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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1.Easy

Which measure of spread is the difference between the highest and lowest scores?

  1. AThe standard deviation
  2. BThe interquartile range
  3. CThe range
  4. DThe variance
2.Easy

A hypothesis that predicts a difference but does not say in which direction is called:

  1. ANon-directional (two-tailed)
  2. BDirectional (one-tailed)
  3. CA null hypothesis
  4. DAn operational definition
3.Easy

In an experiment, the control group is the group that:

  1. AReceives the strongest version of the treatment, to show its maximum effect
  2. BIs made up of volunteers only
  3. CDoes not receive the experimental treatment, providing a baseline
  4. DContains the researchers themselves
4.Medium

Standardised instructions are used in an experiment so that:

  1. AThe researcher can adapt the procedure to suit each participant's needs
  2. BThe results become statistically significant
  3. CAll participants receive the same information in the same way
  4. DParticipants can choose their own conditions
5.Medium

Why are behaviour categories in an observation operationalised before data collection?

  1. ASo the observation becomes an experiment
  2. BSo participants know exactly what is being recorded
  3. CSo observers record the same behaviours consistently, improving reliability
  4. DSo the hypothesis can be changed after the data are seen
6.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
7.Hard

A meta-analysis combines 40 studies of a therapy. Why might its overall effect size still be too large?

  1. AMeta-analyses always give smaller effects than the single studies they include
  2. BCombining studies always removes all bias
  3. CMeta-analyses cannot include randomised trials
  4. DPublication bias means unpublished null studies may be missing
8.Hard

A study finds that students who sleep more have higher grades. Which design change would best allow a causal conclusion?

  1. AAsk students to report their sleep twice and average the two reports
  2. BRandomly assign students to different sleep schedules
  3. CSurvey more students
  4. DMeasure grades more accurately

Answer key

  1. 1. C · The range
  2. 2. A · Non-directional (two-tailed)
  3. 3. C · Does not receive the experimental treatment, providing a baseline
  4. 4. C · All participants receive the same information in the same way
  5. 5. C · So observers record the same behaviours consistently, improving reliability
  6. 6. B · Independent samples t-test
  7. 7. D · Publication bias means unpublished null studies may be missing
  8. 8. B · Randomly assign students to different sleep schedules

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