5/29/25, 8:41 PM AQA Psychology - Research Methods
AQA PSYCHOLOGY –RESEARCH METHODS \TEST
BANK EXAM 2025 -2026 \COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS \\VERIFIED
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
Variable Any "thing" that can vary or
change with in an
investigation. They are
generally in experiments to
determine if changes in one
result in changes to another.
An aspect of the experimental
situation that is manipulated
Independent Variable -
IV by the researcher or changes
naturally so the effect on the
DV can be measured.
The variable that is measured
by the researcher. Any
Dependent Variable -
DV result/change on the DV
should be caused by the
change in the IV.
Any method in which a person is
asked to state or explain their
Self-report techniques
own feelings, opinions, behaviors
and experiences related to a
given topic.
/ 1/20
,5/29/25, 8:41 PM AQA Psychology - Research Methods
A set of written questions
(sometimes called items) used to
Questionnaire
access a persons'
thoughts/experiences
+ Cost effective
Strengths of questionnaires + Can gather large amounts of data quickly
+ Can be completed without the researcher being present
- Can produce response bias
Weaknesses of questionnaires - P.ps may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly
- Demand Characteristics / Social Desirability may occur
Questions with no fixed
answer/response and
Open Questions
respondents can answer in
any way they wish.
+ Get more information
Advantages & Disadvantages + Produces qualitative data - depth and detail
of an Open Question - People can miss them out as they can't be bothered to answer
them
- Harder to analyse
Questions with a fixed answer/
the choice of response is
Closed Question
determined by the question
setter.
+ People have to same perception of the Q&A
+ Quick and easy to answer
Advantages & Disadvantages
+ Quantitative data is easier to analyse
of a Closed Question - Not detailed or in depth answers
- Don't find out the meaning behind the answer
The process of devising a way of measuring a variable.
Operationalising Variables
It is a clear statement of what the variable is.
An experiment that takes place in a controlled
environment where the
Lab Experiment
researcher manipulates the IV
and records the effect on the
DV while
maintaining strict control of extraneous variables.
/ 2/20
, 5/29/25, 8:41 PM AQA Psychology - Research Methods
1) The IV is manipulated by the researcher to produce a change in
the DV
The Criteria for a Lab 2) All other variables that might influence the results
Experiment
i.e. extraneous variables are held constant or
eliminated
3) Participants are randomly allocated to a condition.
+ Can establish cause and effect
+ Few if any extraneous variables
Advantages of a Lab
+Easy to replicate
Experiment
+High internal validity
- Lacks ecological / external validity
- Demand characteristics can occur
Disadvantages of a Lab
- Behaviour in a lab is often different
Experiment
- Experimenter effects can occur
An experiment that takes place in
a natural setting where the
Field Experiment
researcher manipulates the IV
and
records the effect on the DV.
+ More ecologically/externally valid
+ Fewer demand characteristics
Advantages of a Field
+Replication can occur to some extent
Experiment
+ Fewer experimenter effects
/ 3/20
AQA PSYCHOLOGY –RESEARCH METHODS \TEST
BANK EXAM 2025 -2026 \COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS \\VERIFIED
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
Variable Any "thing" that can vary or
change with in an
investigation. They are
generally in experiments to
determine if changes in one
result in changes to another.
An aspect of the experimental
situation that is manipulated
Independent Variable -
IV by the researcher or changes
naturally so the effect on the
DV can be measured.
The variable that is measured
by the researcher. Any
Dependent Variable -
DV result/change on the DV
should be caused by the
change in the IV.
Any method in which a person is
asked to state or explain their
Self-report techniques
own feelings, opinions, behaviors
and experiences related to a
given topic.
/ 1/20
,5/29/25, 8:41 PM AQA Psychology - Research Methods
A set of written questions
(sometimes called items) used to
Questionnaire
access a persons'
thoughts/experiences
+ Cost effective
Strengths of questionnaires + Can gather large amounts of data quickly
+ Can be completed without the researcher being present
- Can produce response bias
Weaknesses of questionnaires - P.ps may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly
- Demand Characteristics / Social Desirability may occur
Questions with no fixed
answer/response and
Open Questions
respondents can answer in
any way they wish.
+ Get more information
Advantages & Disadvantages + Produces qualitative data - depth and detail
of an Open Question - People can miss them out as they can't be bothered to answer
them
- Harder to analyse
Questions with a fixed answer/
the choice of response is
Closed Question
determined by the question
setter.
+ People have to same perception of the Q&A
+ Quick and easy to answer
Advantages & Disadvantages
+ Quantitative data is easier to analyse
of a Closed Question - Not detailed or in depth answers
- Don't find out the meaning behind the answer
The process of devising a way of measuring a variable.
Operationalising Variables
It is a clear statement of what the variable is.
An experiment that takes place in a controlled
environment where the
Lab Experiment
researcher manipulates the IV
and records the effect on the
DV while
maintaining strict control of extraneous variables.
/ 2/20
, 5/29/25, 8:41 PM AQA Psychology - Research Methods
1) The IV is manipulated by the researcher to produce a change in
the DV
The Criteria for a Lab 2) All other variables that might influence the results
Experiment
i.e. extraneous variables are held constant or
eliminated
3) Participants are randomly allocated to a condition.
+ Can establish cause and effect
+ Few if any extraneous variables
Advantages of a Lab
+Easy to replicate
Experiment
+High internal validity
- Lacks ecological / external validity
- Demand characteristics can occur
Disadvantages of a Lab
- Behaviour in a lab is often different
Experiment
- Experimenter effects can occur
An experiment that takes place in
a natural setting where the
Field Experiment
researcher manipulates the IV
and
records the effect on the DV.
+ More ecologically/externally valid
+ Fewer demand characteristics
Advantages of a Field
+Replication can occur to some extent
Experiment
+ Fewer experimenter effects
/ 3/20
