Systematic or Constant Error. Answer: Measurement error that is
associated with consistent bias
◉ random error. Answer: an error that occurs when the selected
sample is an imperfect representation of the overall population
◉ test-retest reliability. Answer: comparing a test taker's scores on
the same test taken on separate occasions
◉ internal consistency. Answer: - Concerns whether the various
items on a test are measures of the same thing
◉ internal validity. Answer: extent to which we can draw cause-and-
effect inferences from a study
,◉ Confounding. Answer: occurs when two variables are associated
in such a way that their effects on a response variable cannot be
distinguished from each other
◉ manipulation check. Answer: - aspect of an experiment designed
to make certain that variables have changed in the way that was
intended
◉ external validity. Answer: the extent to which the results of a
study can be generalized to other situations and to other people
◉ statistical conclusion validity. Answer: - Extent to which data are
shown to be the result of cause-effect relationships rather than
accident
◉ Power. Answer: - The probability of rejecting the null hypothesis
when it is false
◉ ambiguous temporal precedence. Answer: although two variables
are related, it is not clear which one is the cause and which one is
the effect
◉ Events outside of the laboratory. Answer: - Threat to validity
, - events that occur outside of the experiment that could influence
the results of the experiment
◉ Maturation. Answer: - a source of error in an experiment related
to the amount of time between measurements
- more critical problem in research involving children because they
change more rapidly over time than do adults
◉ effects of testing. Answer: - performance on a second test is
influenced by simply having taken a first test
◉ regression effect. Answer: the statistical tendency, when two
variables are imperfectly correlated, for extreme values on one of
them to be associated with less extreme values on the other
◉ Selection. Answer: - a confound that can occur due to assignment
of subjects to groups
◉ mortality. Answer: - the dropping out of some subjects before an
experiment is completed, causing a threat to validity
◉ threats to construct validity. Answer: - Lose Connection Between
Theory and Method
- Ambiguous Effect of Independent Variables
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
◉ criterion validity. Answer: idea that a test should correlate with
other measures of the same theoretical construct
◉ Types of Measurement error. Answer: systematic or Constant
error and random error
◉ Systematic or Constant Error. Answer: Measurement error that is
associated with consistent bias
◉ random error. Answer: an error that occurs when the selected
sample is an imperfect representation of the overall population
◉ test-retest reliability. Answer: comparing a test taker's scores on
the same test taken on separate occasions
◉ internal consistency. Answer: - Concerns whether the various
items on a test are measures of the same thing
◉ internal validity. Answer: extent to which we can draw cause-and-
effect inferences from a study
,◉ Confounding. Answer: occurs when two variables are associated
in such a way that their effects on a response variable cannot be
distinguished from each other
◉ manipulation check. Answer: - aspect of an experiment designed
to make certain that variables have changed in the way that was
intended
◉ external validity. Answer: the extent to which the results of a
study can be generalized to other situations and to other people
◉ statistical conclusion validity. Answer: - Extent to which data are
shown to be the result of cause-effect relationships rather than
accident
◉ Power. Answer: - The probability of rejecting the null hypothesis
when it is false
◉ ambiguous temporal precedence. Answer: although two variables
are related, it is not clear which one is the cause and which one is
the effect
◉ Events outside of the laboratory. Answer: - Threat to validity
, - events that occur outside of the experiment that could influence
the results of the experiment
◉ Maturation. Answer: - a source of error in an experiment related
to the amount of time between measurements
- more critical problem in research involving children because they
change more rapidly over time than do adults
◉ effects of testing. Answer: - performance on a second test is
influenced by simply having taken a first test
◉ regression effect. Answer: the statistical tendency, when two
variables are imperfectly correlated, for extreme values on one of
them to be associated with less extreme values on the other
◉ Selection. Answer: - a confound that can occur due to assignment
of subjects to groups
◉ mortality. Answer: - the dropping out of some subjects before an
experiment is completed, causing a threat to validity
◉ threats to construct validity. Answer: - Lose Connection Between
Theory and Method
- Ambiguous Effect of Independent Variables
