Psychology Exam Practice for Mastery
Psychology Exam Practice
Questions for Mastery
This exam practice question bank offers 30 carefully crafted questions across all major
psychology domains: research methods, biological foundations, cognitive processes, de-
velopmental stages, social influences, and abnormal psychology. Designed for university
students at all levels, from introductory to advanced, it includes 20 multiple-choice, 6
true/false, and 4 short-answer questions, each with detailed step-by-step rationales that
clarify reasoning, eliminate incorrect options, and connect to academic contexts like exam
stress, group study, and mental health. Grounded in seminal research, rationales provide
evidence-based insights, mastery-focused strategies (e.g., active recall, concept mapping),
and level-specific guidance to foster deep understanding and critical application. This
bank is tailored to promote mastery, equipping students with the skills to excel in exams
through rigorous practice and strategic preparation.
1 Research Methods in Psychology
Research methods underpin psychological science, enabling students to design robust
studies, interpret findings, and uphold ethical standards. This section tests experimental
design, statistical analysis, and research ethics through university-relevant scenarios, with
questions ranging from foundational to complex. Step-by-step rationales clarify concepts,
promote analytical thinking, and offer mastery strategies like summarizing methodologi-
cal terms or designing mock studies to ensure exam readiness.
1.1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1. A student tests whether online lectures improve retention. What is the
independent variable?
a) Retention scores
b) Online lectures
c) Student engagement
d) Lecture duration
Answer: b
Step-by-Step Rationale:
(a) Define the independent variable (IV): the factor manipulated (Campbell Stan-
ley, 1963).
(b) Option a: Retention scores are measured, making them the dependent variable
(DV).
1
, Psychology Exam Practice for Mastery
(c) Option b: Online lectures are manipulated (online vs. in-person), fitting the
IV.
(d) Option c: Engagement is a potential confound, not manipulated.
(e) Option d: Lecture duration is not specified as manipulated.
(f) Conclusion: Online lectures are the IV.
Mastery Strategy: Create a concept map of IV and DV with examples. Ad-
vanced students should design a study identifying variables, explaining controls for
confounds.
2. A study links social media use to academic stress. Can it prove causa-
tion?
a) Yes, with sufficient data
b) No, correlation does not imply causation
c) Yes, if cross-sectional
d) No, unless experimental
Answer: b
Step-by-Step Rationale:
(a) Identify the study type: a link suggests correlation (Rosenbaum, 2002).
(b) Correlation cannot prove causation due to confounds (e.g., workload causing
stress).
(c) Option a: Data size doesnt address confounds.
(d) Option b: Correctly identifies correlations limitation.
(e) Option c: Cross-sectional studies are correlational, not causal.
(f) Option d: Experiments are needed, but the question implies correlation.
(g) Conclusion: The study cannot prove causation.
Mastery Strategy: Summarize correlation vs. causation in a chart, listing con-
founds. Advanced students should critique correlational studies, proposing experi-
mental alternatives.
3. What ensures ethical participation in a study on study habits?
a) Anonymity
b) Informed consent
c) Random sampling
d) Debriefing
2
, Psychology Exam Practice for Mastery
Answer: b
Step-by-Step Rationale:
(a) Recall APA (2017) ethical guidelines: participant rights are critical.
(b) Option a: Anonymity protects privacy but isnt primary.
(c) Option b: Informed consent ensures participants understand purpose, risks,
and rights (Belmont Report, 1979).
(d) Option c: Random sampling enhances representativeness, not ethics.
(e) Option d: Debriefing occurs post-study, not for participation.
(f) Conclusion: Informed consent is essential.
Mastery Strategy: Use mnemonics for APA ethical principles. Advanced stu-
dents should evaluate ethical challenges in sensitive research contexts.
4. A study on note-taking apps with a p-value of 0.02 indicates:
a) A 2% chance of a true effect
b) Statistical significance
c) A 98% chance of error
d) No effect
Answer: b
Step-by-Step Rationale:
(a) Understand p-value: probability of results by chance (Fisher, 1925).
(b) P < 0.05 indicates significance, rejecting the null hypothesis.
(c) Option a: Misinterprets p-value as effect probability.
(d) Option b: Correctly identifies significance.
(e) Option c: Inverts the p-values meaning.
(f) Option d: Contradicts the low p-value.
(g) Conclusion: The result is statistically significant.
Mastery Strategy: Practice interpreting p-values with mock data, focusing on
the 0.05 threshold. Advanced students should explain significance in app efficacy
studies.
5. Which method best studies a unique case of test anxiety?
a) Experiment
b) Case study
c) Survey
3
Psychology Exam Practice
Questions for Mastery
This exam practice question bank offers 30 carefully crafted questions across all major
psychology domains: research methods, biological foundations, cognitive processes, de-
velopmental stages, social influences, and abnormal psychology. Designed for university
students at all levels, from introductory to advanced, it includes 20 multiple-choice, 6
true/false, and 4 short-answer questions, each with detailed step-by-step rationales that
clarify reasoning, eliminate incorrect options, and connect to academic contexts like exam
stress, group study, and mental health. Grounded in seminal research, rationales provide
evidence-based insights, mastery-focused strategies (e.g., active recall, concept mapping),
and level-specific guidance to foster deep understanding and critical application. This
bank is tailored to promote mastery, equipping students with the skills to excel in exams
through rigorous practice and strategic preparation.
1 Research Methods in Psychology
Research methods underpin psychological science, enabling students to design robust
studies, interpret findings, and uphold ethical standards. This section tests experimental
design, statistical analysis, and research ethics through university-relevant scenarios, with
questions ranging from foundational to complex. Step-by-step rationales clarify concepts,
promote analytical thinking, and offer mastery strategies like summarizing methodologi-
cal terms or designing mock studies to ensure exam readiness.
1.1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1. A student tests whether online lectures improve retention. What is the
independent variable?
a) Retention scores
b) Online lectures
c) Student engagement
d) Lecture duration
Answer: b
Step-by-Step Rationale:
(a) Define the independent variable (IV): the factor manipulated (Campbell Stan-
ley, 1963).
(b) Option a: Retention scores are measured, making them the dependent variable
(DV).
1
, Psychology Exam Practice for Mastery
(c) Option b: Online lectures are manipulated (online vs. in-person), fitting the
IV.
(d) Option c: Engagement is a potential confound, not manipulated.
(e) Option d: Lecture duration is not specified as manipulated.
(f) Conclusion: Online lectures are the IV.
Mastery Strategy: Create a concept map of IV and DV with examples. Ad-
vanced students should design a study identifying variables, explaining controls for
confounds.
2. A study links social media use to academic stress. Can it prove causa-
tion?
a) Yes, with sufficient data
b) No, correlation does not imply causation
c) Yes, if cross-sectional
d) No, unless experimental
Answer: b
Step-by-Step Rationale:
(a) Identify the study type: a link suggests correlation (Rosenbaum, 2002).
(b) Correlation cannot prove causation due to confounds (e.g., workload causing
stress).
(c) Option a: Data size doesnt address confounds.
(d) Option b: Correctly identifies correlations limitation.
(e) Option c: Cross-sectional studies are correlational, not causal.
(f) Option d: Experiments are needed, but the question implies correlation.
(g) Conclusion: The study cannot prove causation.
Mastery Strategy: Summarize correlation vs. causation in a chart, listing con-
founds. Advanced students should critique correlational studies, proposing experi-
mental alternatives.
3. What ensures ethical participation in a study on study habits?
a) Anonymity
b) Informed consent
c) Random sampling
d) Debriefing
2
, Psychology Exam Practice for Mastery
Answer: b
Step-by-Step Rationale:
(a) Recall APA (2017) ethical guidelines: participant rights are critical.
(b) Option a: Anonymity protects privacy but isnt primary.
(c) Option b: Informed consent ensures participants understand purpose, risks,
and rights (Belmont Report, 1979).
(d) Option c: Random sampling enhances representativeness, not ethics.
(e) Option d: Debriefing occurs post-study, not for participation.
(f) Conclusion: Informed consent is essential.
Mastery Strategy: Use mnemonics for APA ethical principles. Advanced stu-
dents should evaluate ethical challenges in sensitive research contexts.
4. A study on note-taking apps with a p-value of 0.02 indicates:
a) A 2% chance of a true effect
b) Statistical significance
c) A 98% chance of error
d) No effect
Answer: b
Step-by-Step Rationale:
(a) Understand p-value: probability of results by chance (Fisher, 1925).
(b) P < 0.05 indicates significance, rejecting the null hypothesis.
(c) Option a: Misinterprets p-value as effect probability.
(d) Option b: Correctly identifies significance.
(e) Option c: Inverts the p-values meaning.
(f) Option d: Contradicts the low p-value.
(g) Conclusion: The result is statistically significant.
Mastery Strategy: Practice interpreting p-values with mock data, focusing on
the 0.05 threshold. Advanced students should explain significance in app efficacy
studies.
5. Which method best studies a unique case of test anxiety?
a) Experiment
b) Case study
c) Survey
3
