Research methods in psychology worksheet with answers

Free printable Research methods in psychology worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

A study that follows the same participants over a long period of time is called:

  1. AA case study
  2. BA pilot study
  3. CA cross-sectional study
  4. DA longitudinal study
2.Easy

A variable other than the IV that changes systematically with the IV and could explain the result is called a:

  1. AConfounding variable
  2. BDemand characteristic
  3. CControl variable
  4. DDependent variable
3.Easy

Which sampling method selects people who happen to be available at the time, such as students in a canteen?

  1. AOpportunity sampling
  2. BStratified sampling
  3. CSystematic sampling
  4. DRandom sampling
4.Medium

A researcher compares children's aggression before and after television arrives in a remote town. The researcher did not control the arrival of television. This is a:

  1. ANatural experiment
  2. BLaboratory experiment
  3. CCorrelational survey of television viewing
  4. DField experiment
5.Medium

In a content analysis, inter-rater reliability is checked by:

  1. ACoding the material twice in one day
  2. BUsing a larger sample of materials
  3. CHaving two researchers code the same material and comparing results
  4. DAsking participants afterwards whether the researcher's coding of their material is correct
6.Medium

The same 25 participants complete a memory test before and after caffeine. The scores are interval and roughly normal. Which test is appropriate?

  1. AMann–Whitney U test
  2. BPaired (related) samples t-test
  3. CIndependent samples t-test
  4. DChi-square test
7.Hard

What is the main purpose of random allocation to conditions in an experiment?

  1. ATo increase the response rate
  2. BTo make the sample representative of the target population so results generalise
  3. CTo spread participant variables evenly so they do not confound the results
  4. DTo ensure participants do not know the aim
8.Hard

A memory study uses a repeated measures design where everyone learns list A then list B. Recall is better for list B. What is the most likely flaw?

  1. AToo large a sample size
  2. BThe use of an ordinal level of measurement
  3. COrder effects such as practice, because conditions were not counterbalanced
  4. DIndividual differences between the groups

Answer key

  1. 1. D · A longitudinal study
  2. 2. A · Confounding variable
  3. 3. A · Opportunity sampling
  4. 4. A · Natural experiment
  5. 5. C · Having two researchers code the same material and comparing results
  6. 6. B · Paired (related) samples t-test
  7. 7. C · To spread participant variables evenly so they do not confound the results
  8. 8. C · Order effects such as practice, because conditions were not counterbalanced

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