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

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. CAn operational definition
  4. DA null hypothesis
2.Easy

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

  1. AVolunteer sampling
  2. BOpportunity sampling
  3. CSnowball sampling
  4. DRandom sampling
3.Easy

In research ethics, debriefing means:

  1. APaying participants for their time
  2. BRemoving names from the data
  3. CExplaining the true aims of the study to participants after they take part
  4. DAsking participants for informed consent before the study begins and explaining the procedure
4.Medium

A study is preregistered. This means that:

  1. AParticipants register their consent online
  2. BThe hypotheses, methods and analysis plan are recorded publicly before data collection
  3. CThe results were checked and approved by a second, independent statistician before publication
  4. DThe study has already been published
5.Medium

Ecological validity refers to:

  1. AWhether the test looks like it measures the right thing
  2. BWhether a test predicts future behaviour
  3. CHow consistent a test is over time
  4. DHow well findings generalise to real-life settings
6.Medium

A Type I error occurs when a researcher:

  1. AUses the wrong statistical test
  2. BFails to reject a null hypothesis that is false
  3. CCollects too much data
  4. DRejects a null hypothesis that is actually true
7.Hard

A psychology department recruits participants only from introductory psychology courses. Critics say samples are "WEIRD". What does this refer to?

  1. ASamples that are unusually strange in their behaviour
  2. BSamples that withdraw early from studies
  3. CSamples recruited using weighted random methods
  4. DWestern, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic samples that may not generalise
8.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 a control group, addressed by randomly allocating participants to conditions
  2. BUse of children, addressed by parental consent
  3. CLack of confidentiality, addressed by publishing names
  4. DDeception and potential distress, addressed by a thorough debriefing

Answer key

  1. 1. A · Non-directional (two-tailed)
  2. 2. D · Random sampling
  3. 3. C · Explaining the true aims of the study to participants after they take part
  4. 4. B · The hypotheses, methods and analysis plan are recorded publicly before data collection
  5. 5. D · How well findings generalise to real-life settings
  6. 6. D · Rejects a null hypothesis that is actually true
  7. 7. D · Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic samples that may not generalise
  8. 8. D · Deception and potential distress, addressed by a thorough debriefing

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