Research Methods Exam Questions
well answered to pass
What is an experimental method? (1) - correct answer ✔✔Involves the manipulation of an
independent variable to measure the effect on the dependent variable. It has a casual
relationship. E.g. cause and effect.
Why might you sometimes need a control condition? - correct answer ✔✔If we are comparing
the effects of the IV, then it is sometimes important to include a control condition to provide a
baseline measure of behaviour without the experimental treatment.
What is meant by a hypothesis? (2) - correct answer ✔✔A precise, testable statement about the
expected outcome of an investigation. It is usually based on some previous observations.
What is a directional (one-tailed) hypothesis and give an example (2) - correct answer ✔✔States
that there will be a difference between results and predicts the direction of the difference. E.g.
attractive people will be rated to have a higher IQ than unattractive people.
What is a non-directional hypothesis (two-tailed) and give an example (2) - correct answer
✔✔States that there will be a difference between results but not what the difference will be.
E.g. attractive people will be rated as having a significantly different IQ compared to unattractive
individuals.
What is a null hypothesis? (1) - correct answer ✔✔States that there will be no significant
difference between results- the IV will not have an affect on the DV. Any difference will be due
to chance alone.
What is the Aim? (1) - correct answer ✔✔The purpose/ research question that the
experimenter is trying to find out
, What is meant by reliability? (1) - correct answer ✔✔Where two or more measurements of the
same psychological event are consistent with eachother.
What are demand characteristics? (2) - correct answer ✔✔Cues in the environment that help
the participant work out what the research hypothesis is. This can lead to social desirability
effects.
Psychologists often need to select participants to take part in research. The descriptions below
are all types of sampling method.A: The psychologist puts an advert in a newspaper, asking for
participants.B: The psychologist uses lists of students in a university and selects every tenth
student to take part.C: The psychologist asks some of his psychology students to take part in the
research.D: The psychologist gives a number to all students in a university, then selects
participants in an unbiased way.In the table below, write which description, A, B, C, or D,
matches each sampling method. (Random Sample, Opportunity Sample, Volunteer Sample) (3) -
correct answer ✔✔Random Sample - D
Opportunity Sample - C
Volunteer Sample - A
Psychologists carried out a laboratory experiment to investigate the effectiveness ofcognitive
interviews. All participants watched the same film of a robbery. They were randomly allocated
to Group One or Group Two. Participants were then asked torecall the robbery. The
investigators used a cognitive interview to access recall of participants in Group One and a
standard interview to access recall of participants inGroup Two.The results of this experiment
are summarised in Figure 1 below.What experimental design was used in this experiment? (1) -
correct answer ✔✔Independent groups.
Explain one limitation of the design that was used in this experiment. (2) - correct answer
✔✔There may be differences between the groups as there are different participants in each
condition. Lack of control of participant variables may influence the results, making them less
valid.
well answered to pass
What is an experimental method? (1) - correct answer ✔✔Involves the manipulation of an
independent variable to measure the effect on the dependent variable. It has a casual
relationship. E.g. cause and effect.
Why might you sometimes need a control condition? - correct answer ✔✔If we are comparing
the effects of the IV, then it is sometimes important to include a control condition to provide a
baseline measure of behaviour without the experimental treatment.
What is meant by a hypothesis? (2) - correct answer ✔✔A precise, testable statement about the
expected outcome of an investigation. It is usually based on some previous observations.
What is a directional (one-tailed) hypothesis and give an example (2) - correct answer ✔✔States
that there will be a difference between results and predicts the direction of the difference. E.g.
attractive people will be rated to have a higher IQ than unattractive people.
What is a non-directional hypothesis (two-tailed) and give an example (2) - correct answer
✔✔States that there will be a difference between results but not what the difference will be.
E.g. attractive people will be rated as having a significantly different IQ compared to unattractive
individuals.
What is a null hypothesis? (1) - correct answer ✔✔States that there will be no significant
difference between results- the IV will not have an affect on the DV. Any difference will be due
to chance alone.
What is the Aim? (1) - correct answer ✔✔The purpose/ research question that the
experimenter is trying to find out
, What is meant by reliability? (1) - correct answer ✔✔Where two or more measurements of the
same psychological event are consistent with eachother.
What are demand characteristics? (2) - correct answer ✔✔Cues in the environment that help
the participant work out what the research hypothesis is. This can lead to social desirability
effects.
Psychologists often need to select participants to take part in research. The descriptions below
are all types of sampling method.A: The psychologist puts an advert in a newspaper, asking for
participants.B: The psychologist uses lists of students in a university and selects every tenth
student to take part.C: The psychologist asks some of his psychology students to take part in the
research.D: The psychologist gives a number to all students in a university, then selects
participants in an unbiased way.In the table below, write which description, A, B, C, or D,
matches each sampling method. (Random Sample, Opportunity Sample, Volunteer Sample) (3) -
correct answer ✔✔Random Sample - D
Opportunity Sample - C
Volunteer Sample - A
Psychologists carried out a laboratory experiment to investigate the effectiveness ofcognitive
interviews. All participants watched the same film of a robbery. They were randomly allocated
to Group One or Group Two. Participants were then asked torecall the robbery. The
investigators used a cognitive interview to access recall of participants in Group One and a
standard interview to access recall of participants inGroup Two.The results of this experiment
are summarised in Figure 1 below.What experimental design was used in this experiment? (1) -
correct answer ✔✔Independent groups.
Explain one limitation of the design that was used in this experiment. (2) - correct answer
✔✔There may be differences between the groups as there are different participants in each
condition. Lack of control of participant variables may influence the results, making them less
valid.
