Research methods in psychology worksheet with answers

Which sampling method gives every member of the population an equal chance of being selected?

1. ASnowball sampling
2. BVolunteer sampling
3. COpportunity sampling
4. DRandom sampling

A covert observation is one in which:

1. AThe observer joins the group being observed
2. BParticipants know about the study and agree to it
3. CParticipants do not know they are being observed
4. DBehaviour is recorded in a laboratory

A researcher places an advert asking for people to take part in a study. Which sampling method is this?

1. AOpportunity sampling
2. BVolunteer (self-selected) sampling
3. CSystematic sampling
4. DStratified sampling

Demand characteristics are:

1. AStatistical requirements for a test
2. BThe formal demands an ethics committee makes before a study can begin
3. CCharacteristics of the sample
4. DCues that make participants guess the aim and change their behaviour

Experimenter bias is reduced most directly by:

1. AUsing a researcher who does not know the hypothesis or conditions to collect data
2. BUsing a larger sample
3. CUsing a one-tailed hypothesis
4. DUsing only volunteers

To obtain a sample with the same proportions of first-, second- and third-year students as the university population, a researcher should use:

1. AVolunteer sampling
2. BSnowball sampling
3. COpportunity sampling
4. DStratified sampling

In qualitative research, reflexivity means that the researcher:

1. AReflects on how their own background and assumptions may shape the analysis
2. BRepeats the study to check reliability
3. CUses a random sample to remove bias
4. DConverts themes into numerical data

Patients chosen because they have extremely high anxiety scores show lower scores at a second test, even without treatment. What is the most likely explanation?

1. ARegression to the mean
2. BCounterbalancing
3. CA ceiling effect
4. DThe Hawthorne effect