Research Methods Final Exam
Questions and All Correct Answers
(2025) Updated.
Imagine you have formed a research question, conducted the literature review, integrated your
findings, and formed a hypothesis. Now that you are submitting your IRB application, you
should expect the IRB to - Answer ensure your proposed study will treat participants ethically.
Making naturalistic observations at different periods is an example of - Answer Time Sampling
To protect against a researcher's subjective bias, qualitative data are judged by their - Answer
Confirmability
Cecil got the idea to do research on why young couples break up after his roommate
experienced a painful break-up. This represents which source of research ideas? - Answer
Everyday occurrence
Dependability in qualitative research is analogous to_________ in quantitative research. -
Answer reliability
Dr. Smith is curious if teaching students a relaxation technique will reduce their test-taking
anxiety. The best research method to evaluate this phenomenon is a(n)_______. - Answer
experiment
Which of the following psychological research methods utilizes a holistic approach to describe a
phenomenon in a natural setting? - Answer Qualitative Research
A clinical psychologist gains permission from his clients for a student-in-training to sit in on the
therapy sessions, observe the therapist's and the clients' behaviors, and take minimal notes.
However, the therapist realizes that the clients' behaviors often differ from previous sessions.
This is an example of_________. - Answer Hawthorne Effect
Television ratings that rank viewers' preferences for TV shows is an example of data gathered via
a(n)_______. - Answer Descriptive study
,Data are susceptible to the reactivity effect when using which of the following research
methods? - Answer Naturalistic observation
The Milgram obedience experiments had ethical problems because__________. - Answer the
participants were under more than minimal emotional distress.
Dr. Jones reviews the literature to assess the usefulness of an inventory measuring anxiety
symptoms in elderly nursing home residents. He determines that there is very low interrater
reliability among expert nurses who administer this inventory. This is a threat to the inventory's
________ validity. - Answer content
You are an undergraduate psychology major trying to think of a research project. As you are
walking across campus, you suddenly get an idea for a project, even though you were not
actively trying to contemplate a research idea. This is an example of________. - Answer
Inspiration
You have designed your research project to include a random sample of Caucasian, African
American, Asian, Latino, and Native American children in an inner city Head Start program. You
are using which of the following research strategies? - Answer Stratified random sampling
________ refers to the extent to which the results of a qualitative research project can be
generalized to other settings - Answer Transferability
A researcher is interested in determining how college student athletes perceive steroid use
among other athletes. The researcher prepares a list of questions and conducts several sessions
with small groups (about 7-10 athletes). This is an example of a(n)________. - Answer Focus
group
Qualitative research is most likely to be conducted in a _________ setting; quantitative in a
_______setting. - Answer Laboratory
Dr. Mills is the primary researcher in a study investigating drinking behavior among young adults
at bars near a college campus. Dr. Mills goes to the bar and pretends to be a regular patron as
she observes others. This is an example of________. - Answer Participant observation
Mail surveys provide the advantage of increasing_______. - Answer the size of the recruitment
sample
, A document that provides a general statement about a research study and the right to withdraw
participation without penalty is called a(n)_______. - Answer Informed consent
Research ideas that present themselves in an unpredictable manner are_________. - Answer
nonsystematic
Skyler is using a new testing instrument to measure behavior. She decides to try this instrument
out on her buddy Pharon. The first time Pharon takes the test, she receives a score of 25. The
second time Pharon takes the test, she scores a 12. Skyler administers the test a third time and
Pharon scores a 38. Based on her scores, the new instrument has__________. - Answer Low
reliability
A literature review may result in_______. - Answer discovering your project idea has already
been conducted.
If you read a research report that stated one's IQ was correlated with how long one could stand
on their head, you would assume this to be a ________ correlation. - Answer zero
Which of the following is NOT part of the Nuremburg Code? - Answer Deception in research
should be avoided at all costs.
Which of the following steps in the research process will often result in doing statistics? -
Answer Analysis of research findings
Your New Year's Resolution is to lose weight. You see several different television ads promoting
quick, easy weight loss without any change in diet or exercise. You also read the fine print
stating that "these results are not typical." Based on this information, you determine these
claims to be sensational marketing ploys rather than sound research. You are
exhibiting________. - Answer traits of a knowledgeable research consumer
The first step in the research process is to_______. - Answer Find a problem or question to
examine.
Population is to ______ as sample is to________. - Answer United States residents in the
Midwest; Missouri residents.
Questions and All Correct Answers
(2025) Updated.
Imagine you have formed a research question, conducted the literature review, integrated your
findings, and formed a hypothesis. Now that you are submitting your IRB application, you
should expect the IRB to - Answer ensure your proposed study will treat participants ethically.
Making naturalistic observations at different periods is an example of - Answer Time Sampling
To protect against a researcher's subjective bias, qualitative data are judged by their - Answer
Confirmability
Cecil got the idea to do research on why young couples break up after his roommate
experienced a painful break-up. This represents which source of research ideas? - Answer
Everyday occurrence
Dependability in qualitative research is analogous to_________ in quantitative research. -
Answer reliability
Dr. Smith is curious if teaching students a relaxation technique will reduce their test-taking
anxiety. The best research method to evaluate this phenomenon is a(n)_______. - Answer
experiment
Which of the following psychological research methods utilizes a holistic approach to describe a
phenomenon in a natural setting? - Answer Qualitative Research
A clinical psychologist gains permission from his clients for a student-in-training to sit in on the
therapy sessions, observe the therapist's and the clients' behaviors, and take minimal notes.
However, the therapist realizes that the clients' behaviors often differ from previous sessions.
This is an example of_________. - Answer Hawthorne Effect
Television ratings that rank viewers' preferences for TV shows is an example of data gathered via
a(n)_______. - Answer Descriptive study
,Data are susceptible to the reactivity effect when using which of the following research
methods? - Answer Naturalistic observation
The Milgram obedience experiments had ethical problems because__________. - Answer the
participants were under more than minimal emotional distress.
Dr. Jones reviews the literature to assess the usefulness of an inventory measuring anxiety
symptoms in elderly nursing home residents. He determines that there is very low interrater
reliability among expert nurses who administer this inventory. This is a threat to the inventory's
________ validity. - Answer content
You are an undergraduate psychology major trying to think of a research project. As you are
walking across campus, you suddenly get an idea for a project, even though you were not
actively trying to contemplate a research idea. This is an example of________. - Answer
Inspiration
You have designed your research project to include a random sample of Caucasian, African
American, Asian, Latino, and Native American children in an inner city Head Start program. You
are using which of the following research strategies? - Answer Stratified random sampling
________ refers to the extent to which the results of a qualitative research project can be
generalized to other settings - Answer Transferability
A researcher is interested in determining how college student athletes perceive steroid use
among other athletes. The researcher prepares a list of questions and conducts several sessions
with small groups (about 7-10 athletes). This is an example of a(n)________. - Answer Focus
group
Qualitative research is most likely to be conducted in a _________ setting; quantitative in a
_______setting. - Answer Laboratory
Dr. Mills is the primary researcher in a study investigating drinking behavior among young adults
at bars near a college campus. Dr. Mills goes to the bar and pretends to be a regular patron as
she observes others. This is an example of________. - Answer Participant observation
Mail surveys provide the advantage of increasing_______. - Answer the size of the recruitment
sample
, A document that provides a general statement about a research study and the right to withdraw
participation without penalty is called a(n)_______. - Answer Informed consent
Research ideas that present themselves in an unpredictable manner are_________. - Answer
nonsystematic
Skyler is using a new testing instrument to measure behavior. She decides to try this instrument
out on her buddy Pharon. The first time Pharon takes the test, she receives a score of 25. The
second time Pharon takes the test, she scores a 12. Skyler administers the test a third time and
Pharon scores a 38. Based on her scores, the new instrument has__________. - Answer Low
reliability
A literature review may result in_______. - Answer discovering your project idea has already
been conducted.
If you read a research report that stated one's IQ was correlated with how long one could stand
on their head, you would assume this to be a ________ correlation. - Answer zero
Which of the following is NOT part of the Nuremburg Code? - Answer Deception in research
should be avoided at all costs.
Which of the following steps in the research process will often result in doing statistics? -
Answer Analysis of research findings
Your New Year's Resolution is to lose weight. You see several different television ads promoting
quick, easy weight loss without any change in diet or exercise. You also read the fine print
stating that "these results are not typical." Based on this information, you determine these
claims to be sensational marketing ploys rather than sound research. You are
exhibiting________. - Answer traits of a knowledgeable research consumer
The first step in the research process is to_______. - Answer Find a problem or question to
examine.
Population is to ______ as sample is to________. - Answer United States residents in the
Midwest; Missouri residents.
