RESEARCH METHODS EXAM 3
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS UPDATED
◉ Consider two correlations, +.50 and +.70. Which of the following
is true?
a. drawing conclusions about cause and effect is safer with the +.70
than with the +.50
b. the points on the scatterplot would be closer to the regression line
for the +.70 than
for the +.50
c. because it is "half way to being perfect," the directionality problem
is more acute for
the +.50 than for the +.70
d. they could represent the exact same study, except that the +.70
would be more likely
to reflect a range restriction than the +.50
Answer: b. the points on the scatterplot would be closer to the
regression line for the +.70 than
for the +.50
◉ A researcher investigates exercise practices and emotional
stability and finds a correlation of +.80 between a measure of
, exercise frequency and a measure of emotional stability (low score =
unstable; high score = stable). Which of the following is true?
a. you can safely predict that the relationship will be a strong one for
80% of the
population
b. if somebody is unstable emotionally, exercise is the cure for the
problem
c. people who exercise a lot tend to be emotionally stable
d. emotional instability can cause people to drop their exercise
program
Answer: c. people who exercise a lot tend to be emotionally stable
◉ The study by Eron and his colleagues (preference for violent TV
and tendencies toward aggression) illustrated several points about
the interpretation of correlational research. Which of the following
was true about that study?
a. they used a partial correlation procedure to show that the
correlation between the
preference for violent TV and the tendencies toward aggression
disappeared when
third variables were taken into account
b. their correlations were quite low because they had a restriction of
range problem
c. by correlating preferences in the third grade with aggressive
tendencies ten years later,
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS UPDATED
◉ Consider two correlations, +.50 and +.70. Which of the following
is true?
a. drawing conclusions about cause and effect is safer with the +.70
than with the +.50
b. the points on the scatterplot would be closer to the regression line
for the +.70 than
for the +.50
c. because it is "half way to being perfect," the directionality problem
is more acute for
the +.50 than for the +.70
d. they could represent the exact same study, except that the +.70
would be more likely
to reflect a range restriction than the +.50
Answer: b. the points on the scatterplot would be closer to the
regression line for the +.70 than
for the +.50
◉ A researcher investigates exercise practices and emotional
stability and finds a correlation of +.80 between a measure of
, exercise frequency and a measure of emotional stability (low score =
unstable; high score = stable). Which of the following is true?
a. you can safely predict that the relationship will be a strong one for
80% of the
population
b. if somebody is unstable emotionally, exercise is the cure for the
problem
c. people who exercise a lot tend to be emotionally stable
d. emotional instability can cause people to drop their exercise
program
Answer: c. people who exercise a lot tend to be emotionally stable
◉ The study by Eron and his colleagues (preference for violent TV
and tendencies toward aggression) illustrated several points about
the interpretation of correlational research. Which of the following
was true about that study?
a. they used a partial correlation procedure to show that the
correlation between the
preference for violent TV and the tendencies toward aggression
disappeared when
third variables were taken into account
b. their correlations were quite low because they had a restriction of
range problem
c. by correlating preferences in the third grade with aggressive
tendencies ten years later,
