UvA Psychology Selection Mock EXAM 2026 COMPLETE
EXAM QUESTIONS AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS
|ALREADY GRADED A+|| Latest update 2026/27
Instructions: This mock exam is designed to reflect the format and content of the
University of Amsterdam (UvA) Psychology Bachelor selection test . The test is
based on the provided lectures and study materials . Each question has four
options. The correct answer is in bold. The rationale is in italics .
SECTION 1: RESEARCH METHODS & STATISTICS (Questions 1–30)
Q1. A researcher evaluates 20 photographs of people with different facial
expressions (e.g., angry, sad, etc.). He puts the photographs into one of two
categories: negative facial expressions and positive facial expressions.
Unconsciously, he puts photos of people he finds attractive more often in the
positive category. What is happening here?
• A) Observer bias
• B) Observer effect
• C) Sampling error
• D) Confirmation bias
Observer bias occurs when a researcher's expectations or preferences
unconsciously influence their observations or measurements . The
researcher is unknowingly categorizing attractive faces as "positive" due to
his personal attraction.
,Q2. A researcher would like to know more about the attitudes of the Amsterdam
population aged between 18 and 50 years with respect to factory farming. He
positions himself during the morning rush hour at the main entrance of
Amsterdam Central Station and asks everyone who passes by. What type of
sampling is this?
• A) Stratified sampling
• B) Random sampling
• C) Convenience sampling
• D) Snowball sampling
Convenience sampling involves selecting participants who are readily
available and accessible . The researcher is sampling people who happen to
pass by the station during rush hour, not a representative sample of the
Amsterdam population.
Q3. Observer bias occurs when a researcher...
• A) ...affects the situation being studied
• B) ...incorrectly observes the situation being studied
• C) ...influences participants to change their behavior
• D) ...selects a non-representative sample
Observer bias refers to systematic errors in observation due to the
researcher's expectations, beliefs, or preferences. This leads to inaccurate or
skewed data recording .
Q4. Observer effects occur when the observer...
• A) ...affects the situation being studied
• B) ...incorrectly observes the situation
• C) ...fails to record data accurately
• D) ...uses unvalidated measurement tools
Observer effects (also known as reactivity) occur when the presence or
, behavior of the observer influences the participants' behavior, changing the
situation being studied .
Q5. While a youth football team is training, a scout comes to watch them to
select talented children. The presence of the scout makes some of the children
nervous, affecting their level of play. What is this an example of?
• A) Observer bias
• B) Observer effect
• C) Sampling bias
• D) Placebo effect
This is an observer effect because the scout's presence (as an observer)
changes the children's natural behavior. They become nervous and perform
differently than they would without the scout watching .
Q6. What is a solution to the effect of observer bias?
• A) Using a larger sample size
• B) A 'blind' study design
• C) Random sampling
• D) Increasing measurement frequency
A blind study design (single-blind or double-blind) prevents observers from
knowing which participants are in which condition, reducing the influence of
expectations on observations .
Q7. What is an example of an 'unobtrusive measure'?
• A) Asking participants to complete a survey about their snack preferences
• B) A researcher determines the popularity of diet potato chips by looking
at how many have been eaten after a birthday party
• C) Conducting a taste test with participants
, • D) Interviewing people about their eating habits
Unobtrusive measures collect data without interfering with participants'
natural behavior or awareness that they are being studied. Counting
remaining chips after a party measures consumption without direct
questioning .
Q8. In a stress study, a researcher finds a correlation between variable A and
variable B that is equal to 0.6. What does this mean?
• A) The test subjects who score higher on variable A also score higher on
variable B, on average
• B) Variable A causes variable B
• C) There is a weak negative relationship between A and B
• D) Variable B causes variable A
*A positive correlation of 0.6 indicates a moderate-to-strong positive
relationship. As scores on variable A increase, scores on variable B tend to
also increase . Correlation does not imply causation.*
Q9. In a study using 'blind observers' among children at a primary school, it was
found that those who had been breast-fed had a higher IQ, on average. A
journalist wrote: "Breastfeeding leads to higher IQ." Why is this conclusion not
justified?
• A) The sample size was too small
• B) There are other possible explanations for the results of the study
• C) The observers were not actually blind
• D) IQ tests are unreliable
Correlation does not equal causation. Confounding variables (e.g.,
socioeconomic status, parental education, nutrition) could explain the
relationship between breastfeeding and IQ. The study design does not
establish causality .
EXAM QUESTIONS AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS
|ALREADY GRADED A+|| Latest update 2026/27
Instructions: This mock exam is designed to reflect the format and content of the
University of Amsterdam (UvA) Psychology Bachelor selection test . The test is
based on the provided lectures and study materials . Each question has four
options. The correct answer is in bold. The rationale is in italics .
SECTION 1: RESEARCH METHODS & STATISTICS (Questions 1–30)
Q1. A researcher evaluates 20 photographs of people with different facial
expressions (e.g., angry, sad, etc.). He puts the photographs into one of two
categories: negative facial expressions and positive facial expressions.
Unconsciously, he puts photos of people he finds attractive more often in the
positive category. What is happening here?
• A) Observer bias
• B) Observer effect
• C) Sampling error
• D) Confirmation bias
Observer bias occurs when a researcher's expectations or preferences
unconsciously influence their observations or measurements . The
researcher is unknowingly categorizing attractive faces as "positive" due to
his personal attraction.
,Q2. A researcher would like to know more about the attitudes of the Amsterdam
population aged between 18 and 50 years with respect to factory farming. He
positions himself during the morning rush hour at the main entrance of
Amsterdam Central Station and asks everyone who passes by. What type of
sampling is this?
• A) Stratified sampling
• B) Random sampling
• C) Convenience sampling
• D) Snowball sampling
Convenience sampling involves selecting participants who are readily
available and accessible . The researcher is sampling people who happen to
pass by the station during rush hour, not a representative sample of the
Amsterdam population.
Q3. Observer bias occurs when a researcher...
• A) ...affects the situation being studied
• B) ...incorrectly observes the situation being studied
• C) ...influences participants to change their behavior
• D) ...selects a non-representative sample
Observer bias refers to systematic errors in observation due to the
researcher's expectations, beliefs, or preferences. This leads to inaccurate or
skewed data recording .
Q4. Observer effects occur when the observer...
• A) ...affects the situation being studied
• B) ...incorrectly observes the situation
• C) ...fails to record data accurately
• D) ...uses unvalidated measurement tools
Observer effects (also known as reactivity) occur when the presence or
, behavior of the observer influences the participants' behavior, changing the
situation being studied .
Q5. While a youth football team is training, a scout comes to watch them to
select talented children. The presence of the scout makes some of the children
nervous, affecting their level of play. What is this an example of?
• A) Observer bias
• B) Observer effect
• C) Sampling bias
• D) Placebo effect
This is an observer effect because the scout's presence (as an observer)
changes the children's natural behavior. They become nervous and perform
differently than they would without the scout watching .
Q6. What is a solution to the effect of observer bias?
• A) Using a larger sample size
• B) A 'blind' study design
• C) Random sampling
• D) Increasing measurement frequency
A blind study design (single-blind or double-blind) prevents observers from
knowing which participants are in which condition, reducing the influence of
expectations on observations .
Q7. What is an example of an 'unobtrusive measure'?
• A) Asking participants to complete a survey about their snack preferences
• B) A researcher determines the popularity of diet potato chips by looking
at how many have been eaten after a birthday party
• C) Conducting a taste test with participants
, • D) Interviewing people about their eating habits
Unobtrusive measures collect data without interfering with participants'
natural behavior or awareness that they are being studied. Counting
remaining chips after a party measures consumption without direct
questioning .
Q8. In a stress study, a researcher finds a correlation between variable A and
variable B that is equal to 0.6. What does this mean?
• A) The test subjects who score higher on variable A also score higher on
variable B, on average
• B) Variable A causes variable B
• C) There is a weak negative relationship between A and B
• D) Variable B causes variable A
*A positive correlation of 0.6 indicates a moderate-to-strong positive
relationship. As scores on variable A increase, scores on variable B tend to
also increase . Correlation does not imply causation.*
Q9. In a study using 'blind observers' among children at a primary school, it was
found that those who had been breast-fed had a higher IQ, on average. A
journalist wrote: "Breastfeeding leads to higher IQ." Why is this conclusion not
justified?
• A) The sample size was too small
• B) There are other possible explanations for the results of the study
• C) The observers were not actually blind
• D) IQ tests are unreliable
Correlation does not equal causation. Confounding variables (e.g.,
socioeconomic status, parental education, nutrition) could explain the
relationship between breastfeeding and IQ. The study design does not
establish causality .
