PYC3704
Psychological Research
2023 Updated Exam Pack
,NB: This document is an additional tool
for exam preparation. The Stuvia-user
that compiled and uploaded this
document takes no responsibility for
incorrect answers. Students must
ensure that they study the prescribed
material and understand the content.
, 1 The term 'inference’ in psychological research refers to
1. describing information in a precise way
2. making a prediction or generalization based on existing information
3. the procedures for making a construct visible so that a measurement can be made
4. the development of a hypothesis as a relationship among variables
Reason:
An inference is a conclusion that follows from existing information, by generalising from
the specific information to the general type of phenomenon, where the conclusion is not
absolutely certain. So in summary inferential statistics are techniques for making
generalisations based on imperfect numeric data, where the conclusions have a high
probability of being true, but you can never be completely certain.
2 In psychological research, a construct may be a(n) ______
1. measurement based on the careful observation of aspects of humans or human
behaviour
2. observation of an aspect of humans or human behaviour which was
operationalised in some way
3. hypothetical aspect of humans or human behaviour which we wish to investigate
4. explanation of empirical observations based on the measurement of certain
variables
Reason:
Constructs and their interrelations (how they affect each other, their patterns of
interaction) are used in this way to develop theoretical explanations of why people
behave in certain ways in certain contexts, or why mental phenomena appear to be as
they are.
3. Which of the options below provides the best description of the main purpose of
quantitative research in psychology? Its purpose is to ______
1. develop theories that explain the relationships among observed aspects of human
behaviour and mental processes
2. develop predictions about human behaviour of which we can be applied with
absolute certainty
3. describe and classify aspects of humans and human behaviour
4. develop hypotheses about relationships that may exist among various constructs
Psychological Research
2023 Updated Exam Pack
,NB: This document is an additional tool
for exam preparation. The Stuvia-user
that compiled and uploaded this
document takes no responsibility for
incorrect answers. Students must
ensure that they study the prescribed
material and understand the content.
, 1 The term 'inference’ in psychological research refers to
1. describing information in a precise way
2. making a prediction or generalization based on existing information
3. the procedures for making a construct visible so that a measurement can be made
4. the development of a hypothesis as a relationship among variables
Reason:
An inference is a conclusion that follows from existing information, by generalising from
the specific information to the general type of phenomenon, where the conclusion is not
absolutely certain. So in summary inferential statistics are techniques for making
generalisations based on imperfect numeric data, where the conclusions have a high
probability of being true, but you can never be completely certain.
2 In psychological research, a construct may be a(n) ______
1. measurement based on the careful observation of aspects of humans or human
behaviour
2. observation of an aspect of humans or human behaviour which was
operationalised in some way
3. hypothetical aspect of humans or human behaviour which we wish to investigate
4. explanation of empirical observations based on the measurement of certain
variables
Reason:
Constructs and their interrelations (how they affect each other, their patterns of
interaction) are used in this way to develop theoretical explanations of why people
behave in certain ways in certain contexts, or why mental phenomena appear to be as
they are.
3. Which of the options below provides the best description of the main purpose of
quantitative research in psychology? Its purpose is to ______
1. develop theories that explain the relationships among observed aspects of human
behaviour and mental processes
2. develop predictions about human behaviour of which we can be applied with
absolute certainty
3. describe and classify aspects of humans and human behaviour
4. develop hypotheses about relationships that may exist among various constructs
