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 small-scale trial run of a study before the main research is called:

  1. AA replication
  2. BA meta-analysis
  3. CA field experiment
  4. DA pilot study
2.Easy

A correlation of −0.85 indicates:

  1. AA strong negative relationship
  2. BA weak negative relationship
  3. CNo relationship
  4. DA strong positive relationship
3.Easy

A double-blind procedure means that:

  1. AParticipants are tested twice
  2. BParticipants cannot see the materials
  3. CTwo independent researchers analyse the same data set and then compare their conclusions
  4. DNeither participants nor the researchers collecting data know who is in which condition
4.Medium

Which test is suitable for comparing the means of two independent groups with interval data that are roughly normal?

  1. AWilcoxon signed-rank test
  2. BIndependent samples t-test
  3. CPearson correlation
  4. DChi-square test
5.Medium

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. BOpportunity sampling
  3. CSnowball sampling
  4. DStratified sampling
6.Medium

Which kind of data is collected with an open question in an interview?

  1. AQualitative data
  2. BNominal quantitative data only
  3. CInterval data
  4. DRatio data
7.Hard

In Milgram's obedience studies, participants believed they were giving real electric shocks. Which ethical issue is most directly raised, and how was it partly addressed?

  1. ALack of confidentiality, addressed by publishing names
  2. BLack of a control group, addressed by randomly allocating participants to conditions
  3. CUse of children, addressed by parental consent
  4. DDeception and potential distress, addressed by a thorough debriefing
8.Hard

A researcher wants to test whether a new teaching method causes better grades, but cannot randomise students. Which design gives the strongest causal evidence in this situation?

  1. ACorrelating grades with how much students like the teacher
  2. BComparing matched classes measured before and after, with a comparison group
  3. CMeasuring only the class using the new method after teaching
  4. DAsking students whether they think the method worked

Answer key

  1. 1. D · A pilot study
  2. 2. A · A strong negative relationship
  3. 3. D · Neither participants nor the researchers collecting data know who is in which condition
  4. 4. B · Independent samples t-test
  5. 5. D · Stratified sampling
  6. 6. A · Qualitative data
  7. 7. D · Deception and potential distress, addressed by a thorough debriefing
  8. 8. B · Comparing matched classes measured before and after, with a comparison group

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